Abatement refers to the reduction, lessening, or termination of something. Specifically, in legal and tax contexts, it typically pertains to the suspension or reduction of lawsuits or taxes.
A tax rebate is a repayment of tax paid. A formal repayment claim must be made and approved by an Inspector of Taxes, and the refund due to the taxpayer will be made by the Collector of Taxes following the Inspector's instructions.
