Pre-authorized Withdrawals (PAWS) FAQs

To be eligible to enroll in the plan the property tax account must be up-to-date (no outstanding balance) or have a credit balance. 

• Complete the Pre-Authorized Withdrawal Plan Application Form

 

• Please read the Terms and Conditions before enrolling in the plan

 

• Make sure you include a Void Cheque or Bank Authorization Form along with the application

 

• Your application must be received by the 5th of the month for an effective date of the 15th of the current month

 

You can also complete an application form in person at the Service and Resource Centre (411 Dunsmuir St).

 

 

There are two plan options:

1. The City will calculate your monthly installment by:

• Multiplying the most recent tax levy by 5%
• Deducting the eligible Home Owner Grant
• Deducting any credits
• Dividing the total by remaining months
• Rounding to the nearest $5

This amount is recalculated each year and shown on your Tax Notice.

2. You choose your monthly installment: you can set the payment amount to what works with your budget.

     If you would like to estimate your property taxes, you can do so with the Residential Property Tax Estimator.

Please note: if there is a balance due after the installments, the City will not withdrawal said amount - this will be reflected on your tax notice. A manual payment must be made to avoid any penalties.

You can cancel the plan at any time except between May and June as these two payments are included in the calculation of your Tax Notice.

To cancel the plan:

• Email collections.info@nanaimo.ca at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal
• If you cannot send an email, you can mail a letter or come in to the office located at 411 Dunsmuir Street

 

If you have sold your property:

• It is your responsibility to notify the City in writing to stop the withdrawals
• Cancellation notice must be received by the City at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal
• Any credits should be adjusted by the lawyer or notary involved
• A refund request should come from the lawyer/notary office
• Refunds are subject to a $25 administration fee and can take up to six (6) weeks to process
• Credits can be transferred to another property within the City upon request by the lawyer or notary involved and are not subject to an administration fee

If the payment is rejected due to insufficient funds (or any other reason), a service charge will be applied to your installment account. If three (3) consecutive payments are returned in one year, you will be removed from the installment plan.

You will continue to receive your user rates bill.

If you enrolled in the Auto Debit Plan, the comment section of your bill (bottom right corner) will indicate the amount that will be automatically withdrawn from your bank account on (or after) the discount date as indicated on the bill. 

If you enrolled in the Equal Payment Plan, the amount withdrawn will be the same each month and will not reflect the total bill amount.

The estimated monthly amount is based on your actual use of water, sewer, and garbage from the past year. If you are a new customer, the City will not have twelve (12) months of history on your account and will forecast the consumption based on as much information available in relation to established averages. 

Assuming your application was received at least ten (10) business days before the due date or the first of the month:

Auto Debit Plan: The first bill due date after enrolling in the plan.

Equal Payment Plan: On the first of the month after enrolling in the plan.

You have the option of setting your monthly payment amount for the equal payment plan provided it is not less than the minimum amount required by the City.

No. The plan is ongoing until we receive written request to cancel it. If your account has more than three (3) consecutive Non-Sufficient Funds charges in a year, you may be removed from the plan. 

The discount date is the day up to which a 5% discount will be given on the current User Rates bill if paid in full. The discount date is typically three weeks after each billing date. 

If the payment is returned to the City, a $25 Non-sufficient funds fee for each returned payment will be added to the account. If an account has three (3) consecutive Non-sufficient Funds charges in a year, the account may be removed from the plan. 

If you are selling, or have sold your property, please contact the City in writing to ask that the payments be stopped. Requests must be received at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal date.

Email: collections.info@nanaimo.ca

Mail: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6

Any credits on the account should be adjusted by the lawyer or notary involved.

You must submit a written request to the City at least ten (10) business days before the next withdrawal date to cancel or make changes to the plan. 

If you are changing your banking information, please submit a void cheque or bank authorization form along with your request.

Email: collections.info@nanaimo.ca

Mail: 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J6