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Time is running out for people to apply for their rates rebates, with only a small number of applications received by the City so far.
JOBURG residents who can qualify for a rates rebate have only one more month to apply. The closing date for rebate applications is 31 August.
The department of rates and taxes in the City's finance directorate has received only a small number of rebate applications, mostly from senior citizens.
"I want to encourage everyone who intends to apply to submit their applications as soon as possible," says rates and taxes director, Erika Naude.
Once an application is processed, the rebate is applied to the following month's account. Residents receive a letter indicating that their application has been successful and the rebate details are also reflected on monthly accounts.
"Those applications that we receive after the deadline will have their rebate applied retrospectively from 1 July 2008." However, this only applies to people or organisations that qualify for rebates after the 31 August deadline, such as a new public benefit organisation or a pensioner who turns 60 later in the year and who fulfils all the pensioner requirements.
Naude urged customers to continue to pay their rates bill in full and on time until their applications are approved; this would avoid possible suspension.
As these rebates are not awarded automatically, residents need to apply for them; only some residents are eligible for rebates:
- Pensioners who own and personally occupy the property; those dependent on a National Security Grant; those not on a National Security Grant but whose gross monthly income is below R5 000; and those who are not on a National Security Grant, but whose gross monthly income is higher than R5 000 but less than R9 000;
- Declared heritage sites;
- Owners of vacant land where planning permission to develop the property is not given as a result of the council being unable to provide municipal services (including Eskom);
- Private colleges which own land and are registered by the national Department of Education as education facilities. Schools and colleges that are registered as businesses do not qualify for a rebate;
- Public benefit organisations, including those that offer welfare and humanitarian services, health care services and educational and development services;
- Farming and agricultural land owners; and
- Private sports clubs, where a sports club is either unable to pay the property rates; where the membership of the club is open to previously disadvantaged persons; where the land owned by the club is used primarily for sporting activities; or the club is involved in sports development programmes for previously disadvantaged communities.
For more information residents can contact the City on 011 375 5555.
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