Rates Revaluation

19th April 2017

Rates Revaluation

As you are all aware the 2017 National Rates Revaluation has taken place for Co. Offaly. At this stage all businesses will have received your new Rateable value for your properties. Your Chamber has been working very hard on this issue behind the scenes and last March we issued a comprehensive communication outlining the process from receipt of your valuation letters through guidance on the online appeal process. We held a number of communication meetings and also hosted an information evening in the Tullamore Court Hotel with Duirmuid Laville from the Valuations office in attendance. We are delighted to note that many local businesses used the assistance of the office in lodging their appeals. the closing date for all online appeals passed on the 11 th of April 2017.

We acknowledge that not all businesses achieved a satisfactory outcome in the re-ratable values and that this is indeed a worrying time with many reporting significant increases further impacting on financial pressures. We wish every business a successful one outcome in the appeals process. However in the event of your appeal been dismissed, you will then have the opportunity to challenge the appeal result and bring your case forward to the tribunal stage.

Tullamore Chamber of Commerce strongly challenge the current method of rates calculation based on the fact that we operate in the county at an AVR of 0.26, a multiplier higher than any of our neighbouring counties, with Westmeath at an AVR of 0.20. by the very fact of this inequitable process, we are placed at an uncompetitive disadvantage whichwill discourage new business growth and investment in the region. We will continue to Lobby our Local and National representatives to raise this issue at Government level on your behalf.

Should you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on

05793 23698 or Email us at  http://info@tullamorechamber.com

Kind Regards

John Leavy