Tasmanian Fire Service Contribution Concession

What Is This Payment?

Tasmanian property owners pay a Fire Service Contribution as part of their council rates notice to help fund the state's fire services. For pensioners on a fixed income, every line on the rates notice matters.

This concession reduces the Fire Service Contribution by 20% for eligible pensioner homeowners. It sits alongside the 30% council rates remission, so an eligible homeowner can benefit from both reductions on the same notice.

The rule database tags it as a Group B benefit with eligibility_only as its result role. The saving is a percentage of your fire levy rather than a fixed figure, so it is described qualitatively as a 20% reduction.

How Much Can You Get?

The amount block is eligibility_only with period: none. There is no fixed dollar figure; the value is a 20% reduction on the Fire Service Contribution shown on your rates notice.

• 20% off the Fire Service Contribution for eligible pensioner homeowners.
• Paired with the 30% council rates remission, which is a separate reduction on the same notice.
• Dollar saving scales with the size of your fire levy.

Eligibility Conditions

The eligibility block is an all set, so every condition must pass.

1. Tasmanian resident: state = TAS. The remission is administered by the State Revenue Office of Tasmania through your council.
2. Homeowner: is_homeowner = true. You must own and pay rates on the property.
3. Eligible concession card: concession_card_type must be in [pensioner_concession_card, health_care_card, low_income_health_care_card, dva_gold_card].

Because the concession applies to the rates notice for your home, it generally relates to your principal place of residence rather than an investment property.

Most eligible homeowners claim the Fire Service Contribution reduction and the 30% council rates remission together, so it is worth confirming both are applied to your notice.

How To Apply

The application channel is your council, which administers the remission on the rates notice. The evidence required is your concession card and your rates notice.

• Contact your council and ask to apply the pensioner rates remission, including the Fire Service Contribution reduction.
• Provide your concession card details and your rates notice.
• Check your next notice to confirm both the 20% fire levy reduction and the 30% rates remission are applied.

Read the official TAS pensioner rates remission guidance

Rule-Based Scenarios

Scenario 1: a pensioner homeowner in Glenorchy

Dorothy owns her home and holds a Pensioner Concession Card. She applies through her council and her rates notice shows the Fire Service Contribution cut by 20%, plus the 30% rates remission.

Scenario 2: a DVA Gold Card holder

Bill holds a DVA Gold Card and owns his home in Burnie. He claims the remission so his fire levy is reduced by 20% each year.

Scenario 3: a Health Care Card holder

Aisha holds a Health Care Card and owns her unit. She applies through her council and receives the 20% Fire Service Contribution reduction.

Scenario 4: a renter who cannot claim

Tom holds a Pensioner Concession Card but rents his home, so the is_homeowner condition is not met and the concession does not apply to him.

Common Mistakes

• Thinking it is automatic: you generally need to apply through your council with your concession card and rates notice.
• Confusing it with the rates remission: the 20% fire levy reduction is separate from the 30% council rates remission, though eligible owners get both.
• Claiming as a renter: the concession is for homeowners who pay the rates notice, not tenants.
• Forgetting your card or notice: the council needs your concession card and rates notice to apply the remission.
• Assuming it covers an investment property: the remission relates to the home you own and live in, not investment properties.
• Not checking the notice: confirm the reduction is applied on your next rates notice so you do not miss out.

Related Benefits

• TAS Council Rates Concession - the 30% rates remission for pensioner homeowners.
• TAS Water and Sewerage Concession - help with water bills for card holders.
• TAS Annual Electricity Concession - help with electricity costs for card holders.
• TAS MyHome Shared Equity Scheme - shared-equity help to buy a home.
• Pensioner Concession Card - a federal card that unlocks this concession.
• Age Pension - federal income support for older Australians.

Frequently Asked Questions