Rates rebates on the way for Business property owners
JOBURG – Business property owners may apply to have their rates ratio reduced from 2.6 to 2.3 for the lockdown levels 4 and 5.
City Council calls on business and multipurpose residential property owners to apply for lockdown rates relief.
The City of Johannesburg’s Finance MMC Jolidee Matongo announced on 8 August that business property owners may apply to have their rates ratio reduced. In a statement released by the MMC, he stated the ratio would be changed from 2.6 to 2.3 for the lockdown levels 4 and 5 which took place between April and June.
All businesses and multipurpose properties who fit the criteria are advised to download the relief application form on the City’s website. On 31 July, Matongo announced that the City would be implementing rates relief for residents which includes the waiving of penalty interest charges on defaulting municipal accounts for the period between April and June.
The statement read, ‘The relief is set to be automatically activated for residential properties.’ This adds to the relief measures put in place for rate payers in the face of the Covid-19 lockdown and all the financial challenges caused by it.
According to the MMC, the rebate is only available to business property owners whose municipal accounts were up to date prior to the start of the Covid-19 lockdown or those who can confirm that a payment arrangement with the City is in place.
Applicants will be expected to produce financial statements before and during the pandemic and complete the appropriate applications forms for the rebate. The criteria for multipurpose residential property owners to apply for the rates relief rebate for lockdown levels 3 and 4:
- The applicant’s property value must be equal to or less than R20 million
- The applicant’s municipal account was up to date before the start of the Covid-19 lockdown or at least has a payment arrangement in place with the City
- The applicant can produce financial statements before and during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Applicant has completed the necessary rebate application forms
Matonga extended his sincere thanks to all ratepayers who have faithfully paid their accounts. He appeals to property owners in arrears to approach the City for a suitable payment arrangement.
