Stouffville offers deferral program for tax and water bill payments

Property owners wishing to request deferral of payments for the bill due date of Jan. 27, 2021, have until Feb. 3, 2021

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 25, 2021
Simon Martin

Whitchurch-Stouffville is offering a COVID-19 deferral policy for water and tax bill relief. There is now a 60-day grace period for upcoming tax and water payments to relieve property owners requiring financial support due to the pandemic.

The grace period applies to any tax or water bill with due dates between Jan. 27, 2021, and June 30, 2021. Property owners wishing to request deferral of payments for the bill due date of Jan. 27, 2021, have until Feb. 3, 2021, to make such requests, providing payment has not already been made. All subsequent requests need to be received at least one week in advance of the payment due date if payment has not been made during that application period.

Deferrals must be requested by the property owner via online submission at townofws.ca/deferrals. However, submissions will also be accepted by email to deferrals@townofws.ca at least one week in advance of the payment due date. To apply, the applicant is required to have account authority and must indicate name, address of the property, the tax and/or water billing account number(s) and the nature of the financial burden.

“There is no doubt the pandemic has caused immeasurable financial hardship on some families in Whitchurch-Stouffville,” Whitchurch-Stouffville Mayor Iain Lovatt said. “We are hopeful that this deferral will provide property owners who may be financially burdened some relief for the time being.”

Applicants who are enrolled in a preauthorized monthly payment plan (PAP) will be required to cancel their enrolment during the period for which the financial relief is requested. Payment will then be made on or before the end of each 60-day period by other means. Property owners will need to reapply for the PAP after the relief period has ended.

In addition, interest charges and penalties will be waived if payment of all outstanding amounts is received on or before the revised due date as outlined in the decision letter issued to the applicant.

More information can be found at townofws.ca/deferrals.