Rates Frequently Asked Questions
What are rates?
Why do I have to pay
rates?
Who decides the value
of rates?
What happens if my
payment is late?
What if I am
having difficulty paying my rates?
Am I entitled
to a pensioner rate rebate?
When do I have to pay my
rates and charges?
How can I update my
postal address?
What are rates?
Council rates are fees levied on the land value for each parcel of land in the Council area. City of Sydney’s rating structure has a residential category, business category and a business sub-category area.
Why do I have to pay rates?
The funds generated each year from Council rates and charges are used to provide essential Local Government Services within the area.
A list of some of these services are listed below:
- Health inspections of food premises
- Dog/Pest Control for the Amenity of the area
- Regulation and inspections to ensure fire safety and building standards are met
- Public Health and Waste Education
- Strategic Planning and planning control of Traffic movement, sign posting, safety and transport integration
- Provision of street lighting
- Maintenance of roads in usable condition
- Provision of Bus Shelters and other public seating
- Provision of Parking Stations, parking areas and control of illegal parking
- Provision of Green areas for the benefit of the area
- Street cleansing and clearing of litter
- Monitoring and approval of Development Applications and Building applications
- Regulation of subdivisions
- Environmental planning and pollution control
- Provision of emergency services, safety and security
- Provision of Libraries, community facilities and sporting and health facilities
- Drainage design, maintenance and management
- Employment initiatives
Who decides the value of rates?
The land values assigned for rating purposes are supplied by the Valuer General's Office. These valuations are made every two years (approximately).
What happens if my payment is late?
If an instalment is not paid on or before the due date, the instalment will become overdue and will be known as "Rates in Arrears".
Rates in Arrears will be subject to daily interest in accordance with the provisions of The Local Government Act, 1993 at the interest rate approved by the Minister for Local Government.
The interest percentage will be shown on the front of your Rate Notice. For the financial year 2010/2011 this percentage is 9% per annum.
Rates in Arrears may also be subject to recovery proceedings by Council and may incur recovery costs.
What if I am having difficulty paying my rates ?
If you are having difficulty paying your rates account you may enter into an arrangement with Council to make periodic payments. Please note interest charges will however still apply. Contact the City on 02 9265 9333 for more information.
Am I entitled to a pensioner rate rebate?
To be eligible to receive this rebate you must satisfy the following criteria:
- You must be a ratepayer for the property you are making the application
- You must possess a current pensioner concession card
- The property must be your principal place of residence
If you satisfy the above criteria, you can download and complete the “Application for Pensioner Concession” Form. The completed form, together with copies of the front and back of your current pensioner concession card, can be returned to Council by mail or in person at our One Stop Shop or one of our Neighbourhood Service Centres.
The “Application for Pensioner Concession” Form can be found on the Ratepayer Forms page.
When do I have to pay my rates and charges ?
Option 1: Payment in Full
If you are making a single payment for the full year's rates and charges, your payment is due on or before 31 August each financial year.
Option 2: Payment by Quarterly Instalments
The payment dates and amounts for each instalment are shown on your Rate Notice. Council will send you an instalment notice for the second, third and fourth instalments, 30 days before the payment is required.
The payment dates for each instalment are as follows:
- 1 st Instalment - 31 August
- 2 nd Instalment - 30 November
- 3 rd Instalment - 28 February
- 4 th Instalment - 31 May
Please note, ratepayers are not prevented under this option from paying more than one instalment.
How can I update my postal address?
If your current postal address is different from the address shown on the front of the Rate Notice, go to our online Change of Address form.
Please Note: Council will not accept notifications of change of address over the telephone and will only accept changes by our preferred method the online Change of Address, or in writing by Fax or post.
Last Updated: Tuesday 31 May, 2011
