Why do I still receive the rates demand note though a rates concession has been announced in the Budget?

As announced in the 2023-24 Budget Speech, rates concession will be given to all ratepayers to offset the rates payable for the two quarters, April to June 2023 and July to September 2023, subject to a ceiling of $1,000 per quarter for each rateable tenement.

Rate payers may still receive "Demand for rates and/or Government rent" (Demand) from the Rating and Valuation Department (RVD) for the following reasons -

• The quarterly Demand will show the details of the concession and the rates payable after offsetting the concession amount. Even though the rates payable is zero, RVD will still issue the Demand to the payer for reference; or
• The payer is still required to pay Government rent; or
• The rates payable is more than the rates concession amount.

Upon receipt of the Demand, the payer is required to make the payment by the due date. A 5% surcharge will be imposed immediately after the last day for payment. A further 10% surcharge will be imposed on any amount remaining outstanding (including the 5% surcharge already imposed) six months after the original last day for payment.