Rates are a property tax levied by Local Authorities on the occupiers of commercial/ industrial properties in their administrative area.
There are two factors involved in this – Rateable Valuation and Annual Rate on Valuation
The rateable valuation of property is determined by the Commissioner of Valuation. In most cases it is based on an estimate of the likely rent that a tenant would pay on an annual basis.
The second factor included in the calculation of commercial rates is the ‘Annual Rate on Valuation’ (or multiplier). This is determined by the Council at its Annual Budget Meeting. The rates demand is calculated by multiplying the rateable valuation by the annual rate on valuation:
RV Annual Rate on Val Rate Demand
100 x 67.98 = €6798.00
Where Does my Money Go?
Rates will be spent on any of the various functions of the Sligo Local Authorities, such as:
Rates are payable in two moieties per year. The first moiety is payable upon issue of the yearly Rates Demand, the second and final moiety must be paid by the 1st of July.
The Local Authority is empowered to instigate legal proceedings if payment is not received by the 1st July each year.
The person liable for payment of commercial rates is the person in occupation of a rateable property at the date of making the rate.
Once the occupier vacates the property the owner becomes liable. It should be noted that where the person who had liability for commercial rates defaults payment, a subsequent occupier can become liable for two years commercial rates arrears owed by the previous occupier of a rateable property.
New occupiers of rateable properties should ensure that all commercial rates are paid up to date, including arrears, prior to purchasing a property.
Failure to pay your Rates by the specified period will result in legal proceedings being issued, followed by a Court Summons. The Council may register a judgement mortgage on the property, or in extreme cases apply for a jail committal order.
The Valuation Office is the state property valuation agency. Their core business is the valuation of property for commercial rates. The Valuation Office is independent of Local Authorities.The valuation of a property is determined by the Valuation Office, Irish Life Centre, Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1.
When the Valuation Office values the property a draft certificate will be issued directly to the occupier/ owner. You will be invited to make free representations in writing within 28 days should you be dissatisfied with the proposed valuation or other details contained in the draft certificate. If no representations are received a final certificate will be issued.
You can appeal the valuation to the Commissioner of Valuation within 40 days from the date of issue of the valuation certificate. The appeal must be made on the prescribed form and accompanied by the appropriate fee. Details can be found on www.valoff.ie or by contacting the Valuation Office on 01 817 1000. The Commissioner of Valuation will consider your appeal and make a decision within 6 months of receiving the appeal. The result of the appeal becomes effective for rating purposes at the same date as the revision on which the valuation in question was issued
If dissatisfied with the outcome of the appeal procedure the ratepayer can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Further information is available on www.valuations-trib.ie
Rates assessed on the current effective valuation remain legally payable while the tribunal appeal is being considered. If any refund or increase is applicable to the ratepayer’s account it will be applied once the result has been issued to the Local Authority.
Once a final certificate of valuation is issued by the Valuation Office and no appeal has been lodged, can it be reviewed?
No. If an appeal has not been lodged within the relevant time frame, then no further right of appeal exists. However you can apply to have the valuation of a property revised or altered.
Who can apply to have the valuation of property revised or altered?
The occupier or owner of property, the Rating Authority, or an occupier of other property appearing on the valuation list may apply, in writing to the Commissioner of Valuation, to have the valuation of property revised. The application must be accompanied by a fee of €250. The Commissioner of Valuation may also initiate revisions of valuation.
A Revision Officer, from the Valuation Office will call to the property in due course to conduct a revision of the Valuation Following inspection and consultation with the ratepayer, the Valuation Office may decide to increase or reduce the valuation or to leave it unchanged. The outcome of this process will become effective for rating purposes in the subsequent year.
The Local Authority is also empowered to apply for new properties to be valued or for the valuation on existing properties which have undergone amendments/alterations to be revised.
While the revision process is ongoing rates assessed on the existing valuation remain legally payable.
For further information on revisions and valuations
Valuation Office
Irish Life Centre
Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1
Telephone: +353 1 8171000
www.valoff.ie
For further information on Appeals & Tribunal Appeals
Appeals & Tribunal Appeals
Floor 1, Ormond House
Ormond Quay Upper, Dublin 7
Telephone: +353 1 8728177
www.valuations-trib.ie
For more information, contact
The Rates SectionSee our web sites for more details:
www.sligococo.ie or www.sligoborough.ie
Glossary of Relevant Terms: