Rates payment plans and postponements

Rates payment plans

You may be able to get help paying your rates through a payment plan that we can agree with you. This is separate to government support for ratepayers like the rates rebate scheme and accommodation supplement.

Rates postponement policy

We have developed a new Rates Postponement Policy (PDF 190 KB) in response to the financial hardship being experienced by small business owners and residents during events including Covid-19. If you’re over-65 you can also apply regardless of your financial situation.

The policy gives residential and small business ratepayers the option of delaying their rates payments subject to the full cost of rates postponement being met by the ratepayer, and Council being satisfied that the risk of loss is minimal.

Businesses

For the first time, small businesses are eligible to apply to Hutt City Council for rates postponement.

The policy applies to properties with a capital value of up to $1.5 million.

We encourage small businesses that are experiencing financial hardship as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown to contact us as we may be able to help you.

Financial hardship

The policy defines financial hardship, and includes when your income reduces to a level where paying rates would result in significant financial hardship.

Each applicant will be considered on a case by case basis and the following criteria apply:

For business ratepayers

• a 30% reduction in revenue, or
• qualification for a Government emergency financial support package (e.g. the wage subsidy scheme), or
• qualification for a mortgage 'holiday' from the bank.

For residential ratepayers

• loss of employment, or
• a significant reduction in income, or 
• or qualification for a mortgage 'holiday' from the bank.

How to request rates payment help

1. If you're experiencing financial hardship, check if you are eligible for a government rate rebate or other support first.
2. If you're not eligible for government support, complete the rates payment help online form. This must be filled out by the property owner.
3. Once we've received your enquiry we will look at agreeing a payment plan with you. We aim to process these in 5-7 working days.
4. If a payment plan doesn't meet your needs, we will consider a formal rates postponement. We will ask you to fill out the Rates Postponement Form (PDF 153 MB) and provide some documentation. We aim to process these in 5-7 working days.

The rates postponement process (PDF 23 KB) shows how this works in more detail: