Wairarapa councils promote rebate

Many retailers maybe eligible

BY PIERS FULLER - WAIRARAPA NEWS

Wairarapa district councils are urging ratepayers to check whether they are eligible for rebates.

It's not only beneficiaries and low income earners that may be up for a rebate; self-employed people who are struggling in the current economic climate might also get some of their rates refunded.

Masterton District Council revenue accountant John Wynne said they have already approved 749 applicants in the Masterton district and the total rebate figure is sitting at around $370,000 for this year.

The threshold has gone up from $20,000 to $21,910 and the maximum rebate has increased from $530 to $550. "We have had a better approval rate this year and people have received more rebate on an average figure," Mr Wynne said.

The average rebate size this year is $493 which is considerably more than the average at the same time last year of $449.

He said the council's approach in trying to maximise the uptake of the rebate opportunity seems to be working and Masterton ranks highly among councils nationwide as far as the rebate uptake rate is concerned.

Last year, the MDC approved 1220 rebates and going by the current uptake, the total for this year may exceed this number.

Carterton District Council rates and revenue officer Sue Fleet said they are always keen to get as many people as possible taking advantage of rebates. Around 200 people have taken up the rebate offer in Carterton so far this year.

Three hundred Carterton ratepayers received a rebate last year.

Carterton ratepayers with an income of $16,000 or less who have a rates bill of $1000 would be eligible for a $550 rebate.

There is a sliding scale of rebates which relates to the total rates bill and the income of the ratepayer.

South Wairarapa District Council rates clerk Janine Adams said they are seeing more new applicants this year but the numbers are tracking at a similar rate to last year.

While ratepayers are being urged to take advantage of the rebates, they still have plenty of time to apply as applications do not close until June 30, 2010.

The taxpayer eventually pays for council rates rebates through the Internal Affairs Department.