The Editor,
I wonder if I am the only homeowner in Coquitlam who ended up with a penalty after paying their taxes this year. Here’s what happened.
I have been receiving the senior grant for six years.
This year, I thought I would attempt to pay my taxes online through my bank. I got it to work.
Fast forward to July 27 and I received a letter saying I owed $845 in taxes PLUS a penalty of $42.25 — the $845 was the amount of the seniors grant on my house.
On calling city hall, I learned that I had to go online again to gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant and fill out another form to say I am eligible for the seniors grant.
In this day and age of computers, both the province and the city know my age and that the names on the tax form have not changed for the last six years. I have not got younger.
In small print on the back of the tax form along with a whole page of other info, there is a comment that you need to fill out the senior grant online every year. Why is it necessary every year?
I had a chat with our MLA’s office (the minister of municipal affairs) and was told she has taken other calls about this.
It’s pretty pathetic that the city wants another $45, which, in my opinion, it is not entitled to.
Next year, it’s back to 100% paper payment and I will read the back of the tax form to ensure the city has not added another way to charge a penalty.
DeWayne Chiasson, Coquitlam
