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B.C. is changing its property tax rules, allowing municipalities to reduce tax rates provide relief to small businesses and non-profits.

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B.C. is changing its property tax rules, allowing municipalities to reduce tax rates provide relief to small businesses and non-profits.

Screen grab from Google Maps

Potential tax relief on the way for B.C. small businesses, non-profits

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 11:33 PDT, Tue October 4, 2022

Last Updated: 12:28 PST, Mon November 7, 2022

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Small businesses and non-profit organizations paying high property taxes because of future development potential may see some financial relief through new municipal property tax rate flexibility.

This support comes at a time when rising assessed values and associated property taxes are leaving some small businesses with unsustainable cost increases. This has been most significant in Metro Vancouver, where increasing density to accommodate a growing population has led to property value increases in recent years.

"Local governments have been asking for a tool to help support small businesses and non-profits in their communities under the weight of increasing costs," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Finance. "We listened to those concerns and rolled up our sleeves. This new program will empower local governments to provide much-needed relief with an effective long-term solution that fits the individual needs of communities."

Municipalities will have the ability to identify what types of properties or areas in their community are affected by high-density development potential and to provide relief to the commercial properties that need it most by taxing the assessed value of the land at a reduced municipal tax rate.

"B.C.'s small businesses and non-profits are an integral part of our economy and our communities, and this is one of the ways we're helping them recover and grow," said Robinson. "I want to thank the many partners that helped us develop an effective and usable solution to this issue."

The tax measure will be in place for the 2023 tax year, replacing the Interim Business Property Tax Relief program introduced in March 2020.

"The province is committed to collaboration with our local government partners to deliver programs and policies that meet the unique needs of each community," said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs. "This tool will empower local governments to help non-profits and small businesses thrive."

Challenges with split assessments were first identified in B.C. in 2014. The tax change is an outcome of the Property Assessment Strategic Review, launched by the Ministry of Finance in 2019, to fully assess and analyze property tax mitigation strategies for small businesses and find a long-term solution.

"The legislation introduced today addresses a concern that has been raised by UBCM's members," said Jen Ford, president of the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM). "This change enables local governments to provide tax relief for commercial properties that have seen dramatic increases in the assessed value of their land. Local governments were consulted as a part of the process of developing this legislation, and I welcome the province's action to address this issue."

The new tax relief tool is permissive and not automatically applied; municipalities and taxing Treaty First Nations can decide whether or not to implement it. For properties that meet the provincial eligibility criteria, the municipalities can choose which properties receive the relief and set the percentage of land that will be taxed at the lower rate.

The tax relief tool will be available to eligible properties for as long as five years. BC Assessment considers the highest and best use of a property when determining the assessed value, which is a standard commercial appraisal method used throughout North America.

For more information about the changes to support small businesses and non-profit organizations, visit workingforyou.gov.bc.ca/legislation