Understanding Your Rates

A general rate is a tax that reflects the land, capital or Assessed Annual Value (AAV) of the property. It may involve an additional fixed charge which applies equally to every property. A council may make a general rate whether or not it provides any services to the land upon which the rating is made.

This is income that the Council is required to pass on to the State Government through the Tasmania Fire Service.

Under the Local Government Act 1993 Council is required to make a service rate in respect of fire service contributions it must collect under the Fire Service Act 1979, for the rateable parcels of land within the municipal area of Burnie.

The Landfill waste levy per property or tenement is a State Government levy that all councils are required to collect on behalf of the State Government Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The levy will be used to fund various waste management programs and projects across Tasmania to create a circular economy.

For more information refer to the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania website:  Landfill Levy

A service charge is a fixed charge payable on each property. The charge may differ depending on the type of service or circumstances in a particular area. In some situations, if a service is not provided or is unavailable, the prescribed rate or charge for that service may not apply

The Council levies service charges for:

• Municipal Waste Management;  
• Kerbside Collection – garbage and/or recycling; and
• Stormwater Removal.

Remission requests for eligible properties (refer to the Rates and Charges Policy):

• Rates Residential Waste Remission Request(PDF, 409KB)
• Rates Stormwater Remission Request(PDF, 407KB)

The Council provides a 2.0% discount of the total current rates and charges (excluding fire and waste levies) specified in a rates notice, where all rates and charges, as well as any arrears, are paid in full by 5.00pm on 30 August.

Properties in Tasmania are re-valued by the State Government through the Office of the Valuer-General under the Valuation of Land Act 2001, for local government rating and tax purposes.

General revaluations are issued every six years, with properties within the Burnie municipal next scheduled for valuation in 2026.

In 2024-25 an interim Adjusted Annual Assessed Value (AAV) has been provided by the Office of the Valuer-General to take account of the significant increases in property values since the last valuation occurred.  These adjusted valuations are the values on which properties have been rated.

If you disagree with your valuation, you can lodge an objection with the Office of the Valuer-General within 60 days of the receipt of your valuation notice.  Objections can be lodged online at www.nre.tas.gov.au/ovg.  A form may also be downloaded from their website.

Click here for a full list of the fees and charges as adopted by Council annually.