Overview
Rates
If you’re a property owner in the ACT, you pay rates that help fund the essential services and infrastructure all Canberrans rely on, like schools, hospitals, public transport and community facilities.
You are an ‘owner’ for rates purposes if you are:
- the registered proprietor of a parcel of land
- a new owner in possession of the parcel but not yet registered as the proprietor
- a mortgagee in possession
- a person holding the parcel of land under a sublease from the territory.
If you're renting a residential property to a tenant, or if the property is not your principal place of residence, you will need to pay land tax for the property as well.
If you're not an Australian citizen or resident, you'll need to pay the foreign ownership surcharge on top of land tax.
Change of postal address
To update your postal address and contact details please complete the Change of postal address form.
Changes for 2023-24
For 2023-24, there will be ongoing changes to residential and commercial rates as part of the Government’s tax reform program. Marginal and fixed rating factors are also adjusted for changes in average unimproved values as at 1 January 2023.
Assessment notices
You can receive your rates assessment notice by post or email. These notices contain your property details, your account number, itemised charges, payment options and due dates.
When you receive your notice and when payment is due depends on your property's location. The ACT is divided into three sectors for billing.
- Sector one assessment notices are first sent on 15 July each year
- Sector two assessment notices are first sent on 15 August each year
- Sector three assessment notices are first sent on 15 September each year.
If you choose to pay your rates by instalments, you will receive further notices every three months.
Sector | Due date for first | Due date for second | Due date for third | Due date for fourth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15 August | 15 November | 15 February | 15 May |
2 | 15 September | 15 December | 15 March | 15 June |
3 | 15 October | 15 January | 15 April | 15 July |
You can nominate to receive your Rates and Land Tax Assessment Notices electronically. Click here to find out how.
How much are rates?
The rates you pay depend on both the type and the value of the property you own. You can get an estimate on our Calculating rates page.
Why do we have rates?
The ACT Government is committed to raising revenue in a way that is fair, efficient and sustainable, delivering the resources we need to fund great public service for Canberrans.
Because of the ACT's unique single level of government, rates and land tax don't only fund local government services like roads and rubbish collection. They also help fund the essential services and infrastructure all Canberrans rely on, like schools, hospitals, public transport and community facilities.
All Canberrans use these services each year, so it is fair that all Canberrans contribute to funding them.
Unlike conveyance duty, rates and land tax are predictable and not subject to major swings in the housing market. This means the government can reliably provide funding every year for our hospitals, schools and other essential services.
The ACT Government's 20-year tax reform program is now approaching the half-way point, delivering real benefit for Canberrans and a more stable revenue base to fund essential services for our community in the years to come.