The Provincial
Home Owner Grant Administration program helps reduce the amount of residential property taxes British Columbians pay. The grant is available each year to Canadian citizens or landed immigrants who live in BC. To determine if you are eligible review the
Explanatory Notes Home Owner Grant prepared by the Ministry of Finance, or obtain a copy from the City of Abbotsford Tax Division, or read the Home Owner Grant application instructions (front and back) before applying.
How to Claim the Home Owner Grant Each Year
To claim the Home Owner Grant (HOG) online, click Electronic Home Owner Grant to use our eHOG system. You will need the property’s folio number and your access code, both of which are located in the top left-hand corner of your property tax notice.
OR
Submit the Home Owner Grant application attached to your property tax notice to the City of Abbotsford Tax Division by the tax due date to avoid penalty charges. If you qualify for the additional grant and wish to obtain it, you must tick the box that describes your qualification. If you are over 65, please state your birth date, and tick the Additional Grant.
Note: to avoid penalty charges, eligible owners are required to apply to the City annually for the Home Owner Grant prior to the tax due date, even if not paying taxes that are due at that time, or if a financial institution pays the taxes on behalf of the owners.
Unable to Apply?
If an eligible owner is unable to apply, the Home Owner Grant application may be made by the owner’s committee or a person appointed, in writing, as the owner’s attorney. A Power of Attorney Form must be attached and sent in with the Home Owner Grant application.
Claiming the Additional Grant
If you are not over 65 years of age, you may still qualify for the additional grant under one of the following programs:
- Persons with Disabilities must meet the eligibility requirements of the base grant, plus one of the following; and submit a complete Form B Certificate of Physician & Property Owner with the grant application:
- Structural modifications to dwelling
- Receiving physical assistance
- Receiving Disability Allowance
- War Veterans
- Low-Income Grant Supplement
- Veterans Supplement
Please review the Province of BC Home Owner Grant website to learn more about each option’s eligibility criteria.
Forgot to Claim Last Year’s Grant?
The deadline to claim the Home Owner Grant is December 31 of the current year. However, after the deadline, owners have a year to apply for an extension to claim a retroactive Home Owner Grant. Click here for more information on how to apply for your retroactive home owner grant.
Co-op Housing: claim Home Owner Grants and calculate each owner’s property taxes
Property taxes for co-ops are based on their tax rate and your unit share of the co-op itself. If you own a share in a co-op, you may be eligible to claim the Home Owner Grant to reduce the property taxes you pay.
Co-op owners, together, need to complete a Form A Certificate of Eligible Occupants and Owner's Certificateto claim their Home Owner Grants and calculate each owner’s share of property tax. Form A includes a Certificate of Eligible Occupants and an Owners’ Certificate.
Co-op owners must send their jointly-completed Form A, along with their individual property tax payments, to the City of Abbotsford by the tax due date to avoid any penalties.
For further information
Minister of Finance
Home Owner Grant Administration
http://www.gov.bc.ca/homeownergrant
OR
Home Owner Grant Administration Program
Telephone: 1-888-355-2700
Fax: 1-250-356-8994
Email: hogadmin@gov.bc.ca