Setting up Monthly Payments for Property Taxes

Paying Rural Property Taxes by Installment

I’ve been telling people to pay their property taxes by monthly installment, so I decided that I’d better take my own advice and set it up.  I won’t say it was exactly “easy” — there were many steps — but it’s quite straightforward.

Schedule half an hour to do this.  Here’s what you will need:

  • A desktop computer with a reasonably up to date browser
  • Your most recent Property Tax Notice
  • A cheque or other document that shows your bank account number in full (branch number, institution number, account number, e.g.  00000  010   9999999)
  • Have your email account open so you can receive emails
  • Think up a username and a password. The password must be at least 8 digits, including upper and lower case letters and at least one numeral.

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Go to: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/taxes/etaxbc/help-guide/rural-property-taxes#recurring-prepayments
    On the right hand side, click on Enrol Now.

  1. Select Individual/Business as a user type.

  1. Pick “Property Tax – Rural” as your account type. Then enter your folio number. You will find that number on the top right of your Property Tax Notice.

  1. Enter the Enrolment Code. You can find it on the top left of your Property Tax Notice.

  1. Now it’s time to create your Logon. This is where you’ll need to come up with a username and password. When you’re done, submit.

  1. The system will send you an email with a confirmation number and a link. When I did this, it took less than a minute for the email to turn up. Click on the link in the email and log onto your new account.

  1. When you log on for the first time, they want to authenticate you, so click on “Send Access Code.”You will get an email containing the code. Enter it.

  1. Finally you’re in! Congratulate yourself! Now, at the main window, click on the Accounts heading. Then click on Property Tax – Rural.

  1. This will show you your property tax payments for previous years. In the upper right under “I want to”, click on “Create or cancel recurring pre-payment.”

  1. Select payment frequency and then click on “Next”.
  2. Decide if you want to have them withdraw the remaining tax balance automatically in July. Click “Next”.
  3. Decide the amount of the recurring payment. Click “Next”.

  1. Here’s where you need your bank account information. Fill it in. The Bank Name field will fill automatically if you have the correct institution number.

  1. Now you’ll get all the fine print. Click on yes, and then agree at the bottom of the screen.

  1. Once you’ve agreed it shows you a summary of your payment arrangement. This is your last chance to make any corrections. When you’re ready, click on Submit.

  1. The system will now send you an email (shown below). Congratulations! You’re finished and you can log out now.