Pay your deferred duty

The ACT Revenue Office has a direct debit arrangement for deferred duty.

If we approve your deferred duty request, scheduled payments are through a time payment arrangement with us which must be made by direct debit.

You are required to make your first payment within 5 years from the date the duty becomes payable. You must then pay the duty owing within the next 5 years. This means you repay all of it, plus interest, no later than 10 years after the transaction date of buying your property.

You need to pay all the deferred duty and any interest before the property title can be transferred into the name of a new owner.

Terms and conditions

Under these terms and conditions, the ACT Revenue Office will process payments for deferred duty accounts by direct debit. This is from your nominated bank account held with a financial institution.

Payment amounts

The direct debit arrangement will automatically deduct the minimum duty instalment amount from a nominated account held with your financial institution.

Starting your payments earlier will reduce interest charges. If you wish to start making repayments earlier, payment details are provided in the welcome letter sent when you’re approved for deferred duty. Alternatively, you can contact us to arrange this.

Payment frequency

Direct debit arrangements include the following payment frequencies.

The dates in this list are when the ACT Revenue Office sends a direct debit request for processing. The date when your account is debited will depend on the processing of the debit by your financial institution. Therefore, it may occur after the dates on the list.

Non-working days and public holidays

If the due date for payment falls on a non-working day or a public holiday, the payment will be processed on the next available working day. If you are not sure, please contact the ACT Revenue Office to find out more about the date of processing.

Cleared funds

It is your responsibility to make sure there are sufficient cleared funds available in your nominated account by the due date, so your payment can be processed. This is in accordance with the Direct Debit Application Form you have submitted.

Returned and unpaid transactions

If the deferred duty direct debit is returned or dishonoured:

• the ACT Revenue Office will notify you in writing via post if the direct debit transaction/s are rejected by your financial institution
• a fee will be applied to your account for each rejected direct debit transaction
• you must arrange for the debit amount and any associated fees to be paid using a different method.

The ACT Revenue Office will cancel your direct debit arrangement automatically if 3 transactions are rejected within a 12-month period for the following payment frequencies:

• weekly
• fortnightly
• monthly.

The ACT Revenue Office will notify you in writing via post if direct debit arrangements are cancelled.

Variation of direct debit arrangements

Taxpayer changes to direct debit arrangements

Taxpayers may change the direct debit arrangement with the ACT Revenue Office by contacting us during business hours. For some changes to a direct debit arrangement, you may need to complete a new Direct Debit Application Form.

You must advise the ACT Revenue Office immediately if the account details provided in a direct debit arrangement change. Also, if your nominated account with the financial institution is closed.

For any changes to take effect, you should allow at least 14 days from the date that the ACT Revenue Office is notified. Where a new Direct Debit Application Form is required, from the date that the ACT Revenue Office receives the request. We will confirm in writing via post any changes to the direct debit arrangement.

Suspension of direct debit arrangements

You may request the suspension of your direct debit arrangement by contacting the ACT Revenue Office. You need to do this at least 5 working days before the date of the next scheduled direct debit payment. You may be required to provide more details in writing.

Once the arrangement is suspended, it is your responsibility to make manual payments to make up for any missed payments under the direct debit arrangement.

Where the direct debit arrangement has been suspended at the request of the taxpayer on 3 occasions in the previous 12-month period, the ACT Revenue Office may, at its discretion, refuse to allow any further suspension and cancel the direct debit arrangement.

Cancelling a direct debit arrangement

You can cancel your direct debit arrangement with the ACT Revenue Office by contacting us. This must be done no less than 5 working days before the due date of the next scheduled direct debit payment, to avoid further deductions being made.

Disputing a debit Item

All enquiries in relation to direct debit transactions should be directed to the ACT Revenue Office.

The ACT Revenue Office will investigate all claims and advise you of the result.

If the ACT Revenue Office has incorrectly processed a direct debit transaction from your nominated account, your deferred duty account will be adjusted accordingly. Any amounts incorrectly debited will be refunded back to you.

Accounts for direct debit

Taxpayers should note:

• direct debiting through the Bulk Electronic Clearing System is not available on all accounts
• account details should be checked against a recent statement from your financial institution.

If you are still unsure, you should check with your financial institution before completing the Direct Debit Application Form.

Privacy

Our privacy policy sets out how personal information is collected, used, and disclosed by the Commissioner for ACT Revenue and the ACT Revenue Office. It includes how you can access and correct your personal information, and how to complain about breaches of privacy. Read our privacy policy.

Apply for a direct debit

Make sure you have read the terms and conditions before you apply for a direct debit arrangement with us.

Contact us

If you have further questions, contact the Debt Management team via:

Email: debtmanagement@act.gov.au

Phone: 02 6207 0028 (select option 6, then option 1).

Online form: contact the ACT Revenue Office (select ‘Duty deferral on property purchases’ from the dropdown box)