Commercial Rates originated in the 19th century when all property was valued based on its annual letting value. It is essentially a property tax on commercial premises. Rates on domestic properties were abolished in 1977 and on agricultural land & buildings in 1982.
Important Changes to Rates Legislation - commencement of the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019. Please note: The Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019, (as amended), was commenced on 1st January 2024.
- Payments of Commercial Rates
- Why do we charge Commercial Rates?
- How are Commercial Rates calculated?
- Duty to provide information
- Sale of Property
- Commercial Rates - Frequently Asked Questions
- What do I do if my property is vacant?
- Ratepayers in difficulty
- Offset on account (contra-entry)
Payments of Commercial Rates
The rates bill is due and payable in full on the first day of January each financial year. (Previous payment in two moieties no longer applies)
- Interest will be applied to unpaid rate accounts from 2026 at a rate of 0.0219 per cent per day.
- Amendments to a valuation list will be effective immediately (Revisions, Additions, Removals, Appeals)
- A pro-rata liability and billing will apply where occupation ends or begins mid-year.
Please quote customer account and Invoice number from the Rate Demand when making payment.
Limerick City and County Council has the following payment methods available to our ratepayers:
Online
To pay your Commercial Rates online please click here.
Pin available on request. Please email rates@limerick.ie or call 061 556360
Electronic
To complete an Electronic funds transfer to Limerick City and County Council please use the following account details:
| IBAN: | IE93AIBK93524787042040 |
| BIC: | AIBKIE2D |
| Bank Name: | Allied Irish Bank Plc, 106-108 O’Connell Street, Limerick |
| Account Reference: | Quote your Rates Account Number on all payments. |
Direct Debit
By direct debit, monies are deducted on the fourth Friday of each month to clear liability by 31st December of the given year. Please note that as it takes 14 days to set up a direct debit. Forms will need to be with Limerick City and County Council in the first week of the month to activate the direct debit during this month.
A Direct Debit Form can be downloaded from the supporting documents at the end of the page or a form can requested by email: directdebitrates@limerick.ie.
Postal Orders
Payable to Limerick City and County Council and can be posted or presented to our Cash Offices in Dooradoyle or Merchants Quay, Limerick.
By Credit Card or Debit Card
Please contact the cash office at (061) 557296 or (061) 556000 between 9.15am - 4pm, Monday to Friday, to arrange this type of payment.
By Post
Please quote your Account and Invoice number. (Do NOT send cash in the post.)
In Person
At the Cash Office in Dooradoyle or Merchant's Quay, Limerick between the hours of 9.15am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
At one of our area offices which operate Monday to Friday during the following times; Kilmallock, Newcastle West and Rathkeale 9.15am - 4pm.
Standing Order
Full amount to be paid by 31st December. To download the Standing Order Form, please see supporting documents at the end of the page.
If you wish to make arrangements to pay by instalments, this can be arranged through your Revenue Collector. Limerick City and County Council is divided into districts for the purposes of collection and each district is assigned a Revenue Collector.
Why do we charge Commercial Rates?
Commercial Rates are a property-based source of income for local authorities. The income from Commercial Rates underpins the entire range of services provided by local authorities.
Commercial Rates income is a very important source of income for Limerick City and County Council, therefore the timely collection of commercial rates is vitally important for the efficient running of the Council.
Commercial Rates are payable on receipt of the demand. Under the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019, the Commercial Rates bill is due and payable in full on the 1st day of January annually. Revenue Collectors have responsibility for the collection of Commercial Rates in Limerick City and County Council.
Where the Collector is unable to obtain payment in the normal way, legal proceedings may be taken to recover the outstanding amount with costs. The local authority can offset any monies due to a Ratepayer against rates due. Interest will be applied to unpaid rate accounts from 2026 at a rate of 0.0219 per cent per day.
How are Commercial Rates Calculated?
The Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) is the figure used to calculate the annual Commercial Rates payable by the Occupier of a rateable property each year.
This figure is determined by the elected members of the Council at the annual budget meeting each year, based on the deficit between Council income and expenditure for the forthcoming year.
For 2024, the Annual Rate on Valuation is 0.2797.
The Annual Rate on Valuation figure is multiplied by the Valuation amount of the premises as determined by the Commissioner of Valuation.
For example:
If your property has been valued at 20,000.00 by the Valuation Office then your Commercial Rates bill for 2024 will be:
20,000.00 X 0.2797 (ARV for 2024) = €5,594.00
Disclaimer:
The Rates Calculation provided above gives you a sample rates liability for 2024.
Duty to provide information
Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019
Ratepayers have a duty to give notice within 10 days to the local authority if they become aware that incorrect information is being held by the local authority and in default without reasonable excuse will be guilty of an offence on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000.
Ratepayers have a duty to inform the local authority where they (i) cease to be a liable person, (ii) become a liable person, (iii) change their status as a liable person and in default without reasonable excuse will be guilty of an offence on summary conviction and liable to a fine not exceeding €5,000.
Sale of Property
A liable person who proposes to sell a relevant property is required to pay to the local authority any rates and accrued interest which is due up to date of sale and payable in respect of that property in their capacity as a liable person on or before the completion of the sale and in default without reasonable excuse will be guilty of an offence on summary conviction and liable to a fine.
Commercial Rates - Frequently Asked Questions
Commercial Rates FAQs - click here
What do I do if my property is vacant?
The property must be habitable and maintained to a level that would allow its use for commercial purposes.
Payment, if applicable as outlined on the table below, must be receipted to the account prior to the application being submitted.
Approved applications will result in a write-off of the % allowance within the property value category. The write off cannot be applied if the payment due within the category is not made.
If a vacant property is sold, outstanding Commercial Rates and any arrears are due in full up to the date of sale.
For 2024, there are 3 Categories under which the Vacant Property Grant Allowance Scheme applies;
Vacant Property Forms for 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 can be downloaded in the supporting documents at the end of the page.
Note completed application form & proof of vacancy are also required.
Applications must be submitted within the calendar year
|
Band |
% Refund |
|
Up to €3,000 Annual Rate Demand (with payment of 25% required) |
75% |
|
Over €3,001 to €12,000 Annual Rate Demand (with payment of 50% required) |
50% |
|
Over €12,001 to €60,000 Annual Rate Demand (with payment of 75% required) |
25% |
|
Over €60,001 Annual Rate Demand (with payment of 90% required) |
10% |
Ratepayers in Difficulty
Limerick City and County Council are actively working with customers who have outstanding balances on rates to facilitate payment plans. Ratepayers in the City and County that are experiencing financial difficulties should contact their Revenue Collector to agree an acceptable payment plan.
Offset on Account (contra-entry)
A situation can arise whereby a commercial rates customer may also be a supplier of goods or services to Limerick City and County Council. Should a situation arise whereby Limerick City and County Council owes money to a commercial rates customer for goods supplied or services rendered, and at the same time commercial rates are outstanding with that customer, the local authority reserves the right to apply an offset (contra-entry) on account. This effectively allows for the payment of rates to be funded by way of amounts owing by the local authority to the rates customer. See the Local Government Rates and Other Matters Act 2019.