Rate Payments

When are my Council rates due?
What do the Council rates pay for?
How can I pay my rates?
How can I change my mailing address?
Information for pensioners
Information for self funded retirees

When are my Council rates due?

Annual Rate Notices are issued in July. Payment is due by 31 August or can be paid in quarterly instalments that are due:

  • 31 August
  • 30 November
  • 28 February
  • 31 May

If you choose to pay by quarterly instalments, a notice will be issued a month before each due date.

What do the Council rates pay for?

Your Council rates go towards parks and recreation facilities, road construction and maintenance, footpath construction and maintenance, street lighting, street cleansing, dog and pest control, library services, community services, sporting and health facilities, building control & town planning, environmental planning and conservation and more.

Further information is available from the Department of Local Government's website.

How can I pay my rates?

There are many ways for you to pay your rates - just choose the one most convenient for you. If you are having trouble paying your rates, you may be able to enter into an arrangement with Council to make periodic payments. Phone 9777 1000 for more information.

Direct Debit

On the date your rates are due Council presents the amount payable to your financial institution. The payment is then debited from your account. To use direct debit you need to complete the  Direct Debit Rate Payment Form - 77 KB. It is also available from the Customer Service Centre, or can be posted out to you if you call 9777 1000.

Credit Card

Council Website
Pay your rates through the Council website's online services. Simply select the payment option and have your rates notice and credit card details ready. *

Australia Post
You can make a payment by credit card on the Australia Post website. *

BPay
If you have access to your bank account online, you can use BPay by following the online prompts. Council’s Biller Code is 18424. You will be issued with a receipt number. Contact your financial institution for further instruction. Please note that you cannot pay through BPay with a credit card.

In Person

Australia Post
Take your whole rate notice to any branch of Australia Post to pay by cash, cheque or EFTPOS. You will be issued a receipt. Australia Post will not accept payment by credit card.

Commonwealth Bank
Take your whole rate notice to any Commonwealth Bank branch to pay by cash or cheque. You don't need a Commonwealth bank account and you will not be charged a transfer fee. The teller will stamp the top section of your notice and return it to you as a receipt.

Council's Help & Service Centre
Bring your whole rate notice to the Customer Service Centre. You can pay by cash, cheque, credit card or EFTPOS. *

Phone

Phone 13 18 16 (Australia Post) to pay using a credit card. *

Mail

You can send cheques directly to Council through the mail. Make the cheque payable to Willoughby City Council and crossed 'Not Negotiable'. You will not receive a receipt, so keep the top section of your notice for your records. Post cheques to:

Willoughby City Council
P.O. Box 57
Chatswood NSW 2057

*Service fee for credit card payments

Council charges a one per cent service fee on credit card transactions. This fee will help offset the cost to Council of accepting credit card payments.

Whenever a purchase or payment is made by credit card, a merchant service fee is payable to the bank. In the past, this cost has been borne by Council and as such spread across all ratepayers. By making this service user pays, Council will be able to use the savings to provide more services to the community.

Credit card payments are not available through BPAY or over the counter at Australia Post.

How can I change my mailing address?

Changes of address are required in writing. The change of address application form is available online. Alternatively you may email your change of address to email@willoughby.nsw.gov.au. It is important to include your name, the property address and the mailing address in your email.

Pensioners

If you own a property and you have a current pension concession card issued from Centrelink, or the Department of Veterans Affairs AND the property is your sole or principle residence you may be eligible for a pension rebate on your rates. Please note that some Veteran Affairs pensioners may be subject to a means test to determine eligibility for a rebate.

If you become an eligible pensioner part way through the year your rebate will commence from the beginning of the next quarter billing cycle. Alternatively, if your pension concession ceases part way through the year your rebate will cease at the end of the current quarterly billing cycle.

The pensioner concession application form is available online or from Council’s Administration Office during normal business hours. A photocopy of both sides of your pension card must accompany your application form.

For all enquiries regarding pension concession rebates phone 9777 1000.

Self Funded Retirees

You may be eligible for Council’s self-funded retiree domestic waste service and save on your domestic waste service fee.

To be eligible for this service, residents must:

  • own the property
  • have lived within the Willoughby Council area for the past 15 years
  • reside in the property as the sole or principal place of abode
  • be aged 70 years or older
  • hold a current Commonwealth Seniors Health Card as at 1st July of the current rating year.

The self funded retiree domestic waste service application form is available online or from Council’s Administration Office during normal business hours. A photocopy of both sides of your Commonwealth Seniors Health Card must accompany your application form. An annual application is required.