Pensioner and senior State Government rebates
State Government rebates are processed through the Water Corporation and in order to be eligible, you must meet the following criteria:
You must be an owner and occupier of a rateable property at 1 July or earlier, and:
If you’re a pensioner, either: hold a current Pensioner Concession Card or State Concession Card, or
Hold both a WA Senior’s Card (issued by the Department of Communities’ WA Senior’s Card Centre) and a Commonwealth Senior’s Health Card. You are entitled to claim a rebate of up to 50 per cent of your Rates and Emergency Service Levy (subject to a maximum amount)
If you only hold a WA Senior’s Card (issued by the Department of Communities’ WA Senior’s Card Centre), you are entitled to claim a rebate of up to 25 per cent (subject to a maximum amount)
Pensioner concessions apply to current rates and Emergency Services Levy only, and not to waste collection and other charges, which must be paid in full by the due date shown on the front of the notice. Accounts which remain overdue after 30 June will lose the eligibility to claim the annual State Government Rebate or may be at risk of losing the eligibility to defer rates and Emergency Service Levy.
Please note, unemployment benefits and health care cards do not qualify for a concession.
Rates deferment
Deferment only applies to rates and Emergency Service Levy (ESL). All other charges must be paid in full. When the balance payable as shown on the front of the notice is not paid by 30 June, the pensioner rebate will be reversed, and the full amount of the rates and ESL will be deferred. This is only applicable to pensioners receiving a full rebate, the option of deferment is not available to WA Seniors Card holders.
For more information, please contact the City’s Rates Team on (08) 9205 8555.
Heritage rates concession
Owners of rateable residential and commercial properties included on the City’s heritage list can apply for a discount on their general rates charge, to assist with the care and maintenance of their property.
Residential properties are eligible for a 50% concession on their general rates charge while commercial properties are eligible for a $2,000 capped concession per property. The concession will need to be applied for on an annual basis.
Rates exemption
An organisation can apply for an exemption of rates pursuant to Section 6.26(2)(g) of the Local Government Act 1995 (LGA), where it is claimed the land is used exclusively for charitable purposes.
An application must be from the owner of the property or a tenant liable for the payment of rates under a lease agreement.
An application will be required to be lodged every year (leased properties) or every three years (owned properties) and will be assessed by the City.
