Getting a rates rebate

Who can apply

If you have a low income and pay the rates on your home, you could get up to $630 taken off your rates bill. You can apply for your rates rebate through your local council.


To apply, you must be:

  • the person who pays the rates on the property that's your home
  • living in your home
  • listed as the ratepayer in the council's Rating Information Database (RID) — this has all the information about rates and ratepayers for every property in your council's area.

You can't apply if:

  • you're not the legal rate payer
  • your property is mainly used for commercial activities, for example farming or business
  • your property is a rental property or holiday home.

If you move during the year, check with your council to find out if you can still get a rates rebate.

If you live in a retirement village

Most retirement village residents, including people who live under a licence to occupy agreement, can apply for a rates rebate.

If your name is not on the rates bill

You may still be able to apply if your name is not on the rates bill, for example if you live in an owner-occupier flat, such as a company share flat or apartment. There is an extra step in the application process.

If you own more than 1 property

If you own more than 1 property, you can't claim for other properties even if they're in a different council area.

If you live in a trust owned property

You need to be a named trustee and also listed in the council's Rating Information Database (RID) to be able to apply.

What you get

The most you can get is $630 for the current year.

How much you can claim depends on:

  • how much your rates are — this includes local, regional and water rates
  • your household income, and
  • whether you have any dependants living with you, such as children or relatives on a benefit — your partner is not a dependant.

If your income before tax is $25,180 or less you can often claim the full amount. If your income is higher you may still be able to get all or part of the rebate depending on:

  • how much your rates are, and
  • how many children or other dependants are in your household.

If you have dependants, your income can be $500 more for each one.

Example

If you have 2 children, then you would still be able to get the full rebate of $630 if your income is less than or equal to $26,180.

Estimate your rates rebate

You can use this calculator to see if you can get a rates rebate and estimate how much you might get.

For the year ending 31 March 2018
Children or relatives on a benefit living with you
Include city, district and regional council rates

Estimated Rebate $0

When to apply

You need to apply every year to your city or district council:

  • after you receive your annual rates bill
  • between 1 July and 30 June of the year that the rates apply to.

If you applied the year before, your council might send a new application form with your annual rates bill.

You can only claim the rates rebate once a year.

Before you apply

The information you need to supply varies from one council to another, so check what you need to do in your area.

Find your local council by region

Before you can apply, you need:

  • your rates bill
  • ID such as your driver licence, Community Services Card or SuperGold Card
  • information about your income before tax for the tax year 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018 — you might need to include proof of your income with your application.

Information about your income

You need to provide information about income before tax for the 2017 to 2018 tax year, including:

  • your income or earnings
  • your partner's income if they live with you
  • the income of any joint home owner living at the property
  • income from benefits that aren't taxed, for example Accommodation Supplement or Recoverable Assistance Payment
  • earnings from investments or shares that you haven't paid tax on in New Zealand.

Get a summary of earnings

You can get a summary of earnings from IRD to prove your income before tax. It can take up to 10 days to be issued. 

Freephone: 0800 227 774 (NZ only)

If you filed a tax return for the year, you could use your personal tax summary as proof of your income.

If you're on a benefit, or get NZ Super or a Veteran's Pension

You need to tell your council which benefits or pension you're getting.

They may ask you to contact Work and Income to get proof, although many councils won't need proof of the amount you get from NZ Super.

Work and Income: contact us

If you don't need to include proof of your income you can work out your income before tax yourself.

Multiply your benefit's gross weekly rate by the number of weeks you got a benefit in the 2017 to 2018 tax year.

Benefits and payment rates 2017

If you're an owner-occupier of a company-share flat or apartment

If you live in an owner-occupier flat, such as a company share flat or apartment, your name may not be on the rates bill even though you pay rates.

To apply for a rebate you'll need to get the person whose name is on the rates bill to complete a declaration form saying what your total rates are and how much your share is.

You can:

  • ask your council for a paper form, or
  • download the form.

Rates rebate declaration form for the owner of an owner-occupier flat (PDF 39KB)

If you live in a retirement village

If you live under a licence to occupy agreement you need to include a declaration certificate with your application.

The certificate will show the total rates you've paid for the current year.

You can ask your retirement village for a completed form or you can give it to them to fill in.

Declaration certificate form —  resident of a retirement village

If you run a business or earn money from home

You need to include a copy of a Schedule of Business Income (IR3B), or Financial Statements Summary (IR10) for the 2017 to 2018 tax year with your application.

If you worked overseas during the year

If you worked overseas for part, or all, of the tax year you need to include this income in your rates rebate application. This may mean contacting employers or tax authorities in the country you were living in to get information about your income.

How to apply

You need to fill out a Rates Rebate Application Form and get it signed by an authorised witness. You can:

  • download the form, or
  • ask your council for a paper form.

2018/2019 Rates Rebate Application Form (PDF 810KB)

If you move house during the rates year

You can still get a rates rebate if you move house, as long as you haven't claimed the rebate on your previous house. When you fill out the application form, you'll need to give information about the property you sold, including:

  • the settlement date
  • what rates you paid for the current year.

If the rebate for your previous house was quite small and the rates on your new house are much higher, ask your council if you can have your rebate assessed again.

If you run a business or earn money from home

You need to declare this on the form.

Getting your application witnessed

You need to confirm on the form that the information you've provided is true. You do this by signing it in front of an authorised witness. People who can authorise your signature include:

  • an authorised council officer
  • a Justice of the Peace (JP)
  • a chartered accountant, or
  • a minister of religion.

Persons authorised to witness the rates rebate form application (PDF 36KB)

Find a JP

Give your application to your council

You need to give your completed application form and any supporting documents to your council by 30 June each year.

Getting the rebate


Your council deducts the amount of your rebate from your rates bill. If you've already paid your rates in full they'll give you a refund.

If you get the Accommodation Supplement

If your rates rebate is approved and you're getting the Accommodation Supplement, you need to tell Work and Income.

Accommodation Supplement

Other help with housing costs

Your rates

If you don't qualify for a rates rebate, check with your local or district council to find out if they'll let you postpone paying your rates. You may be charged fees and interest for being in debt.

Postpone or defer paying your rates

Other housing help

If you're on a low income you might be able to get help from Work and Income with housing costs.

Accommodation Supplement

Temporary Additional Support

You may also be able to get help from central government or your local council to find somewhere to live that you can afford.

Help paying rent and housing costs

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