How rate bills are calculated

Find out how your bill is worked out and the limit at which domestic rates are capped.

How your domestic rate bill is calculated

Your domestic rate bill is calculated by multiplying your rateable capital valuation by the domestic rate for your council area. The domestic rate for your area is made up of the regional rate set by the Northern Ireland Executive and the district rate set by individual councils.

You can use the link below to get an explanation of the calculation and terms:

• Rates calculation (PDF 488KB)
• Help with PDF files

You can use the following link to the Land and Property Services (LPS) website to find your capital valuation by inputting your property address and / or postcode.

• Individual capital valuation - LPS website

You can then use the following link to work out your rates bill by inputting your capital valuation and council area.

• Calculate your rates bill - LPS website

If you are entitled to help with your rates, such as Housing Benefit or Lone Pensioner Allowance, this will be deducted from your gross bill, but any amounts outstanding from previous years will be added to your bill.

You can get more information on the district rate for your area from your local council:

• Local councils in Northern Ireland

What do these rating terms mean?

Rateable Capital Value

This is the capital value of your property, based on property values on 1 January 2005, oth any reliefs applied.

Domestic Regional Rate

This is the number of pence in each pound of the value of your property that you will pay to the Northern Ireland Executive for regional services.

Domestic District Rate

This is the number of pence in each pound of the value of your property that you will pay in rates to your District Council for local services.

Rates Payable

This is the amount you have to pay, after exemptions, allowances and reliefs have been applied.

Reliefs

There is a range of reliefs available for domestic ratepayers. You can get more information by using the following link:

• Help with paying your rates

Capping

There is a maximum capital valuation of £400,000. For any house valued at more than this, the additional value is disregarded when calculating the rates.

More Useful links

• Buying, selling and renting a home
• Your local council services (home and community section)

In this section

• What are rates?
• What do rates pay for?
• Occupying and leaving a property
• What happens if I can't pay my rate bill?
• What happens if I don't pay my rates?
• What to do if you think you are paying too much rates
• Introducing your new rate bill
• Vacant properties
• Domestic rate poundages 2010 to 2011