City of Burlington Offers COVID-19 Property Tax Payment Plan Program for 2022

*Please see below a news release issued by the City of Burlington.Burlington, Ont.— Jan. 21, 2022 — In response to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, Burlington City Council approved a 2022 COVID-19 Property Tax Payment Plan program at a Special Meeting of Council on Jan. 11, 2022. The program offers eligible residents and businesses that continue to face financial hardship as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic a monthly pre-authorized payment plan to assist with the repayment of property tax instalments.Individuals must apply for the 2022 COVID-19 Property Payment Plan program by completing the online application at burlington.ca/propertytaxThe program will allow eligible property owners who are unable to pay their property taxes by the regularly scheduled tax due dates, to make payments under a pre-authorized payment plan. If eligible, equal monthly withdrawals will be made that will allow for the property taxes to be paid in full by Dec. 1, 2022. No penalty or interest will be applied for the duration of the payment plan as long as payments are made.Additional details:

• Applicants will be required to attest they are experiencing financial hardship directly related to COVID-19, e.g. loss of employment, business closure, prolonged suspension of pay
• Property owners that have an unpaid balance on their tax account from March 1, 2020 onward may include this amount in the property tax payment plan (eligible owners cannot have any property tax amounts owing prior to March 1, 2020)
• Eligible property owners have the ability to choose which date they would like the pre-authorized monthly payment plan to begin. Options include March 1, April 1, May 1, June 1 or July 1 (applications are due 10 days prior to the withdrawal date).

"With new COVID-19 variants and changes to provincial restrictions, the City recognizes that residents and businesses continue to face uncertainty and financial pressures. The goal of the property tax payment plan is to support taxpayers and help ease the burden of meeting the regularly scheduled property tax due dates, without facing penalties." -- Joan Ford, Chief Financial Officer, City of Burlington

Links and Resources:

• The application to apply for the 2022 COVID-19 Property Tax Payment Plan program is available at burlington.ca/propertytax
• For more information about the program, visit burlington.ca/propertytax or email pap@burlington.ca

--*Posted by John Bkila, Mayor's Media and Digital Communications Specialist