Pay residential or business rates

You can pay rates online, over the phone, in person at a customer service centre, by cheque, money order or BPAY, or set up a direct debit.

If you’re paying by direct debit, you need to return the form 14 days before your due date.

Our rates calculator can help estimate your rates for a full financial year.

Project Status: When you need to do this

Rates are used to provide essential infrastructure and services.

If you own a property, you'll pay rates to your local council, unless the property, such as a church, school or hospital, is exempt.

Rates are calculated from property valuations supplied by the NSW Valuer General. The calculation of rates is tied to the value of your property, and the limits placed on councils in setting rates.

What you need to do

Pay your rates using one of the payment methods listed below.

Online

Our online payment option accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express and funds transfer from your bank account.
Pay rates online
Recurring direct debit
- Fill in the direct debit application below.
- You need to return the form 14 days before your due date.
- To cancel your direct debit you need to notify us in writing.
- You must cancel your direct debit in writing if you’re selling your property.
- If funds are not available in your nominated account on the due date, we’ll charge a dishonour fee and your direct debit will be cancelled.

Direct debit applicationPDF · 83.18 KB · Last modified 13 September 2023

Over the phone

Call 1300 360 062 and follow the prompts. Payments from credit cards and savings accounts accepted.
Cheque or money order

Make the payment out to the City of Sydney and send to:

City of Sydney
GPO Box 5112
Sydney NSW 2001

We don’t issue receipts for payments made by post.
BPAY

Our biller code is 7500. Your reference number is on your rates notice.
In person

At a customer service centre, appointments are preferred. Cash payments over $5000 not accepted.

Rates calculator

Our rates calculator can help estimate your rates for a full financial year.

Calculate your rates now

Before you start

Find out when your rates are due

Rates are paid every year and can be paid in full or by quarterly instalments.

If you are paying in full, your rates are due on or before 31 August 2023.

The due dates for quarterly instalments are:

1st instalment: 31 August
2nd instalment: 30 November
3rd instalment: 28 February
4th instalment: 31 May

Notify us if you’re having financial difficulties

If you’re experiencing difficulties paying your rates on time, please call us to discuss alternative arrangements. You may be eligible for a financial hardship determination.

City of Sydney

: GPO Box 5112
Sydney 2001
: 02 9265 9333
: [email protected]

If you don’t pay your rates on or before the due date

Interest calculated daily will be charged on the amount owing if you don’t pay your rates on time.

The interest rate for the 2023/24 financial year has been set at 9% per annum.

We may take legal action to recover unpaid rates and you’ll have to pay for this cost. However, every effort will be made to discuss repayment options with you.

Other information

Understanding your bill

3 levies and charges may be shown on your rates notice.

Rates are calculated from property valuations supplied by the NSW Valuer General. The calculation of rates is tied to the value of your property, and the limits placed on councils in setting rates.

Land valuations

New land values are issued every 3 years. As our overall rates income is limited by rate pegging, an increase or decrease in your land value does not necessarily mean a corresponding change in your rates.

The categorisation of land

All rateable land within our area is categorised as either residential or business. We determine the category of your property based on its primary use.

The categories and sub-categories within the local area are:
- residential category
- business category
- business CBD sub-category.
Rate pegging

Each year the NSW Government through the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal approves a maximum percentage increase in the total income a council can receive from rates.

Rates calculations

We calculate a rate per dollar of land value with a minimum amount.

The rate per dollar calculation uses the land’s valuation and category.

If the valuation multiplied by the rate per dollar falls below a certain amount, a minimum rate will be charged.

Our rates calculator can help estimate your rates for a full financial year.

GST

Council rates are exempt from the GST.
Property owners must also pay a stormwater management service charge that contributes to the cost of facilities across the local area.

The yearly charge for residential landowners is $25 while strata unit and company-titled property owners pay $12.50.

The stormwater management charge is exempt from GST.

Crown land, vacant lots containing no impervious surfaces, and charity and public benevolent properties may be exempt from the charge.
The yearly domestic waste management service charge pays for:
- the administration, collection, transport, processing and treatment of residential waste and recycling
- residential education programs and recycling drop-off services
- the landfill tipping fee and the NSW Government landfill levy.
Each parcel of residential rateable land receives the charge. If your land is exempt from rates but has a residence on it, you may apply to use the services at the amounts specified in the City of Sydney’s fees and charges.

The City of Sydney does not provide commercial waste services, only residential waste services.

Applicable charge amount

The City of Sydney determines which charge applies to each parcel of land based on the level of service required and associated costs. To encourage waste reduction, charges decrease when red lid general waste bins are smaller and collected less frequently.

The charge for houses with individual bins is calculated differently to apartments with shared bins.

For houses, a minimum, standard or large charge applies, based on the size of the general waste bin.

For apartments or other dwellings with a shared waste service, the charge is based on the average weekly general waste capacity per dwelling and the collection frequency. The average general waste capacity is determined by:
- the total waste capacity of the red lid general waste bins on site
- whether the waste is compacted or not
- number of collections per week
- number of units sharing the service.