Fire Service Levy Pensioner Concession Tasmania: The 20% Rebate

Most Tasmanian pensioners know about the 30% rates remission, but fewer realise there's a separate concession sitting on the same rates notice: a 20% rebate on the State Fire Commission levy.

What the Fire Levy Is

Every Tasmanian property owner pays a State Fire Commission levy on their council rates notice. It funds the Tasmania Fire Service and is collected by your local council on behalf of the Fire Commission under the Fire Service Act 1979.

The levy amount varies by property — it's based on your property's assessed annual value and fire district classification. Urban properties in areas with full fire station coverage pay more than remote rural blocks.

The 20% Pensioner Rebate

If you hold a qualifying concession card (Pensioner Concession Card, Health Care Card, or endorsed DVA Gold Card) and qualify for the standard pensioner rates remission, you automatically receive a 20% rebate on the fire service levy as well.

This is calculated separately from the 30% general rates remission and is not subject to the $401/$591 cap. It applies on top of whatever your general remission amount is.

A Quick Example

If your fire service levy is $120:

• 20% rebate: $24 off the fire levy
• This $24 is in addition to your general rates remission (up to $401 or $591)

The rebate appears as a credit line on your council rates notice. You don't need to apply for it separately — it's processed automatically when your pensioner rates remission is approved.

Why It Matters for High-Value Properties

For pensioners who hit the general rates remission cap, the fire levy rebate is the one part of the concession that continues to scale with the bill. A property with a $200 fire levy gets $40 back, regardless of whether the general remission is capped.

For a breakdown of every component on your Tasmanian rates notice and how concessions apply to each, see our Tasmania Pensioner Rates Remission guide.

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