City businesses are fighting hard to stay afloat.

Now, in a welcome gesture during a challenging period for business owners, Cork City Council has announced it will be deferring rates payments for the first quarter of 2021.

In line with the recent Government announcement, a three-month waiver introduced on January 6th, 2021 will apply to eligible businesses and will be applied to rates accounts in the form of a credit in lieu of rates.

“The value of the waiver is equivalent to a quarter of the annual rates bill for 2021 and the scheme is open to businesses closed by, or badly impacted by Level 5 restrictions, subject to a maximum value of €160 million.” the Council said in a statement.

The following business categories are eligible:

• Hospitality
• Personal care e.g. hair salons and beauty salons
• Leisure
• Miscellaneous entertainment
• Non-essential retail (shops and warehouses)
• Airports
• Health
• Service stations
• Childcare
• Essential retail (excluding large supermarkets greater than 500m sq.)

What happens next?

Cork City Council will issue Rate Bills for 2021 commencing in March 2021. Ratepayers are advised that these bills will not include the recently announced Covid-19 rates waiver. Ratepayers that are eligible for the waiver will get a statement showing their reduced liability in April/May 2021.

Any applicant deemed not to qualify for the waiver will receive notification and details of Cork City Council’s appeals process. Rates account holders who appealed successfully will be issued a statement showing their rates liability in April/May 2021.

Cork City Council Head of Finance, John Hallahan said Cork City Council is acutely aware of the challenges faced by businesses, large and small throughout the city and county.

“We will continue to work with our ratepayers on a case by case basis and are asking businesses to contact us.” he said,

“Our Strategic Planning & Economic Development Directorate and Local Enterprise Office also want business owners to know that there are supports in place to further help them with the challenges they face because of the coronavirus.”

For queries on the rates waiver scheme, email rates@corkcity.ie or phone 021 4924484.