Abbotsford residents will be able to pay their property taxes online with a credit card this year. But there will be a cost.
The city has previously declined to accept credit cards for large transactions because it did not want to sacrifice a cut of the money it was collecting.
But now that credit card companies allow governments to tack on a service fee, the city is set to accept credit card payments for taxes, utility bills, development cost charges and large invoices. The public had previously only accepted credit cards for smaller transactions like bylaw fines, permits, business licences and recreation programs.
Paying taxes with plastic is going to cost more, though.
The city will charge a 1.75 per cent service fee for those using credit cards. That, council was told Monday, should cover the cut of such payments demanded by credit card companies.
The fee means that a taxpayer using a credit card would pay $35 extra on a $2,000 property tax bill.
The public will be able to pay by credit card online. It should be up and running by May, when property tax notices are delivered.
Correction: this story originally said credit cards could be used at city hall. That was incorrect. They can only be used online.
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