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Senior property owners in the north encouraged to utilize BC Property Tax Deferral program

BC Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is urging senior homeowners in the north to consider deferring their 2023 property taxes due to the rising cost of living.

The BC Property Tax Deferral Program allows those 55 and older to defer some or all of the cost and the province pays the tax to the local government.

The deferred taxes are then repaid to the provincial government when the home is sold.

Mackenzie told Vista Radio something like this can come in handy especially if property owners want to put their money towards renovations.

“The average property tax bill in Prince George is around $2600 or $2700 for the municipal portion and so that is like increasing your income by that much each year.”

“So, the basic idea is it makes it a little more affordable for you to stay in your own home, and the money that you are not paying in property taxes you can spend on someone to clean your gutters or do some of the maintenance work you used to do yourself.”

Mackenzie added by the time a senior homeowner is ready to sell it’s usually because they are moving to a congregate living arrangement or they have passed away.

In its latest Monitoring Seniors report, homeowners deferred a total of 307 million in property taxes in 2021/22.

Over the last five years, there has been a 49% decrease in the number of new users of the Property Tax Deferral Program.

84% of low-income seniors report running out of money to buy food some of the time.

In addition, there was a 78% increase in the use of food banks by B.C. seniors over the last five years.

Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].

Brendan Pawliw
Brendan Pawliw
Since moving to Prince George in 2015, Brendan has covered local sports including the WHL’s Prince George Cougars, Prince George Spruce Kings, UNBC Timberwolves, Cariboo Cougars AAA, and Northern Capitals U18 female hockey teams. Career highlights include play-by-play during the Spruce Kings' BCHL championship runs in 2018 and 2019, including the Doyle Cup win. He also covered the 2019 National Junior A Championship, the 2017 Telus Cup, the 2022 World Women’s Curling Championship, and the 2022 BC Summer Games. Brendan is the news voice on 94.3 The Goat and Country 97 FM, reporting on crime, real estate, labour, and environmental issues. Outside of work, he officiates box lacrosse and fastball, sits on the Prince George Sports Hall of Fame board, and co-hosts the Hockey North podcast.

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