IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR RATES - January 2015
Help Sunshine Coast Council become the
Most Sustainable Region in Australia – Vibrant, Green, Diverse
Receive your rates notice by email. Register at MyCouncil https://mycouncil.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au
Did you know you can set up a direct debit to have your rates paid in full on the due date?
To assist ratepayers who cannot pay their rates in full, Council does allow, by arrangement, a direct debit on
either a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.
To apply, visit www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and use the menu to navigate to the “Rates” page.
Early payment discount
For the 2014/15 financial year a discount of 5% will be
allowed on the general rate, to a maximum of $200 per
annum ($100 for each half yearly rate period) where
the net amount shown on the rate notice is paid by the
designated due date.
Pensioner Rate Concessions
All holders of a Queensland Pension Concession Card
or a Veteran Affairs Gold Card are entitled to a State
subsidy on their principal place of residence, and a
Council concession provided they have owned
property in the region for the preceding three years or
at least five out of the last ten years. (Note - Senior
Card holders are not eligible)
The categories of Council concession per property are:
Pension Rate
Sole Title
Joint Title
Maximum
$115 half year
$90 half year
Not Maximum $57.50 half year $32.50 half year
Holders of a Queensland Pension Concession Card
or a Veteran Affairs Gold Card are encouraged to
apply to Council if they do not have a pensioner
concession on their Rate Notice, particularly if there
have been recent changes to their type of benefit.
Change of Address
It is an owners’ responsibility to notify Council of any
change of postal address for service of rate notices.
Failure to advise Council may result in the loss of
discount, or debt recovery action.
Adjustment for prior years’ rates
It is the owners’ responsibility to check that all rates
and charges are correct at the time of issue of the
rate notice. Adjustments will only be made for rates
and charges levied in a prior financial year in
exceptional circumstances.
What properties are included in the Unit categories
for the Differential General Rate?
Land to which a community title scheme applies.
These properties are used for residential purposes.
(This category does not include single stand-alone
dwellings or vacant land). A high-rise unit is a
community title unit complex, available for residential
purposes, which is greater than four storeys above
ground.
What can I do if I cannot pay by the due date?
If there are no outstanding rates and charges from a
previous rating period you may apply to pay your rates
by instalments. A payment arrangement application
can be made online via MyCouncil, by phone, at a
customer service counter or by email. You are
required to submit an application to pay by instalments
for each half-yearly rate notice. If your payment
arrangement is maintained interest will not be charged.
If you have outstanding rates and charges from a
previous rating period you can apply for a rates debt
payment plan. Interest will continue to be charged at
11% calculated on daily rests. This plan is active only
for the current rating period. You are required to
submit an application for each half-yearly rate notice.
A reminder notice is issued approximately 14 days
after the rate notice due date if the rates are not paid
or a payment arrangement entered into.
Failure to respond to a reminder notice will result in
council commencing recovery action which includes
referring the matter to a Debt Recovery Agent. If the
rates are not paid or a payment commitment entered
into court proceedings will commence and legal costs
will be incurred.
Change of Ownership
A change in ownership fee recoups the costs incurred
in the processing of change of ownership advices. For
the 2014/15 financial year the fee is $72.50. The Local
Government Act 2009, Section 97 (2) (b) specifically
allows such a fee. Fee details appear on all rates
searches.
What properties are classified as Principal Place of
Residence (PPR)?
PPR are residential dwellings or units where at least
one owner permanently resides at the property.
If a residential dwelling or unit is held in a company (or
trust) name and the owner (or trustee) permanently
resides at the property they may qualify for PPR
status. The owner is required to provide evidence of
their shares/ownership of the company along with
proof of residency. Please refer to council’s website
for full details.
Fact Sheet Rating Category Statement 2014/15
Schedule of Rates 2014/2015
Category
General Rate
Minimum
cent in $
General Rate
1
Rural and Agricultural
0.5474
$1,078
2
Commercial and Industrial - $0 to $175,000 RV
0.7741
$1,078
3
Commercial and Industrial - $175,001 to $400,000 RV
0.7347
$1,355
4
Commercial and Industrial over $400,000 RV
0.7311
$2,939
5
Extractive Industries
0.7202
$1,490
6
Residential/Other - $0 to $280,000 RV
0.4514
$1,078
7
Residential/Other - $280,001 to $450,000 RV
0.4301
$1,264
8
Residential/Other - $450,001 to $550,000 RV
0.4293
$1,935
9
Residential/Other - $550,001 to $700,000 RV
0.4237
$2,361
10
Residential/Other - $700,001 to $800,000 RV
0.4011
$2,966
11
Residential/Other - $800,001 to $920,000 RV
0.3885
$3,209
12
Residential/Other - $920,001 to $1,100,000 RV
0.3792
$3,574
13
Residential/Other - $1,100,001 to $1,400,000 RV
0.3404
$4,171
14
Residential/Other - $1,400,001 to $2,500,000 RV
0.3395
$4,766
15
Residential/Other over $2,500,000 RV
0.3169
$8,487
16
Residential - not principal place of residence - $0 to $420,000 RV
0.5313
$1,295
17
Residential - not principal place of residence - $420,001 to $500,000 RV
0.5276
$2,231
18
Residential - not principal place of residence - $500,001 to $750,000 RV
0.5224
$2,639
19
Residential - not principal place of residence - over $750,000 RV
0.5195
$3,918
20
Vacant Land with a rateable value over $1,000,000 and total area greater than
1500 square meters
0.9057
$8,299
21
Stock Grazing Permits, Pump Stations and small lots less than 20 square
metres
0.5737
$160
22
Land which is subject to Chapter 2, Part 2, Division 5, Subdivision 3 of the Land
Valuation Act 2010
0.2708
No minimum
23
Retirement Villages & Nursing Homes
0.7298
$1,078
24
Shopping Centres - $3 million to $10 million RV
1.0144
$36,127
25
Shopping Centres - over $10 million RV not in category 26
1.3917
$111,359
26
Shopping Centres - Maroochydore over $30 million RV
2.5228
$1,430,610
27
High-rise Units – not principal place of residence
1.0583
$1,995
28
High-rise Units – principal place of residence
0.9862
$1,662
29
Low-rise Units – not principal place of residence
0.7773
$1,295
30
Low-rise Units – principal place of residence
0.6826
$1,078
Note: Vacant Land is included in category Residential/Other (categories 6-15)
How is the General Rate calculated?
Council will use a system of differential general rating for 2014/15. General rates are calculated on the
latest rateable value of land as determined by the Department of Natural Resources and Mines (DNRM).
The rateable value is multiplied by the rate in the dollar set by Council. Enquiries regarding your valuation
may be made to DNRM on (07) 5451 2227.
If I am not satisfied with the category I have been given for my property, can I object?
Yes, but the only ground you can object on is by using council’s criteria for categorising rateable land to
justify your land being in another category. Your objection must be lodged with council within 30 days of
issue of your rate notice. If an objection is lodged, the rates and charges levied continue to be due and
payable. If the differential category is altered as a result of the objection an adjustment of the rates will be
made. Please refer to council’s website for the differential general rate objection form.
Fact Sheet Rating Category Statement 2014/15