You can pay your rates either in one annual payment or in four quarterly payments. Your payment options include the following:
Direct Debit
Complete the online Direct Debit application form.
Direct debit is a free service where by payments are automatically deducted from a specified bank account. Payments can be automatically calculated if your account is up to date with no arrears.
We encourage homeowners to choose the general rates payment option which best suits their household budgets, which is why we offer annual, quarterly, monthly, fortnightly and weekly payment options.
| Weekly | Every Thursday |
|---|---|
| Fortnight A | Thursday Public Service Pay week |
| Fortnight B | Thursday Non Public Service Pay week |
| Monthly | 15th day of the month |
| Quarterly | On the date due |
| Annually | On the date due |
If your due date falls on a weekend or holiday, a deduction from your bank account will be processed the following business day. For more information read the Direct Debit Terms and Conditions or contact the ACT Revenue Office.
Online payments
Make your payment online by Visa or Mastercard through Online payments - Access Canberra (external site).
EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer)
EFT payment can be made from your cheque or savings account, Visa, internet or phone banking, using the details on your assessment notice.
BPay
Payment can be made via internet or phone banking using the details on your assessment notice.
Post office
Payment can be made by cash, credit card, cheque or EFTPOS using the details on your assessment notice.
What if you can’t pay?
If you are finding it difficult to pay your rates, contact us and we can help you make alternative payment arrangements.
Pensioner Rates Rebate
If you receive a Commonwealth Government or Department of Veterans' Affairs pension and are entitled to a Pensioner Concession Card or a War Veteran's pension, you may be eligible for the pensioner rates rebate. This provides a 50 per cent rebate on your rates, up to a cap of $750.
This rebate is available to aged pensioners as well as people on a disability pension, Newstart Allowance and other Commonwealth Pensions.
Deferral
If you are not a pensioner but are suffering significant financial hardship, you may also be able to defer payment of all or part of your rates bill.
We charge a relatively low rate of interest on deferred amounts.
If you are 65 or over and you own at least 75 per cent equity in your home, you can indefinitely defer your rates charges until such time as your property is sold.
For more information about Pensioner Rates Rebate and rates deferral, please visit the Rates assistance page. There might also be other assistance programs you are eligible for. Find out at www.assistance.act.gov.au
What happens if you don’t pay?
If we do not receive your rates payments by the due date, you will have to pay interest charges, which compound on a monthly basis on any amount that remains unpaid, on the 16th day of each month.
If you pay overdue rates partway through the month, you still have to pay interest for the whole month.
As of 1 August 2021, unpaid overdue rates on land owned by a corporation or trust (other than a special disability trust) may be subject to penalty tax.
For information on interest rates and penalty tax please click here.
Example
Ratna's rates are due on the 15 August, but she doesn't pay her rates until 5 October. Ratna's rates were overdue for the period 16 August to 5 October, so Ratna has to pay interest for the period 16 August to 15 October, or two whole months.