Paying Your Property Taxes

The Different Ways to Pay Your Property Taxes

• Accepted Methods of Payment and Credit Balances

  Cash, Cheques & Bank Drafts

  Please make Cheques and Bank Drafts payable to The City of Nanaimo. Either may be postdated to the Property Tax due date. Incomplete items will not be processed. An administration fee will be charged for returned or dishonored payments.

  Debit Cards

  Confirm with your financial institution that your daily transaction limit and balance are sufficient before you make your payment. Credit cards are not accepted for Property Tax payments.

  Account Credit Balances

  If you are on the Property Tax Pre-Payment Plan and have a credit balance, it will be applied to next year’s pre-payments. If you are not on the Property Tax Pre-Payment Plan and have a credit balance, it can remain on your account and be applied to future Property Taxes. Alternatively, a refund can be issued upon request. Please complete a refund request in writing and submit to the Revenue Services Department (email is acceptable).

• Home Owner Grants

  If eligible, complete your Home Owner Grant online. All you need is your folio number and access code from your Property Tax Notice.

  Alternatively, complete the Home Owner Grant form located on the bottom of your Property Tax Notice and mail, drop off, or submit the form in person at the Service and Resource Centre - 411 Dunsmuir Street.

  If you missed claiming your 2018 Home Owner Grant, a retroactive application is available.

  For more information please see the Home Owner Grants section of our website.

• Pay Online

  On your financial institution’s online banking website search for “Nanaimo” and select the “Taxes” payee option.

  Use the 8-digit folio number on the front of the Property Tax Notice as the account number. 

  Note:  Some institutions require the decimal point after the 5th digit and some do not, you may have to try both.

  Property Tax payments must be made prior to the tax due date to avoid penalty.

• Telephone Banking

  Contact your financial institution for instructions.

  Please ensure to make your Property Tax payment prior to the due date to avoid penalty.

• In Person at Your Canadian Financial Institution

  To pay at your bank, please take your property tax notice with you prior to the Property Tax due date to avoid penalty.

  IMPORTANT:  Financial institutions no longer accept Home Owner Grant Applications. If eligible, submit your Home Owner Grant Application to the City of Nanaimo's Service and Resource Centre at 411 Dunsmuir Street or apply online by the due date.

• Mail via Canada Post etc.

  If you are mailing in your payment and/or Home Owner Grant, please detach the Home Owner Grant portion from the bottom of your tax notice and send in the envelope with your cheque. 

  Be sure to fill the Home Owner Grant portion in its entirety if you are eligible (see Home Owner Grant qualifications).  This portion can be left blank if you are not claiming the Home Owner Grant or have already done so. 

  It would also be helpful, although not required, to write your folio number on the front of your cheque (your cancelled cheque will be your receipt).

  Please address mail to 455 Wallace Street, Nanaimo BC, V9R 5J6. Cheques may be post-dated to the Property Tax due date.

  Payments and Home Owner Grant applications mailed to the City of Nanaimo must be received by the Property Tax due date. The postmark will not be accepted as the date of payment.

  Mail lost or delayed by the Post Office will be subject to penalty.

• Drop Off Payment

  Avoid line-ups and drop your payment and Home Owner Grant application, if eligible, accompanied by the remittance portion of your Property Tax Notice in the secure mail slot located outside at the main entrance of the Service and Resource Centre, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Nanaimo. This slot is accessible 24 hours a day. 

  Alternatively there is another drop payment slot located within the Service and Resource Centre on the main floor to the left of the entrance on the counter located under the clock.

• Paying in Person

  Please visit the Service and Resource Centre at 411 Dunsmuir Street if you wish to pay your property tax in person.  Regular office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m (excluding statutory holidays).

  Accepted methods of payment for property tax:

  • Cash
  • Cheque (made payable to the City of Nanaimo)
  • Debit Card

  Please Note:  CREDIT CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

  You may also claim your Home Owner Grant in person if you are eligible to do so.  It is highly recommended to have this application filled out prior to approaching the Finance Department's counter.  This allows for a speedier process for you and your fellow citizens.

  Please be prepared to possibly wait in line if paying in person.

• Mortgage Company

  Your mortgage company may also pay your property taxes on your behalf.  If this is the case for your property, it will be stated on your property tax notice near the top on the right hand side.  Do not not pay your property taxes if your mortgage company is paying on your behalf.

  If you are unsure, please contact your mortgage company.  It is their responsibility to inform the City of Nanaimo of their obligations to pay your property taxes.

  It is also the mortgage company's responsibility to know if you are claiming a Home Owner Grant or not.  To avoid over or under payments, please ensure that your mortgage company knows if you are claiming a Home Owner Grant or not. 

  If you are turning 65 at any point in the current taxation year and are eligible to claim the Senior's Home Owner Grant (the grant amount is greater than the regular Home Owner Grant).  Ensure that your mortgage company is aware and takes this into account when they are calculating your property tax payments that they collect from you.