Rates rebate

If you own your home and are on a low income, you may be eligible for a rates rebate. A rates rebate is a partial discount on your rates bill, so you pay less.

The rates rebate process and eligibility requirements are managed by the Department of Internal Affairs. We assess and approve rates rebate applications on their behalf. The rates rebate is for the current rating year, and you can be eligible for all or some of this amount. Applications are only accepted for the current rating year.

Am I eligible for a rates rebate?

You may be eligible if:

you are the legal ratepayer for your property
your property was your place of residence on 1 July.
your property is not used principally for commercial, industrial, business or farming purposes
you apply between 1 July and 30 June each rating year.

If you are eligible, you need to apply by 30 June for the each rating year.

Apply as soon as your first rates invoice arrives — do not leave it until June.

How much will my rebate be?

To check what your entitlement might be, use the : online rates rebate calculator

your rates amount
if you hold a SuperGold Card
your gross income and your spouse or partner’s gross income (if applicable), and
the number of dependants living with you.

The rates rebate is for residential ratepayers on low incomes. However, you still may qualify for a rates rebate if you have a higher income and you have dependants, if you are a SuperGold cardholder, or if your rates are high.

Examples of the rates rebate you may be entitled to if you have no dependants.

No SuperGold Card (for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027)

Household income	Level of rates
Household income	$4,000	$6,000	$8,000
$32,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$35,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$38,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$41,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$44,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$47,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$50,000	$462.00	$830.00	$830.00
$53,000	$87.00	$830.00	$830.00
$56,000	$0.00	$830.00	$830.00
$59,000	-	$670.33	$830.00
$62,000	-	$295.33	$830.00
$65,000	-	$0.00	$830.00
$68,000	-	-	$830.00
$71,000	-	-	$503.67

SuperGold Card (for 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027)

Household income	Level of rates
Household income	$4,000	$6,000	$8,000
$46,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$49,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$52,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$55,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$58,000	$830.00	$830.00	$830.00
$61,000	$735.00	$830.00	$830.00
$64,000	$360.00	$830.00	$830.00
$67,000	$0.00	$830.00	$830.00
$70,000	-	$830.00	$830.00
$73,000	-	$568.33	$830.00
$76,000	-	$193.33	$830.00
$79,000	-	$0.00	$830.00
$82,000	-	-	$776.67
$85,000	-	-	$401.67

Information you need to provide with your application form.

The information can include photographed and/or scanned documents. You will need to make sure the pictures and/or scans are clear and readable.

You will need:

Proof of income for the tax year 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026

A copy of one of the following forms will be accepted:

Income confirmation from Work and Income or IRD
Investment earnings statement/RWT Certificate
Statement of earnings from employer.

If you are self-employed a copy of one of the following forms will be accepted:

A copy of the complete set of financial accounts
IR3B or IR10 form as provided to IRD.

Power of attorney

If you completing the application on behalf of the ratepayer you need to include:

Power of attorney documents and
Certificate of non-revocation and non-suspension of Enduring Power of Attorney

Proof of SuperGold Card

If you have a SuperGold card, you may be eligible to receive a higher rebate.

Provide a copy of your signed SuperGold card. The copy can be a photograph or scanned document.

Do you live in a retirement village?

Most retirement village residents who hold a licence to occupy agreement are able to apply.

A separate retirement village operator certificate needs to be filled in by your retirement village operator.

Your rates rebate will be paid into your bank account – payment will not be credited to the rate account (i.e., the retirement village itself). Please include your bank details in the retirement village declaration form.

You can contact your retirement village for more information and declaration forms.

Retirement village resident rates rebate certificate

Owners of company-share apartments (owner-occupier flats)

If you are an owner of a company-share apartment, you might be eligible for a rebate.

A company-share apartment is a residential flat or apartment that you own and have a lease (exclusive possession) or license (right to occupy and use) to occupy because you:

are a shareholder in the company that owns the land the flat or apartment is built on, or
own a financial interest in the land the flat or apartment is built on.

You will need to complete a separate company-share apartment rates rebate declaration form and upload into your application.

Company-share apartment rates rebate declaration

Residents of trust-owned properties

You can only apply if you are:

a named trustee, and
named on the council rating information database (RID).

Apply for your rates rebate.

When you have gathered all the required information please use the Rates rebate online application form.

Rates rebate online application form

After you have applied

We will assess your application and let you know if it has been approved. We aim to contact you with an outcome within eight weeks of receiving it.

Please note:

that processing times will be longer at the beginning and end of the rating year due to a higher volume of applications during these times.
the Otago Regional Council rates will be available in September and processing cannot be completed before these rates are set.

For further information on rates rebates: www.govt.nz/rates-rebates

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