FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CENTRE WELLINGTON – COVID-19 has caused economic hardship for Centre Wellington individuals and businesses, for this reason, Council approved a property tax deferral and an updated Tax Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Amendment to ease the current financial burden.
“It is important, now more than ever that we are here for our residents during these uncertain times” said Mayor Kelly Linton. “Stress of the unknown and financial hardships are top of mind for many people. We want to ease that burden by deferring tax due dates for our residents, giving them more time to pay their taxes, and by establishing an amendment to the Tax Pre-Authorized Payment Plan, giving residents the opportunity to spread their payments out.”
Residential property owners will now have a due date of August 31 and October 30. Non-Residential/Multi-Residential owners will have a due date of September 30th and November 30th. The postponed tax due dates for 2020 allow for a 4 month gap from the second quarter due date to the third quarter due date for all properties, which will assist property owners with any financial implications of COVID-19. These changes in tax due dates also replaces the 60-day waiving of penalties and interest that was in place for the first half of the year. Therefore, penalty and interest would apply for amounts outstanding after each due date described above has passed.
Council also approved a Tax Pre-Authorized Payment Plan Amendment is similar to the current by-law in place which removes the ability to provide a 10-month plan and replaces it with an 11-month plan. This allows property owners who apply for this plan to spread tax payments over 1 additional month each year.
For more information, staff can be contacted by phone at 519-846-9691 or by email at finance@centrewellington.ca
