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Commercial Rates

The rates ARV for 2024 is 0.2891. 

Commercial Rates Energy Discount Scheme 2024


A Cleaner, Greener WaterfordBUSINESS PLEDGE FOR CLEANER, GREENER WATERFORD

Since 2022, businesses across Waterford have been rewarded for prioiritising energy efficiency through the Commercial Rates Energy Discount Scheme.

25% of greenhouse gas emissions in Waterford come from businesses and Waterford City and County Council want to help businesses to reduce their emissions and costs.

The Council are working towards reducing emissions from our own operations by 51% by 2030 and this year we are asking businesses to pledge to take specific actions to reduce their environmental impact too. We are also collecting energy cost data so we can quantify the impact of all these actions across the next few years.

The Commercial Rates Energy Discount Scheme will now be known as the Business Pledge for a Cleaner, Greener Waterford and businesses that complete this year’s requirments will receive a 9% discount after the deadline, once it is verified that all requirements have been met. Waterford is the only county in Ireland delivering such an initiative and businesses and the Council working together in the coming years will hopefully make Waterford the most sustainable place in Ireland to do business.

View a short video here.

Questions? – please email Climate Action Coordinator at gkennedy@waterfordcouncil.ie or email commercial rates related queries to rates@waterfordcouncil.ie

 

Scheme Dates: 2nd September – 18th October 2024

 

Why do we charge Commercial Rates?


Commercial Rates are a property-based source of income for local authorities. Rates are a statutory charge, the income from which is used to part-fund the annual revenue (day-to-day) expenditure of the local authority. Rates originated in the 19th century and are essentially a property tax on commercial premises.
There are currently three primary sources of local government financing which are universal amongst most countries. They are:

  • Central Government; Grants
  • Charges for Goods and Services and
  • Commercial Rates

Commercial Rates is one of the primary sources of Local Government funding and the income from Commercial Rates underpins the entire range of services provided by local authorities. Commercial Rates are payable in equal moieties, the first on receipt of the demand, and the second on 1st July each year. Revenue Collectors have responsibility for the collection of Commercial Rates in Waterford City & County Council.

How are Commercial Rates calculated?


The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) is the figure used to calculate the annual Commercial Rates payable by the Occupier of a rateable property each year. This figure is determined by the elected members of the Council at the annual budget meeting each year, based on the deficit between Council income and expenditure for the forthcoming year. The rates ARV for 2024 is 0.2891.

The Annual Rate on Valuation figure is multiplied by the Valuation amount of the premises as determined by the Commissioner of Valuation.

For example: If your property has been valued at 20,000.00 by Tailte Éireann (formerly known as Valuation Office) then your Commercial Rates bill for 2024 will be: 20,000.00 X 0.2891 (ARV for 2024) = €5,782.00

Disclaimer: The Rates Calculation provided above gives you a sample rates liability for 2024.

See also Waterford Historical ARVs 2010 to 2024

 

When do the rates become due?


Your rate assessment for 2024 is due in full on the 1st of January 2024, along with any balance carried forward from 2023.

You have an option of paying monthly by Direct Debit over the entire year. Please see the back of your rates bill for methods of payment and contact details.

Duty on property owners/ ratepayers in relation to transfer of property


There is a duty on property owners / their agents and occupiers of commercial property to inform the Council of any change in their status as a liable person for Commercial Rates purposes within 10 days of any such change. For example: (a) if you were liable for Commercial Rates at a premises but no longer are or (b) if you have now become liable for Commercial Rates at a property.

A change of tenancy / ownership form should be completed and returned to the Council in relation to any changes within the 10-day timeframe.  Failure to do so, could lead to prosecution and if found guilty – to a fine up to 5,000 euro.

How do I pay Commercial Rates?


The following payment methods are available:

Online

  • By Credit Card or Debit Card, you can pay your Commercial Rates online. Your PIN appears on your Rate Demand. If you need a PIN reminder, please contact us on 058-21120.
  • Electronic Transfer (EFT) To complete an Electronic Funds Transfer to Waterford City & County Council please use the following account details:
    IBAN:IE71 AIBK 9340 7022 2960 86
    BIC:AIBKIE2D
    Bank Name:Allied Irish Bank Plc, 3 TF Meagher Street, Dungarvan.

Direct Debit
By direct debit, monies are deducted on the 15th day of each month to clear liability by 31st December of the given year. Please note that as it takes a number of days to set up a direct debit, forms will need to be with Waterford City & County Council on the first day of the month to activate the direct debit during this month.

A Direct Debit Mandate form is available online here.

By Post or in Person
Cheque /Postal Orders: Payable to Waterford City & County Council by post to Commercial Rates Office, Waterford City & County Council, City Hall, The Mall, Waterford or Civic Offices, Dungarvan.

In Person: Payable in our Cash Offices in Civic Offices, Dungarvan or Bailey’s New Street, Waterford between the hours of 9.30am-4pm, Monday to Friday. Please quote your Account and LAID numbers. (Do NOT send cash in the post.)

By Phone: Please contact the cash office at 0818 10 20 20 with your card details between 9.30am-4pm, Monday to Friday, to arrange this type of payment.

Economic Incentive Scheme for Vacant Properties in Urban Areas 2023-2024


Waterford City & County Council is offering incentives over a three year period to attract new retail and other businesses within the core retail area of the City Centre, towns and village centre of Waterford in order to bring vibrancy and vitality to the city and town centres.

It is intended to ensure that any incoming retail or service use will respect and enhance the multifaceted character of the area and will allow and encourage a diversity of uses to increase its overall attractiveness for shopping, leisure and business purposes.

There will be a strong presumption in favour of grant-aid for higher order comparison retail outlets including fashion outlets – both multiple and independent stores, ‘lifestyle stores’, flagship stores, niche and specialist retailers such as home furnishings, beauty products, jewellery and bookshops.

For further details, please see :

Current Grant Schemes

Commercial Rates FAQs


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.

Donal Fitzpatrick051-849964 or email dfitzpatrick@waterfordcouncil.ie  (Waterford City)
Frank Walsh051-849965 or email fwalsh@waterfordcouncil.ie  (Waterford City)
David Head051-849681 or email davidhead@waterfordcouncil.ie  (Tramore, Dunmore East, Passage East)
Jennifer O’ Riordan058-22053 or email joriordan@waterfordcouncil.ie (Dungarvan, Cappoquin, Lismore, Tallow)
Susan O’Brien058-21437 or email sobrien@waterfordcouncil.ie (Dungarvan, Kilmacthomas, Portlaw, Bonmahon)

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.

Vacancy Relief (vacant for a full calendar year)

Vacancy relief has been available as follows:

Prior to 2016:100%
2016:80%
2017-201955%
2020:40%
40% vacancy relief is the maximum rate allowable from 2020 onwards with the remaining 60% of the rates liability payable on the property.
  • 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.