WHY NOT GIVE TAXPAYERS COMPASSION & BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT?
(OSOYOOS TIMES — September 20, 2006) —
Earlier this month, Osoyoos Town Council turned down a second appeal from homeowner Joanna Starczynowski, who asked for relief from the $243 penalty assessed for late payment of her local property taxes this summer.
She had mailed her payment from Surrey eight days before the deadline “ and she has the stamped envelope to prove it “ but Canada Post messed up and it was delivered late.
In another case, homeowner Teresa Mellace swears she paid her taxes in-person on the deadline day “ Friday, July 14 “ but it wasn't posted as received in Town Hall until the following Monday.
She was hit with a similar 10-per-cent late-payment penalty, $215, and also appealed it “ also to no avail.
Appeals from at least two other penalized taxpayers were also turned down by Council.
We think Council and the Town's administrators should adopt a more humane approach to enforcing the tax deadline.
Certainly, if people don't pay on time, a penalty is appropriate. And with a total of 3,396 taxable properties in town, Osoyoos Town Hall issued 252 penalties this year. Likely the great majority of them were justified, and should be collected.
But when a homeowner can prove they mailed the payment in advance of the deadline, why can't Osoyoos adopt the same rule as the B.C. government and the Town of Oliver for property taxes, and the federal government for income tax, and accept a post-mark deadline?rnAnd when a homeowner has a witness that they paid on-time in-person, why not believe them?rnThe Town has the choice of showing a compassionate, humane face to its public, and give citizens the respect and benefit of the doubt that they deserve.
