Rates - how to pay and rebates
Change to rates invoicing from July 2022
Rotorua ratepayers now receive separate rates invoices from Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.
The timing of your four quarterly invoices from Rotorua Lakes Council will not change.
You will receive one invoice per year from Bay of Plenty Regional Council in late August/early September for payment by 20 October.
More information about regional council rates is available at boprc.govt.nz/rates or email rates@boprc.govt.nz or call the regional council on 0800 884 880.
Receiving your Rotorua Lakes Council rates invoice
Keep your contact details current
A key to receiving your rates invoice or Council being able to stay connected with the owners of properties in our district is for owners to keep their contact details up to date. Owners/people move, email addresses change, landlines are disconnected and/or cellphone numbers become obsolete.
Details can be kept up to date by contacting Council's Customer Service by either:
- Visiting the customer centre 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua
- Emailing: info@rotorualc.nz
- Or call: (07) 348 4199
Rates invoices by email
You can receive your rates assessments and invoices by email rather than by regular mail. This should be useful for overseas-based and other non-resident property owners.
Visit the Rates by Email Registration page to register for this service
Avoiding late payment penalties
A 10% penalty applies to any part of a quarterly rates invoice not paid by the due date specified on that invoice. The final payment dates for each quarter of the rating year are 20 August, 20 November, 20 February, and 20 May.
Rates Rebate
The Rates Rebate Scheme provides assistance in the form of a rebate (i.e. a deduction from a ratepayer's rates account) to those on low incomes to assist them in meeting the cost of their rates.
You can apply for a rates rebate if you were the legal ratepayer for the property where you were usually living on 1 July on a given year. As a ratepayer your name should be on the rates bill.
Maximum Rate rebate that is able to be applied to your rates bill for 2022/2023 is $700. However, to be eligible your Maximum Income Abatement Threshold is $28,080.
To be eligible you need to declare the income that you, and any spouse, partner or joint home owner living with you on 1 July 2022, received for the tax year ended 31 March 2022. Income must be the amount received before tax and also includes some types of non-taxable income, such as certain Work and Income allowances.
How do I apply for a rates rebate?
The Rates Rebate scheme is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs but Rates Rebate applications are processed by local Councils.
If applying between: | |
---|---|
July to October: | An appointment is required. If you were booked in for a rates rebate during this time period last rating year an appointment date and time will automatically be posted out to you. If this is your first time applying or you have applied before but outside of this time period (but you would like to claim during this period) contact the Rotorua Lakes Council Customer Solutions team on 07 348 4199 to book an appointment. |
October to June: | Customers are welcome to come into the Rotorua Lakes Council Customer Centre during working hours, no appointment is required. |
For your appointment, you will need to have the following information with you:
- Details of all Gross Income, (before tax) - 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021 financial year
- Personal Tax Summary - available from Inland Revenue.
- Phone 0800 227 774. Please note, it can take up to 10 working days before you receive this from the IRD
- Wages & Salary - (Tax Summary from IRD/employer)
- Work & Income Benefit & Superannuation - (RLC have this earnings information)
- Additional Allowances - Additional to the Benefit e.g. Accommodation Benefit - (from WINZ)
- In work Tax credits, Minimum Family Tax Credits & Parental Tax Credits - (from IRD)
- Gross Interest/ Dividends earned between 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2021
- Rental Income/Shares/Overseas Benefits or income
- Your Rates Invoice
- Also, your Environment Waikato rates (if applicable)
- ID - Community Services or Gold Card
Note: If someone else will be attending the appointment on your behalf, please ensure they bring a copy of the Power of Attorney giving them permission to represent you.
My income is more than $28,080. Will I be eligible for a rates rebate?
You may still be eligible, even if you and your spouse/partner's income is greater than the income abatement threshold of $28,080.
Eligibility is based on your income level as well as the rates you pay and the number of dependents living with you.
Note: Try the Rates Rebate Entitlement Calculator on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website.
Can I apply for more than one rebate?
No. Ratepayers are only entitled to one Rates Rebate per rating year.
This is New Zealand wide. Therefore if a customer owns a property in Tauranga and Rotorua and has applied for and been granted a rebate in Tauranga they are not eligible to apply for a Rebate in Rotorua.