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Rates Rebate

The Rates Rebate Scheme is available to homeowners on low incomes to help meet the cost of annual rates. This assistance is in the form of a partial discount on their property rates bills.

Who can apply for a rates rebate

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. To be eligible:

  • Your name should be on the rates bill as a ratepayer
  • You need to declare the income that you (and any spouse, partner or joint homeowner living with you on 1 July 2026) received for the tax year ended 31 March 2026.

Income abatement threshold

  • For super gold cardholders you can have income up to $46,400 and get the maximum rebate amount.
  • For non-super gold cardholders you can have income up to $33,210.
  • A household getting more income than these amounts may still get a rebate, but it will be less than the full amount. You can use a rates rebate calculator - (govt.nz) to estimate the rebate amount you could get.
  • "Income" must be the amount received before tax and includes some types of non-taxable income, such as certain Work and Income allowances (Accommodation supplement, Childcare subsidy, OSCAR subsidy, Temporary Additional Support).

The maximum rates rebate that can be applied to your rates bill for 2026/27 is $830. You may be eligible for all or only part of this amount.

How to apply for a rates rebate

The Rates Rebate scheme is administered by the Department of Internal Affairs - (govt.nz) but rates rebate applications are processed by local councils.

You can now book a rates rebate appointment online. Click the link below to pre-book an appointment for the 2026/2027 rating year commencing on 1 July 2026.

Book your appointment online

Appointments will be held between 3 August 2026 and 30 June 2027. You can book an appointment time that suits via the booking form above or call the Rotorua Lakes Council Customer Solutions team on 07 348 4199 if you need help booking an appointment.

Please note: Appointments are 20 minutes. If you have booked online, you will receive email confirmation of your appointment booking. Please write your date and time down when you pre-book an appointment online or over the phone.

If you supplied your email address at the time of your booking you will also receive a reminder 1 day before hand.

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.

Identification

  • Pensioner: If you hold a SuperGold Card, please bring this to your appointment.
  • Non‑Pensioner: Please bring a Community Services Card, Driver Licence, or Passport as proof of identity.

Proof of Gross Income

Proof of Gross Income (before tax) for the financial year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026. Gross income includes the following:

  • If you are on wages or salary, you will need to provide proof from Inland Revenue. You can download this online via the myIR website.
  • Gross interest (including bank accounts and term deposits), dividends, shares, overseas income, or benefits received.
  • Information on any rental income, Airbnb accommodation income or boarder income.
  • If you are self‑employed, you will need to provide a full set of accounts for the business.
  • Information on any in‑work tax credits, minimum family tax credits, or parental tax credits received — this must be obtained from Inland Revenue.
  • If you receive a Work and Income benefit or superannuation, Council has access to standard benefit information, so you do not need to supply this. However, if you receive any additional allowances (e.g., accommodation supplement), you will need to provide this information. This must be obtained from Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

You may still be eligible, even if you and your spouse/partner's income is greater than the income abatement threshold.

Eligibility is based on your income level as well as the rates you pay and the number of dependents living with you.

Try the Rates Rebate Entitlement Calculator - (govt.nz) to give you an indication of eligibility.

No. Ratepayers are only entitled to one rate 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 also apply for a rebate in Rotorua.

The rebate is not given automatically. You need to apply every year, and your application will be fully assessed each time you apply.

No, you can download and print the application form yourself, fill it out, supply the required information and submit that to us.

View more information on completing the application process - (govt.nz)

You can also ask us to post the application form to you.

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