Personally Approved Payment Plan

No more standing in line, writing cheques or worrying about due dates! The Personally Approved Payments (PAP) plan allows you to make interest-free monthly payments on your current taxes by automatic bank withdrawals from your account.

How do I apply?

You can apply to the personally approved payment plan by completing an application form and attaching a void unsigned cheque. If you are paying taxes on more than one account with the City of St. John's, you must complete a separate application form for each account.

Residential Application Form

Commercial property owners

• Indicate on the form the payment amount. The payment amount should pay the quarterly tax bills and arrears that may be on the account in full by the end of the calendar year.
• The payment amount indicated will remain in effect until the City is notified in writing at least 10 days before the next scheduled payment to change the amount or to cancel the payments.
• Owners are asked to monitor their municipal tax account to ensure payment amount indicated is sufficient to pay current taxes bills and any arrears that may exist.

Commercial Application Form

Non-payment

If a payment is not honoured by your financial institution we will contact you to arrange payment plus interest and charge an administrative fee of $20 for the non-payment. If three or more payments are missed in the same taxation year, we may cancel the agreement and invoice you for the total taxes owing, plus interest.

Supplementary tax bills

Pay all supplementary tax bills in full by the due date on the bill. If you wish to have this bill added to your current PAP account, please contact us: email taxation or call 709-576-8251.

Termination of personally approved payments

You may withdraw from the personally approved payment plan by giving written notice 10 days before the next scheduled payment is due. If you withdraw from the plan, all unpaid taxes are due immediately and subject to interest charges for late payment.

The City of St. John's has the option of terminating your enrollment in the personally approved debit plan if three payment requests are returned by your financial institution in the same taxation year.

Change in banking information

To change your banking information contact us at least 10 days in advance of the next scheduled payment date. We will need:

• written notice of the change
• a void cheque for your new account 

Payments not honored due to change in banking information not being received by our office will be treated the same as non-payment.

Change in ownership

If your property is sold or transferred, please notify us in writing, ten days in advance of the next scheduled payment, to cancel your enrollment in the personally approved debit plan: email taxation or call 709-576-8251. When requested, we will provide your lawyer with tax and payment information.

Changes to your municipal tax account

If your personally approved payments need to be adjusted due to changes in your municipal taxes, we will send you a letter in January. Please notify us immediately if your mailing address changes.

• Residential property owners will receive a renewal letter in January of each year reflecting any change required due to changes in the tax amount.
• Commercial property owners are responsible to contact us if your personally approved payments need to be adjusted due to changes in your tax amount.