Brisbane City Council online rates inquiry tool

The Queensland Law Society has received reports from members about inconsistent results produced by the Brisbane City Council online rates inquiry tool. Inquiries made to the council have revealed that there are two issues of note regarding the tool.

Estimates as of settlement day

1) The tool provides information on:

• whether the present rates account is paid or outstanding,
• the period of the current rates account, and
• the quarterly rate for the property.

It is understood that the online tool does not calculate any outstanding amounts beyond the date of the current rate account and may return results such as "no outstanding amounts" when the date of settlement is after the period of the current rate account.

Members are advised when using the Brisbane City Council online rates tool to ensure they calculate an estimate of outstanding rates beyond the end of the current rate account period based on the quarterly rate for the property.

The Society understands that it is has been the practice of the Brisbane City Council Contact Centre to perform a calculation and provide practitioners with an estimate of the outstanding rates amount as of the day of settlement.

Assessed but unbilled charges

2) The council system currently reports:

• details of current rates and water charges, and
• any charges assessed but not yet billed for the following quarter, for example, water (but not the general rates payable for the following quarter).

If the tool indicates a billing period in excess of a single quarter then it is likely that it is showing complete details for one quarter and a charge yet to be billed in a following quarter. The council general rates for the following quarter will not be reflected in the results.

In this circumstance, practitioners are advised to consult the Council Contact Centre or cross-reference the online rates inquiry tool together with the latest issued rate account.

The council will review the way in which the information on the online rates inquiry tool is presented and has advised that water charges not appear on the rate account from January 1, 2010, when the new separate water bill is introduced.