Who is eligible to get a rates rebate
Find out what the eligibility requirements are and work out if you can get a rebate.
How rates rebates are calculated
When working out if you’re eligible for a rates rebate, your local council will check your income, how many dependants you have, and how much your annual rates bill is.
Even if you can only meet some of the requirements, you may still be eligible for a rebate.
Get an estimate
Use our rates rebate calculator to get an estimate of how much rebate you might get.
Check if you’re eligible before you decide to apply for a rates rebate.
Ready to apply?
Where you live
To be eligible for a rates rebate:
- the property you pay rates for must be your usual place of residence
- you must be living in your own home on
- you’re listed as your property’s ratepayer on your local council’s rating information database (RID) — or one of the other types of property ownership and living situations applies to you.
It’s okay to have a short stay away, such as a holiday or hospital visit. But you cannot get a rates rebate if you do not usually live at your property.
Rating information database (RID)
The RID records all the information about properties that’s necessary for the setting and assessment of rates.
You need to be listed as your property’s ratepayer on your local council’s RID.
If you have any questions about this database, contact your local council.
Other types of ownership and living situations
If you live in a retirement village
Most retirement village residents, including people who live under a ‘licence to occupy’ (LTO) agreement, can apply for a rates rebate.
With your rates rebate application, also complete the retirement village residents declaration form.
You live in an owner-occupier flat or a company-share flat or apartment
If your name is not on the rates bill but you live in an ‘owner-occupier’ flat, such as a company-share flat or apartment, you may still be able to get a rebate.
Complete and include the company-share apartment residents declaration form with your rates rebate application.
Company-share apartment residents — Declaration form (PDF 263KB)
If you live in a trust-owned property
You need to be a named trustee and listed in the council’s Rating Information Database (RID) to be able to get a rebate.
Contact your council if you’re unsure.
Properties you cannot get a rebate for
You cannot get a rebate for your property if you:
- do not usually live there
- use your property mainly for commercial activities — for example, farming or business, or as a rental property or holiday home
- own more than 1 property — you cannot claim for other properties even if they’re in a different council area.
Total rates you pay
You need to find out how much you pay for council rates for your home — from to .
Your total may be a combination of:
- local council rates (city or district council)
- regional council rates
- council water rates.
Include your water rates, too, if you get a separate council bill for them.
Contact your local council or retirement village operator if you need help to get this information.
Your dependants
Calculate how many dependants were living with you on .
A person is not a dependant if:
- you get a payment for them under section 363 of the Oranga Tamariki Act
- they’re your spouse or partner.
Child dependants
These are children who:
- live at your home
- are cared and provided for by you (and your spouse or partner)
- were (on ), under 18, not married and not in a civil union or de facto relationship
- you were not receiving payments for under section 363 of the Oranga Tamariki Act .
Children in shared care count as dependant.
Family dependants
Relatives are dependants if:
- they live at your home
- you (and your spouse or partner) care and provide for them
- they get a benefit from Work and Income — but not New Zealand Superannuation.
Your household income before tax
To work out your total household income before tax, you need to add up all the money you earned, before tax, from to . Summaries from Inland Revenue and your pay slips often call this amount your ‘gross amount’.
If you live with a joint homeowner, partner, or spouse, include what they earned during the same time period. Do not include their income if they do not live with you and do not include dependants’ income.
Your household income may come from, for example:
- wages
- salary
- government benefits and payments
- pensions
- self-employed income
- bonuses
- overseas income
- interest or dividends.
The rates rebate application form lists more income sources that you need to consider.
Rates rebate application form (PDF 359KB)
Get proof of your income
You’ll need to include proof of your income with your application when you apply.
You can get this proof from Inland Revenue or Work and Income.
Proof of income from Inland Revenue
You can get an income summary by logging into Inland Revenue (IR).
Request a summary of income — IR
You can also contact IR’s self-service number (NZ only).
Proof of income from Work and Income
You can ask your case manager to give you a letter showing your income.
Call Work and Income on 0800 559 009 (NZ only).
If you’re self-employed
You’ll need to provide a copy of your complete set of financial accounts, IR3B or IR10.
These forms can be found on the Inland Revenue website.
Talk to your council about eligibility
If you have any rates rebate questions, including about your eligibility for a rebate, contact your local council.