Residents in rural areas within the East Kootenay should soon receive their 2025 property tax notices in the mail from the B.C. government.
Rural property taxes must be paid to the B.C. government rather than the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK).
“The RDEK is not a taxing authority, so for all rural properties in the East Kootenay, your tax notices are sent from the Surveyor of Taxes in Victoria,” said RDEK Chief Financial Officer Holly Ronnquist.
“The Province collects the provincial-rural, school and regional district taxes and then sends the regional district its portion on behalf of the rural residents.”
Rural property tax payments can be made online or at any Service BC location.
You can also claim your Home Owner Grant online.
The RDEK says its portion of property taxes for rural properties is found under the local services section of your notice, and only accounts for part of your overall tax bill.
Tax rates will vary between electoral districts, so the RDEK recommends looking over your tax notice carefully.
“The specific amount depends on how many local RDEK services the property owner receives, such as fire protection, water or sewer, which are only charged to the residents within the service area receiving that service,” said RDEK officials.
“All RDEK rural property owners will see one line item on their tax notice for the general services, which include everything from 9-1-1 service and libraries to building inspection, solid waste and recycling.”
General services will be labelled under a category similar to ‘AREA B – East Kootenay.’
“If people have questions about how much they are paying for a specific RDEK service, such as their water or recycling, we are happy to answer those questions; however, questions about the amount owing or provincial services on their tax notice should be directed to the Province,” said Ronnquist.
You can ask questions about your rural property tax bill and Home Owner Grant by contacting the Surveyor of Taxes at 1-888-355-2700.
Property owners within incorporated municipalities can pay their property taxes to their city, district or village.
Rural property tax notices should be delivered by May 31, with payments due on July 2, 2025.
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