Sligo Borough Council

Rates

What are Rates?

Rates are a property tax levied by Local Authorities, the income from which is used to fund the general provision of services throughout their administrative area. Rates do not represent payment for any particular service provided to any specific ratepayer. Rates are payable on commercial/industrial properties and some other non domestic properties.

How are Rates calculated?

There are two factors involved in this - Annual Rate on Valuation and Rateable Valuation. The Annual Rate on Valuation is determined by the elected members at the Annual Budget Meeting. The Rateable Valuation of a property is determined by the Commissioner of Valuation. Rates are calculated by multiplying the Annual Rate on Valuation (multiplier) by the Rateable Valuation (RV).

Annual Rate on Valuation
Year	Borough	County
2011	69.11	64.43
2010	69.46	64.43
2009	71.24	66.08
2008	71.24	66.08

When are Rates Payable?

Rates are payable in two moieties per year. The first moiety is payable upon issue of the yearly Rate Demand, the second moiety falls due on 1st July.

Who can be held liable for Rates?

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. A subsequent occupier can be held liable for up to two years arrears of commercial rates. New occupiers of rateable properties should check with the Local Authority to ensure that all commercial rates are paid up to date including arrears, prior to purchasing/occupying a property.

What happens if I don’t pay my Rates?

Failure to pay the Rates by the specified period will result in legal proceedings being initiated.

Methods of Payment
Cheque
Credit/Debit Card (at public counter)
Standing Order
Revenue Collector
Cash
Postal/Paying Order

VALUATION OFFICE INFORMATION

The valuation of a property is determined by the Valuation Office, Irish Life Centre, Abbey Street Lower, Dublin 1 who are the state property valuation agency. Their core business is the valuation of property for commercial rates and they are independent of Local Authorities. The Valuation Act 2001 is the basis for the present rating system.

Initial Valuations of a Property

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.

Can I appeal my valuation?

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 8171000.

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.

What if I am not happy with the result of the appeal?

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.

VALUATION REVISIONS

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.

Who will carry out the valuation revision of my property?

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 current rateable valuation remain legally payable.