Information on Rates

CONTACT DETAILS

Town of Claremont
PO Box 54
CLAREMONT  WA 6910
Ph: (08) 9285 4339
Fax: (08) 9285 4301
Email: rates@claremont.wa.gov.au.

WHAT ARE COUNCIL RATES?

Council Rates are a levy based upon property values, which pay for a large proportion of the cost of the facilities and services provided by the Council.  Facilities include the library, pool, golf course, roads, footpaths, refuse collection, parks and reserves.

WHO PAYS COUNCIL RATES?

Rates are the responsibility of the current owner of a property.  Ownership can be established by enquiring at the Department of Land Information (DLI), but new owners and those transferring ownership do have a legal responsibility to inform Councils when a change in ownership or the address for service of notice occurs.

COLLECTION OF OVERDUE RATES

Where rates are overdue, every effort is made to recover the rates in an efficient manner.  Debt collectors are used and, failing which, Local Court action is taken.

HOW ARE RATES CALCULATED?

Rates on properties located in urban areas are calculated using the Gross Rental Value method.

Steps:

1.       A fair weekly rental value is determined for the property by the State Government's Valuer
          General through analysing the current market rental values in the area or from an inspection.

2.       The weekly rental value is multiplied by 52 to determine the annual Gross Rental Value.

3.       Council sets a Rate in the dollar amount.

4.       The annual Gross Rental Value is multiplied by the Rate in the dollar to produce the Annual
          Rates amount.

Example:

1.       Fair weekly rental value = $400.

2.       Annual Gross Rental Value = $400 x 52 weeks in the year = $20,800.

3.       Rate in the dollar = 7.24 cents.

4.       Annual Rates amount = $20,800 x 7.18 cents = $1,493.44.

How the Rate in the Dollar is Set

When Council sets the Annual Budget each year, it must set a "rate in the dollar".

This figure is simply determined by firstly estimating all of the organisation's expenditure for the year, less any non-rate income.  The balance is the total amount of rates that needs to be raised to "balance the budget". This total is then divided by the total of all property valuations, producing the rate in the dollar.  The amount of the rate chargeable to each individual property is then calculated by applying the rate in the dollar to each individual property's valuation (that is, its Gross Rental Value or GRV).

WHO DETERMINES THE VALUATION ON YOUR PROPERTY?

Under the Valuation of Land Act the Valuer General is required to provide Council with a valuation for each rateable property within the Town. 

The valuations used in the Town of Claremont are Gross Rental Valuations (GRV), which means the gross annual rental that the property might reasonably be expected to realise if it was rented out.

Where an annual rental cannot reasonably be determined, then the GRV shall be the assessed value.  Assessed value relates to a set percentage of capital value, currently 5%.  For example, vacant land or land developed with highly specialised improvements for which no rental value can be determined, is currently valued on the basis of 5% of its total capital value.

Objection Against Land Valuations

Any person not satisfied with the valuation allotted to their property may lodge an objection with the Valuer Generals’ Office. Such objection must be lodged within 60 days after the issue of the rate assessment notice.

An objection must be in writing and may be on the grounds that a valuation is not fair and just, is inequitable and incorrect, whether by itself or in comparison with other property valuations.

Objection forms are available at the Council offices.  Post your objection to:

      Valuation Service Branch
      PO Box 7201 Cloisters Square
      PERTH  WA 6850

The lodgment of an objection does not remove the obligation to pay the full amount of the rates, based on the valuation objected to, by the date specified on the assessment.

For more information on your valuation please contact the Valuer General on (08) 9429 8500 or access their website.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS AND OWNERSHIP

Please remember that it is the responsibility of the home owner to advise the Council of any change of address or ownership so as to enable us to serve notices. Notification is required in writing.

RATE PAYMENT OPTIONS

Ratepayers may pay their rates in the following ways:

One Payment (Option 1)

If you pay your account by the due date in one payment, no interest charge or administration charge will be incurred.

Four Instalments (Option 2)

You have the option to pay your rates by four instalments, provided that the first instalment, including any arrears, is paid by the due date.  This option will incur administration and interest charges.

If you do not pay the Option 2 amount by the due date, the whole balance becomes payable immediately and interest, calculated at a higher penalty rate, is payable on the rates balance outstanding until it is paid in full.

Special Arrangement

If you are unable to pay your rates by the initial due date please contact the Rates Officer to discuss a special payment arrangement on (08) 9285 4339.

Payment by a specially arranged instalment plan will incur a higher administration charge and interest on the outstanding daily balance, calculated from the date of the agreement for the instalment plan.

PAYING YOUR RATES

The Town of Claremont accepts rate payments by the following methods:

Pay by Phone

Payment can be made by phone using Visa, Bankcard and Mastercard.  Please ring 1300 791 834 (at a cost of a local call) and follow the prompts at the voice message.  Do not forget to have your notice on hand to enter in the required information when requested.

Payment by Mail

Post your cheque and the payment slip only to: Town of Claremont, and crossed with “not negotiable”.  Insert into the supplied reusable envelope (Reply Paid 54 Claremont WA 6910).  The top portion of the notice should be retained as your record.  No receipt will be issued.

Pay in Person at Australia Post

Present your notice to the cashier at any Australia Post Office or Agency for payment during normal Post Office hours.

Pay In Person at Council

Present your notice to the cashier at the Town of Claremont, 308 Stirling Highway, Claremont.  Office hours are Monday to Friday 8.00am to 5.00pm, excluding public holidays.  EFTPOS and credit card (Visa, Bankcard or Mastercard) facilities are available.

Pay by BPay

Contact your participating Financial Institution to arrange payment from your cheque, savings or credit account.  Please quote Council’s Biller Code 79947 and your reference number, as stated on your rates notice.

Pay Online

Payment can be made online by gong to Council’s website and selecting the option ePayments.

Pay by Bill Express

Look for the Bill Express logo at selected Newsagencies to pay your bill with cash, debit card or cheque, or use the Bill Express Service ATM at Coles Supermarkets (debit card only).

CONCESSION ON RATES

Pensioners and service card holders who meet certain criteria are entitled to claim a concession of up to 50% of the current year’s rates and Emergency Service Levy or, in some instances, a deferment of those rates. These concessions may also apply to holders of both a State Seniors Card and Commonwealth Seniors Health Card.

Seniors Card holders may be entitled to claim a concession of up to 25% of their current years rates (subject to a maximum) and Emergency Service Levy.

To be eligible for concessions under the Rates and Charges (Rebates and Deferments) Act 1992, applicants must:

• Be the holder of a Pensioner Concession Card, State Concession Card, Commonwealth Seniors Health Card or a State Seniors Card; and
• Be the owner and resident of the property as at 1 July in that rating year.

*Other cardholder may be eligible for concessions.  Please contact Ph. 9285 4334 for further details.

Concessions are paid on the Rates and Emergency Service Levy only. All other charges must be paid by the due date.

If you own and occupy a property as at 1 July of the current financial year and receive a Pension or Seniors card or a Commonwealth Seniors Health card during that year, please immediately apply to receive a pro rata concession. These concessions are applicable from the date your application is received at Council or by the Water Corporation.

When a ratepayer, who is registered as an entitled person, ceases to be entitled, that ratepayer must give notice to the Council and the registration will be cancelled.  Any person who willfully makes a false statement in an application, or who remains registered as an entitled person knowing they are not eligible, is guilty of an offence.  (Penalty $1,000).

An added benefit of this scheme is that no penalty interest applies to eligible persons.

How to Apply for a Concession

Concession Claim forms are available at the Council offices at 308 Stirling Highway, Claremont.  Completed forms are to be hand delivered to the Council offices to enable your Concession Card to be sighted.

Emergency Services Levy on Council Rates Notice

Effective from 1 July 2003, all property owners in Western Australia will pay the Emergency Services Levy, introduced by the State Government.

All Local Governments across the State are required to collect the levy on behalf of the Fire and Emergency Services Authority (FESA) by including it on the rate notices.

This new levy will be listed on rate notice as a separate item and will be clearly identified as the "Emergency Services Levy."

The State Government advises that the levy is based on a home or business property’s gross rental value and will replace a fire levy fee on insurance policy, so premiums should be reduced accordingly.

Residential and vacant land property owners will pay a minimum levy of $38 up to a maximum of $205 a year.

Pensioners and seniors who qualify for a rebate on their Local Government rates will be eligible for the same concession on the Emergency Services Levy. The levy will not affect the total rebate limit that pensioners and seniors can claim on rates.

The levy can also be paid by instalment as part of a payment instalment plan.

To find out more about the levy, including an online calculator, visit the FESA website www.fesa.wa.gov.au.