From July 1, 2013, the State Government will no longer collect its fire services levy though home insurance premiums. Instead, the Government has developed a property-based levy.
Councils will be required to collect this new levy on behalf of the State Revenue Office. This levy will be charged on rate notices to every property in Victoria.
When you receive your notice in August, you will see the levy listed as a separate charge. The levy will include a fixed component of $100 for residential and $200 for non-residential properties as well as a variable levy rate based on the property’s capital improved value.
There will be different levy rates charged in MFB and CFA areas. The final levy rates will not be known until the State Government’s budget is handed down in May. There will be a concession of $50 for properties owned by pensioners and veterans.
It is important to note that the levy is not a Council charge and revenue will not go to Councils. All money received from this levy will go to the State Government to fund fire services across Victoria.
This change to the way fire services are funded was made following the Bushfire Royal Commission’s findings. The Commission found the current system was inequitable, lacked transparency and discouraged some owners from insuring or fully insuring their property due to the additional cost the levy imposed on premiums.
More information about the new Fire Services Property Levy is available on the Department of Treasury and Finance website at www.dtf.vic.gov.au/firelevy.
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