A Saanich woman is facing a six-figure bill under British Columbia香蕉视频直播檚 speculation and vacancy tax 香蕉视频直播� despite having lived in her home full time for the past 12 years.
Maureen Washington, a well-known jazz musician and longtime Broadmead resident, says she was blindsided when the Ministry of Finance informed her she owed $110,076.91 in unpaid taxes, late filing penalties, and interest.
香蕉视频直播淚 was shocked,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is my home. I香蕉视频直播檝e raised my kids here. I香蕉视频直播檝e never rented it out, never left it empty. I thought this tax was for foreign buyers, not people like me.香蕉视频直播�
The speculation and vacancy tax (SVT), introduced in 2018, is designed to target property owners who leave homes empty in B.C.香蕉视频直播檚 major urban centres.
According to a spokesperson from the Ministry of Finance, it香蕉视频直播檚 a self-reporting tax that applies based on how a residential property is used, the residency of the owner, and where their income is declared. The stated goal is to discourage housing speculation and increase housing availability.
For Washington, the problem didn香蕉视频直播檛 stem from whether she lived in her home 香蕉视频直播� it came down to how much income she reported.
After receiving a notice in 2023, she called the ministry and admitted she hadn香蕉视频直播檛 filed taxes in several years.
She says that call triggered a provincial audit, which quickly snowballed.
香蕉视频直播淭hey said because I reported a low income and live in an expensive neighbourhood, they needed to prove I wasn香蕉视频直播檛 living beyond my means,香蕉视频直播� Washington said.
Washington submitted letters from her pastor and neighbours.
But the province told her those weren香蕉视频直播檛 enough. They wanted five years香蕉视频直播� worth of bank statements, tax returns, house and car insurance records, and explanations for every transaction over $200.
香蕉视频直播淚 sent in what I thought they meant 香蕉视频直播� my notices of assessment,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut they came back saying I hadn香蕉视频直播檛 complied and hit me with the full tax bill. It felt like they香蕉视频直播檇 already decided I was guilty.香蕉视频直播�
The Ministry of Finance says that when a homeowner does not submit the requested documentation 香蕉视频直播� or when the information is incomplete 香蕉视频直播� the ministry may proceed with an assessment.
In cases of insufficient evidence, the tax applies by default.
For Washington, the default decision came with devastating consequences: a lien for $50,000 was placed on her property in April, and she香蕉视频直播檚 now in the middle of an appeal.
香蕉视频直播淓very day I wake up and wonder if I香蕉视频直播檓 going to lose my house,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 mentally exhausting. It feels like the burden is on me to prove I香蕉视频直播檓 not lying 香蕉视频直播� when all I香蕉视频直播檝e done is live in my own home.香蕉视频直播�
The Ministry of Finance says it doesn香蕉视频直播檛 comment on specific cases but reiterated that 香蕉视频直播渢he SVT applies to individuals based on their use of the property and their income reporting.香蕉视频直播�
According to their website, most British Columbians are exempt, and only a small portion of residents 香蕉视频直播� about one per cent 香蕉视频直播� end up paying the tax.
Still, Washington believes the system is casting too wide a net.
She shares her home with five adult children and a son-in-law, who all pitch in for expenses. She says e-transfers they香蕉视频直播檝e sent her for groceries or bills were flagged by the province as undeclared rental income.
香蕉视频直播淭hey asked if I had formal loan agreements with my kids,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 ridiculous. I even had to explain a $50,000 gift from my dad 香蕉视频直播� and prove he香蕉视频直播檚 my father.香蕉视频直播�
She also manages her 85-year-old mother香蕉视频直播檚 banking, which she says added to the confusion. Several transactions tied to her mom香蕉视频直播檚 account 香蕉视频直播� which she says never benefited her personally 香蕉视频直播� were also red-flagged.
香蕉视频直播淚 felt totally exposed,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淭hey wanted five years of everything. I don香蕉视频直播檛 even remember what I bought last month, let alone in 2019.香蕉视频直播�
The ministry says the system is designed to be fair, and that owners who receive assessment letters are encouraged to work directly with auditors to clarify any issues.
Washington acknowledges her caseworker during the appeal has been more understanding, but says the process still feels punishing 香蕉视频直播� especially for people with limited income or those unfamiliar with navigating audits.
香蕉视频直播淭his whole thing has opened my eyes,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淭here are probably a lot of people who just pay it to make it go away 香蕉视频直播� whether they owe it or not.香蕉视频直播�
Her message to others?
香蕉视频直播淭his isn香蕉视频直播檛 just happening to me,香蕉视频直播� Washington said. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 happening to seniors, single moms, people without accountants. People who don香蕉视频直播檛 even realize the province can decide they香蕉视频直播檙e speculating 香蕉视频直播� even when they香蕉视频直播檝e never left their home.香蕉视频直播�
The Ministry of Finance noted that each year, residential property owners in taxable areas receive declaration letters outlining how to complete a declaration and highlighting the . Owners must complete their SVT declaration every year, even if they're eligible for an exemption.
