By Angela Brown

TIPPs program making it easier for people to pay taxes

Oct 5, 2018 | 12:00 PM

Battleford residents who find it difficult paying their taxes all at once will now be able to pay a little at a time to make it easier to manage their finances.

The Town of Battleford announced at its recent meeting it will be offering the Tax Instalment Payment Plan (TIPPs) so ratepayers can have a portion of their taxes owing taken directly from their bank accounts on a regular basis throughout the year, starting in 2019.

Coun. Judy Pruden said the plan will be helpful for everyone. 

“The general public can sign up. Starting the first [of January] of the year it will come out of their bank accounts automatically,” she said. “It will be one- twelfth of their yearly taxes. So that would avoid them having to pay a penalty for the last four months of the year, and as well having to come up with a lump sum if that’s what they had been doing previously.

“I think it’s easier for everybody to budget their finances. It’s just another option so that taxes get paid,” Pruden said.

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Finance Director David Gillan presented a report on the program to council. Through TIPPs, ratepayers will pay equalized tax payments penalty-free during the year. While the town won’t be receiving any penalty revenue from people taking part in the program, it will receive interest earned on advance payments. A similar program is already available for ratepayers paying water bills.

Gillan indicated the payment plan may help reduce delinquent tax payments so it will benefit the town and ratepayers alike. Residents won’t see a discount or a penalty since they will be paying their taxes throughout the year.

Ratepayers will receive more information on the program in their October utility bills.  

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow