Late rates payments

Payment Arrangements

If you are experiencing difficulties paying your rates by the prescribed due date please enter into a payment arrangement online.

Apply for a payment arrangement

All arrangements:

will be managed by Council
must include a commencement date no more than 14 days of submitting the proposal
are not eligible for direct debit
may be cancelled, charged interest and/or referred to debt collection if instalment(s) are not adhered to
are to be paid according to the payment options located on your rates notice
will still be sent rates notices, however, please disregard as they are for your reference only.

Once you submit your proposed payment arrangement it will be forwarded to the Revenue Department for assessment. During this waiting period, please commence any payments you can.

You will then receive a confirmation of arrangement email/contact within 5 business days or a letter will be sent in the mail according to normal postal timeframes. The response times may be longer during busy periods.

Financial Hardship

What is financial hardship?

According to Council’s newly adopted Financial Hardship Policy it is defined as ‘difficulty meeting everyday living expenses’ which may include: food, accommodation, clothing, health care, transport costs, education, and other basic necessities.

Some of the main reasons that can cause financial hardship include:

Health issues and associated expenses
Loss of employment
Covid-19 and associated side effects
Unforeseen circumstances
Severe mortgage stress and/or financial overcommitment

View Council’s Financial Hardship Policy documents:

How can Council help?

Whilst Council is unable to waive rates, we can offer various other avenues of support for those experiencing financial hardship. This includes deferrals, payment plans, and waivers of interest and collection costs.

We can also provide meaningful information on other financial assistance programs that might be available and/or referrals to appropriate support services specialising in family violence, financial counselling and food and material aid.

Eligibility

Generally, there is no formal application form used to determine eligibility but rather residents will be assessed on a case-by-case basis via a meaningful two-way conversation.

Some of the indicators that may highlight a customer’s need for assistance are:

History of frequent requests for payment extensions or payment arrangements that have not been met
Unable to afford the costs of current financial obligations, even if smoothed over a 12-month period
Payment history that indicates past difficulty of meeting their financial obligations to Council
Eligibility for Government funded concessions (e.g. Health Care Card, Centrelink benefit)
Sudden change of circumstances that adversely affects their financial capacity to pay
Referral from a financial counselling agency or community organisation
Asylum seekers or refugees who have limited access to financial stability
People experiencing health and mental health issues
Having identified as a victim of family violence
Having a low level of income, that is unlikely to change
Currently unemployed.

Please note: to allow Council to extend a meaningful level of support to genuine hardship applicants, Council may be unable to assess applications involving investment properties or properties that are not lived in by the applicant.

How can I apply?

If you are unable to meet your payment obligations and need some assistance please contact Council on 9217 2170 or fill out the below enquiry form and the Financial Hardship Support Officer will contact you within 10 business days to discuss further.

Submit a financial hardship enquiry form

For further Resources, advice and relevant services to help you manage your money, please read Council’s Financial Wellbeing booklet.

Interest charges

Any payment that is not received by the statutory due date or agreed arrangement/extension terms may be charged interest. The interest rate for the 2023-24 rating period is 10% per annum and is fixed under Section 2 of the 'Penalty Interest Rates Act 1983'.

Interest waivers

Any request for interest to be waived must be submitted in writing explaining the circumstances. The request must meet one or more of the following criteria: