How to Avoid Tax Sale

How to Avoid Tax Sale

• Tax Sale Information

  The following notes are intended to provide a general outline of the tax sale process. For complete information, you should consult the Local Government Act, in particular (but not limited to) Division 7. www.gov.bc.ca

  • The City is required by the Local Government Act to sell at Tax Sale all properties whose taxes have not been paid for 3 years.
  • The Local Government Act gives the Collector authority to sell a property for the Upset Price which equals all outstanding taxes + penalties + interest + 5% administration costs + Land Title Office fees.
• Tax Sale

  • A public auction will be held at 10:00 a.m., on the last Monday in September each year. 
  • To avoid your property from being sold at the Tax Sale Auction, all delinquent property taxes, plus delinquent interest must be paid in full no later than 9:59 a.m., on the last Monday in September.
  • If your property is sold at the tax sale, you will have one year to redeem the property. However, redeeming after the tax sale has significant additional costs.
• Amount payable depends on when payment to the City is received:

  1. Before Tax Sale - Minimum payment of delinquent taxes (2023 taxes) + interest
  2. After Tax Sale - To redeem your property, payment of the following is required:

  - Current (2025 taxes) + penalty - Arrears (2024 taxes)  + interest - Delinquent (2023 taxes)  + interest

  - Land Title registration fee - 5% administration fees - Interest on bid price

   

• Methods of Payment

  • Bank draft
  • Certified cheque
  • Cash
  • Interact

  Note: Personal cheques will not be accepted after September 8th.

• Advertising

  • Properties with delinquent taxes will be advertised in the newspaper for two consecutive weeks prior to tax sale. To avoid your property being included in the newspaper and website tax sale listings, delinquent taxes must be paid by no less than 3 weeks prior to the tax sale date.
  • The legal description and street address must be published.