Are you facing a significant increase in your property taxes as a result of a potentially inaccurate property tax assessment? Has your property tax assessment increased even though the market value of your home has not? Property tax assessments can significantly increase your tax liability, erode your financial stability, and undermine your way of life.
If you disagree with a property tax assessment and live in the Province of British Columbia, you will have to face a complex set of administrative tribunals at which you will have to present your case. In British Columbia, a provincial government agency called BC Assessment will send out property tax assessment notices on or before January 31 of each year. If you disagree with your assessment, you will need to take action quickly.
The first level of appeal is the Property Assessment Review Panel, also referred to as the “PARP.” At the PARP, you will get a 30-minute oral hearing before a panel member who has been appointed by the Minister of Community, Sport, and Cultural Development. The very short duration of this hearing means that you will need to be able to present your case in a very organized and succinct manner in order to maximize your chances of success. Often, a good administrative tribunal lawyer can make the difference between success or failure at the PARP level. The PARP holds hearings in February and March and issues written decisions on or by April 7 of each year.
If you disagree with your PARP decision, you can make a further appeal to the Property Assessment Appeal Board (“PAAB”). You must file your appeal no later than April 30, which means that you may have as little as three weeks to prepare and file your appeal. The PAAB appeal process is complex and involves an initial “appeal management conference” by telephone followed by written submissions, a formal in-person hearing, or both. If you lose your PAAB case, you can appeal your decision only on very narrow legal grounds to the British Columbia Supreme Court for a formal hearing before a Supreme Court Justice. Although not required, legal advice and representation is highly advisable at the PAAB due to the complex procedural and legal issues involved.
If you have a property assessment case and are daunted by the thought of fighting it on your own, consider calling our friendly administrative tribunal lawyers at the ATAC LAW Corporation to arrange an initial consultation.
