Rates Rebates

Applying for a rates rebate

The Central Otago District Council, on behalf of the Department of Internal Affairs, administers the rates rebate scheme. You may qualify for a rebate of a portion of your rates. The rebate is aimed at ratepayers in a lower income bracket and is worked out on a sliding scale, which links income level to rates levied. It is aimed at residential ratepayers rather than farmers or industrial properties. The higher your rates and the lower your income the more chance you have to qualify for all or part of the rebate.

You can apply for a rates rebate if your name is on the rates account, and you were living at that address at the beginning of the rating year. Please contact us to see if you are eligible.

The rebate is calculated based on the gross total of your income, that of your spouse/partner (if any) and of any joint homeowner. Review the Department of Internal Affairs Rates Rebate Calculator to see if you qualify.

Forms can be downloaded from the Department of Internal Affairs website's Rates Rebate Scheme page or are available from any of our service centres.

Rates rebates are granted under the Rates Rebate Act 1973. Details of income must be entered on your application so your rebate can be calculated. Applications are strictly confidential.

Applicants must reapply every year (however once you have applied once you normally get added to a mailing list to receive further application forms in subsequent rating years, though if you miss a year you will need to ask again).

Contacts for Rebate Enquiries

If you need some help with your application, or have any questions regarding the scheme, please phone Council on (03) 440 0056 or email info@codc.govt.nz.