Rates & taxes clearance certificate
Why is it necessary for a Rates and Taxes Clearance Certificate to be issued?
This is a lengthy process at best but after registration the Local Authority will furnish the Seller with a refund.
The local authority first must close the seller’s account before the refund can be processed. With most councils the closure of the account can only be done after the period for which the clearance was valid for has lapsed.
Once the account is closed the credit is processed and paid out either directly to the seller or to the transfer attorney that attended to the registration.
The best way for any seller to ensure that he receives his refund timeously is to personally follow up with council on a continuous basis until the refund is processed. Some councils have forms available that can be filled in to close the account and speed up the process.
Remember to take your registration letter from the transferring attorneys with you as confirmation that transfer took place.
Written by Wessel de Kock
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