The first level of appeal of a property assessment is to the Property Assessment Review Panel (“PARP”). The January 31 deadline to file a notice of complaint (appeal) to the Property Assessment Review Panel has passed.
PARP hearings take place between February 1 and March 15 each year. PARP members are members of the public appointed by the Minister responsible for BC Assessment, currently the Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development. At this level, the appeal is called a review or complaint. Any person is entitled to file a complaint about their own or another assessment on the grounds set out in s. 32 of the Assessment Act and to have that assessment reviewed by a PARP. The review process provides options to have your property assessment concerns addressed. If you have concerns about your property assessment, you may discuss them with BC Assessment prior to filing a complaint. If there is an agreement to make an amendment through this informal process, a recommendation can be presented to the Panel on your behalf and your attendance at the hearing is not required. For more information on Property Assessment Review Panels, click here. Please note that appointment availability may be limited as not all panels sit throughout the six week hearing timeframe (February 1 – March 15).
Notice of complaint (appeal) must be filed with the assessor by January 31 at 11:59 p.m. PST. For more information, refer to our Property Assessment Review Process Fact Sheet and the links provided on the right.
If you pay taxes to a First Nation taxing authority, please check your assessment notice for information regarding assessment appeals as the provincial assessment appeal system and deadlines may not apply.
Withdrawing your Appeal
Withdrawals of complaints to the 2012 Property Assessment Review Panel will be accepted until March 15, 2012. An application to withdraw an appeal (also known as a complaint or request for review) made to a Property Assessment Review Panel must be filed in writing (letter, fax, online withdrawal of appeal form or email) with the assessor by March 15, 2012.
Some First Nations appeal tribunals may allow for withdrawals beyond March 15. Please confirm with your local assessment office whether that is the case.
Withdrawal of Notice of Complaint (Appeal) Form
The second level of appeal is to the Property Assessment Appeal Board (“PAAB” or the “Board”). Board members are appointed by Cabinet. The right of appeal is available to “any person” who is dissatisfied with a decision of the PARP. If you disagree with the PARP decision, you can file an appeal to the PAAB no later than April 30th. For more information about the PAAB, visit their website at: www.assessmentappeal.bc.ca.
A person affected by a PAAB decision may appeal to the BC Supreme Court, but only on a question of law. Any further appeal to the BC Court of Appeal only rests on a question of law where the Court of Appeal grants leave.
The Appeal Guide refers to dates which apply to the 2012 appeal process.
