Commercial Rates

This depends on whether it’s a newly constructed property or an existing rated property.
Newly constructed premises will require to be valued by Tailte Éireann (formerly known as Valuation Office) before Rates become payable. Waterford City & County Council will list newly constructed premises for valuation. This involves an inspection of the premises by one of Tailte Éireann's qualified Valuers following which you will be notified of the proposed valuation. There is an appeal procedure should you wish to avail of it.

If you are taking over an existing rated property, then you will be liable for the existing Rates applicable to the premises. Extensive alterations will involve a revaluation. If you require information on the level of Rates applicable to that premises, you may contact the rates department for further information.

The Occupier of a premises is legally liable for payment of Rates on the premises.

Rates are payable on vacant premises, however, an application may be made for vacancy relief if the premises is vacant and available for let, or alternatively it is vacant for the purpose of carrying out repairs or alterations.

• Partial Vacancy:

When a property is vacant for a partial year, relief is granted on a pro rata basis per month i.e. 1/12th of the annual vacancy relief applicable would be issued per month of vacancy.

• Eligibility & Conditions:
  Application can be made online here or using a paper form (available at the end of the page.  All relevant back up documentation must be submitted with the application.
  All applications will be reviewed on an individual basis. Granting of relief will be contingent on adequate details being provided.

Owners of Commercial Properties are now obliged to notify the Local Authority, within 10 days of the transfer date, where there is a change in occupation of their property, i.e. when there is a change in tenancy or where a property is being sold, including where a property becomes vacant. The person transferring the property, either the owner or occupier are legally required to discharge all commercial rates for which he/she is liable at the date of transfer.

Owners must complete a Section 11 Form within 10 days of the change taking place. Owners who do not notify the local authority within 14 days will incur a financial penalty. This penalty is an amount equivalent to up to two years of outstanding rates from the previous occupier. Any penalty due and outstanding by an owner of relevant property due to non-notification will remain a charge on the property. The penalty charge is not affected by the subsequent payment of the outstanding rates and it remains payable even after the outstanding rates have been paid.

• See Section 11 form at the end of the page.

All ratepayers are reminded that they are legally required to pay all commercial rates due from them prior to their departure from a property or prior to the sale or transfer of an interest in a property.  Any rates due and outstanding by an owner of relevant property will remain a charge on the property.

The valuation of a property is determined by the Commissioner of Valuation -Tailte Éireann (formerly known as the Valuation Office), No alteration can be made to the rates assessment of a ratepayer until such time as the valuation of a property is amended by the Commissioner of Valuation. A ratepayer of the Council can seek to have the valuation on a property revised. For further details you can contact Tailte Éireann at 01 817 1000, email info@tailte.ie or log on to www.tailte.ie

Failure to pay your Rates by the specified period will result in legal proceedings being issued, followed by a Court Summons/Civil Proceedings.
The Council may utilise a number of enforcement measures such as registering the debt as a judgement mortgage on property owned by the ratepayer,
registration of judgement in the High Court (which leads to publication by credit rating agencies such as Stubbs Gazette)
or judgement may be referred to the Sheriff who is empowered to seize goods to satisfy the judgement.

A situation can arise whereby a Commercial Rates customer will also be a supplier of goods or services to Waterford City & County Council. Should a situation arise whereby Waterford City & County Council owes money to a Commercial Rates customer for goods supplied or services rendered and at the same time Commercial Rates are outstanding from that customer, the local authority reserves the right to apply a setoff (contra-entry) on account. This effectively allows for the payment of rates to be funded by way of amounts owing by the local authority to the rates customer. Section 58 of the Local Government Act 1941 facilitates this action.