Pensioner Rates Remission Tasmania: Your Complete 2026/27 Guide
If you're a pensioner homeowner in Tasmania, the state government will pay part of your council rates bill for you. The pensioner rates remission knocks up to 30% off your general council rates every year — and yet thousands of eligible households never claim it.
How the Pensioner Rates Remission Works
Tasmania's pensioner rates remission operates under the Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991. The Department of Treasury and Finance sets the policy, and the State Revenue Office (SRO) administers the scheme and reimburses councils for approved remissions.
The remission equals 30% of your eligible rates — general rates, general municipal charges, waste charges, and stormwater levies — subject to a statutory cap. For 2026/27, the caps are:
- $401 if your property is connected to TasWater
- $591 if your property is not connected to TasWater
The difference exists because TasWater customers receive a separate utility concession (up to $249.43) directly on their water bill. Non-TasWater customers get the higher council cap instead.
On top of that, you'll also receive a 20% rebate on the State Fire Commission levy listed on your rates notice.
What's Changed for 2026/27
Both caps have been indexed upward from 2025/26, when they were $385 (TasWater) and $566 (non-TasWater). The 30% formula and the 20% fire levy rebate remain the same.
The qualifying date is still 1 July — your concession card must be active on or before 1 July 2026. Applications close 31 March 2027.
Who Qualifies
You need two things: a qualifying concession card and a home you own and live in as your main residence.
Qualifying cards include the Pensioner Concession Card (PCC), Health Care Card (HCC), DVA Pensioner Concession Card, and DVA Gold Card endorsed TPI or War Widow/er. The Commonwealth Seniors Health Card and the Tasmanian Seniors Card do not qualify.
If your card was issued on or after 2 July 2026, you'll need to wait until the 2027/28 rating year.
Free Download
Get the Tasmania Pensioner Rates Remission Application Checklist
Everything in this article as a printable checklist — plus action plans and reference guides you can start using today.
How to Claim
Lodge an application with your local council — not TasWater, not the SRO. Most councils accept forms online, by email, by post, or in person. You'll need your concession card (front and back), your property details from the rates notice, and a signed Centrelink consent declaration so the council can verify your card electronically.
If your remission appeared on last year's rates notice and nothing has changed, it renews automatically. The SRO and councils run a bulk data match with Services Australia and DVA each May–June.
Don't Forget TasWater
Claiming council rates remission does not trigger the TasWater concession. That's a separate application to TasWater directly — and unlike the council scheme, TasWater never backdates. Every day you wait costs money.
For the full dual-agency walkthrough and printable checklists, see our Pensioner Rates Remission in Tasmania guide.
Get Your Free Tasmania Pensioner Rates Remission Application Checklist
Download the Tasmania Pensioner Rates Remission Application Checklist — a printable guide with checklists, scripts, and action plans you can start using today.