How to Pay

Most financial institutions offer online or phone banking services for a faster and more efficient way to make payments.

For your convenience, here are the most commonly used banks and credit unions where you can submit your online payment(s).

IMPORTANT:

• When paying your property tax, the payee account name should be Burnaby PROPERTY TAX and the account number is the 12 digit folio number.
• You'll be subject to a 5% penalty on your property tax amount if
  • your financial institution rejects the payment, or
  • the payment is made after the financial institution local cut off time on the due date.
• Make your payment earlier to ensure you receive your home owner grant and avoid late payment penalties. If you can, please try to pay your property tax notice at least three days prior to the due date.
  • Here’s why: Banks have cut-off times to record their transactions for the day. These cut-off times vary from bank to bank. If you make your property tax payment on the day it's due, but AFTER your bank's cut-off time, the date of your payment will roll over to the next business day and be considered overdue–you won't get to claim your homeowner grant and penalties will be applied.

Having a My Property Portal profile is the easiest way to see your account balance and make payments. If you would like to make a credit card payment without creating a profile, please visit our direct payment page. A non-refundable 1.75% convenience fee will be applied to all credit card payments.

Pay via tellers at most banks and credit unions. The City now has two different payees–City of Burnaby Property Tax AND City of Burnaby Utility Notice. Please make sure the payment is made to the correct payee!

• Keep your receipt for proof of payment. Ensure your financial institution will forward payments by the due date.
• Property tax payments made on or before the due date but received by the City after the July due date will be considered late and penalties will be applied.
• Financial institutions no longer accept home owner grant applications. If eligible, the home owner grant must be claimed by the property tax July due date to avoid penalty.
• Make your payment earlier and if eligible ensure you claim the Home Owner Grant to avoid late penalties. If you can, please try to pay your property tax notice at least three days prior to the due date.
  • Here’s why: Banks have cut-off times to record their transactions for the day. These cut-off times vary from bank to bank. If you make your property tax payment on the day it's due, but AFTER your bank's cut-off time, the date of your payment will roll over to the next business day and be considered late.

Mail your cheque and stub well in advance to the Burnaby Tax Office, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby BC, V5G 1M2.

• If eligible, don't forget to claim the home owner grant online or by phone before the property tax due date to avoid penalty.
• Please make your cheque payable to: City of Burnaby
• Postdated cheques are accepted to the July property tax due date.
• If you choose this method, mail that's lost or delayed and not received in the Burnaby tax office by the due date will be considered late and a 5% penalty will apply. Postmarks aren't accepted as payment date.

If you wish to pay in person, City Hall is open Monday-Wednesday and Friday, 8 am-4:45 pm, and Thursday, 8 am-8 pm. 

24-hour drop boxes are located in the parking lot and at both entrances to Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way. Drop boxes are cleared daily.

Drop boxes are also located at Bonsor Recreation Complex, Edmonds Community Centre and Eileen Daily Leisure Pool & Fitness Centre. These drop boxes will not be available after 5 pm on the due date. 

To qualify for the Pre-Authorized Debit Plan (PAD), you must register BOTH your property tax and utility charges–not one or the other.

The City has two plans available for automated withdrawal payments from your bank account:

• Variable: 10 equal payments + 1 variable payment for the outstanding balance amount on July 1, or
• Fixed: 10 equal payments. Any outstanding balance amount will need to be paid separately using any method of payment described on this page.

Enrolment

To enroll in PAD, download the fillable Pre-Authorized Debit Application Form below. Please complete and return the form in full with your signature and initials where indicated, along with a copy of a void cheque for your bank account.

Please note:

• Your application must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect the following month.
• Owners who prepay their taxes through PAD earn interest at the prime rate, less 2.5% (with minimum interest of 0.5%).
• PAD monthly payments are applied to annual utility charges and garbage disposal fees. The balance is applied to your property taxes.
• Current year taxes have to be paid in full by the July due date, or penalties will apply to the outstanding balance. If the account also has a balance in arrears or it's delinquent, those balances plus interest must be paid in full before you can sign up for PAD.

Prepayment interest

The tax and utility instalment payments we collect from you through the pre-authorized debit plan will earn simple interest on your property account’s daily balance. The rate of interest payable to you will be equivalent to the prime rate less 2.5 percent, subject to a minimum interest rate of 0.5 percent. Note: interest isn’t payable between May 1 and the tax due date.

How to change or cancel your PAD plan

To change or cancel Pre-Authorized Debit, please complete and return the PAD form with your signature and initials where indicated:

• Tick the box that applies to you in section 3 of the form–new, change or cancel.
• If you ticked 'change' for a change of bank accounts, please include a copy of a VOID cheque from the new bank account.

Please note:

• Changes or cancellations must be received by the 22nd of the month to take effect the following month. Please send the PAD form and/or the void cheques to the tax office (contact information is at bottom of this page).
• If you sell your property, it's your responsibility as the property owner to instruct the City of Burnaby to discontinue the prepayment plan BEFORE the property is sold. This is important since we may continue to draw payments from your bank account until advised.
  • IMPORTANT: Any overpayment will be applied to the new owners. There will be NO refunds on any prepayments, even after the sale of a property. Credits must be adjusted between purchasers and vendors on the Statement of Adjustments.
• If you're eligible, you must claim your home owner grant by the due date to avoid a penalty–even if your taxes are paid by PAD, online/telebanking or your mortgage company.
• Maximum annual prepayments are based on the previous year’s net taxes and utilities.
• Your Pre-Authorized Debit plan will be cancelled by the City and your account will be closed after two payments are dishonoured. Service charges may apply.
• Taxpayers MUST re-apply in writing to start the PAD deductions again.

For information on the Pre-Authorized Debit plan, phone the tax office at 604-294-7350.