BC Assessment issues notice of property values at the start of January, each year. This value is used to calculate your property tax for the year.
If you received your recent property assessment notice and disagree with the value, the following is a guide on how to go about filing a complaint with BC Assessment.
How to File a Complaint?
When you receive your property assessment in the mail, you can compare the value against similar properties in your neighbourhood, using the Assessment Search on the BC Assessment site. Your property assessment value may be deemed too high (or too low) by you. If you disagree with the value, you have until January 31 of the current year to file your complaint. You need to contact BC Assessment directly to raise your concerns. This is the first step in filing a complaint.
After speaking with BC Assessment, if you decide to make an official complaint you need to complete the Property Assessment Complaint (appeal) Form.
You will be scheduled a hearing in front of the Property Assessment Review Panel to raise your concerns.
Support Your Complaint with Evidence
You will need to provide evidence in order to contest the assessment. This can be in the form of a map of your property location, highlighting comparable properties in your neighbourhood and their assessed values. You can find comparable property values on the BC Assessment site. If you think the value of your property was assessed too high because of its state (in comparison to others in your neighbourhood) you can provide photo evidence.
The panel will not do any prior research. You need to support your claim and upload all evidence prior to your hearing. You will have 6-10 minutes to present your complaint with evidence. You must ensure you provide relevant and convincing evidence.
Contacting BC Assessment
BC Assessment can be contacted online by www.bcassessment.ca or by phone at 1-866-825-8322.
You can watch this video to assist you in preparing for your hearing, if you wish to contest your assessment: BC Assessment Video.
What does the BC Assessment Value Mean?
The BC Assessment value does not indicate how much your property is worth on the market. Market forces determine the ultimate price you can get for your property. BC Assessment values are based on market trends from the previous year and are generic. The state of your home in comparison to others may not be accurately reflected in the BC Assessment value. It is basically an estimate used to establish how much property tax you should pay for the year. If you are 55 and older you can defer these taxes (learn more).
A potential buyer will work with their agent to do an in-depth value assessment before making an offer on a home. The BC assessment value is just a rough estimate of your home value and it can be misleading. You should therefore have an assessment done by an experienced real estate agent to determine the true value of your home.
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