Northern Ireland Domestic Rates Calculator
Estimate your annual rates based on property capital value and local council.
Estimated Rates Bill
*These figures include both the Regional Rate and the District Council Rate for the 2024/2025 period.
Understanding Rates in Northern Ireland
Domestic rates are a property tax used to fund local public services such as waste collection, leisure facilities, and tourism (District Rate), as well as regional services like education, health, and roads (Regional Rate). Unlike other parts of the UK that use Council Tax, Northern Ireland calculates rates based on the Capital Value of the property.
How the Calculation Works
The calculation for your rates bill is straightforward but relies on two specific variables:
- Capital Value: The market value of your home as it was assessed on 1 January 2005. This is managed by Land & Property Services (LPS).
- The Rate Poundage: This is a combination of the Regional Rate (set by the NI Executive) and the District Rate (set by your local council).
The formula is: Capital Value x (Regional Rate + District Rate) = Your Annual Bill.
Example Calculation
If you live in Belfast City Council and your home has a capital value of £150,000:
- The combined domestic rate poundage for Belfast (2024/25) is approximately 0.009893.
- Calculation: 150,000 x 0.009893 = £1,483.95 per year.
- If paying over 10 months, this equals roughly £148.40 per month.
Available Rate Reliefs
There are several ways to reduce your rates bill in Northern Ireland:
- Lone Pensioner Allowance: A 20% discount for people aged 70 or over who live alone.
- Disabled Person's Allowance: A 25% discount if a property has been adapted for a person with a disability.
- Housing Benefit or Rate Relief: Help for those on low incomes or certain benefits.
- Early Payment Discount: A 4% discount is often available if the full annual bill is paid by a specific date (usually early June).
Maximum Capital Value
It is important to note that for domestic properties, there is a "maximum capital value" cap. Currently, any property valued above £400,000 is only taxed as if it were worth £400,000. This means the highest possible rate bill is capped regardless of whether the home is worth £500,000 or £5,000,000.