City of Greater Shepparton

Rate Payments

How and when do I pay my rates?

Methods of Payment

The Council offers the following options for ratepayers to pay their rate accounts:

Payment online

You can pay your rates online with MasterCard or Visa via our secure credit card transaction service.

Payment by BPAY

BPAY is a national electronic bill payment service. Ratepayers can contact their participating Bank, Credit Union or Building Society to make payment directly from their nominated account. When prompted, simply enter the Biller Code, Customer Reference Number (both detailed on the front of the rate notice), the amount you wish to pay and the account from which the payment will be made. In most cases, credit card and debit payments will be accepted.

Payment by Direct Debit

Ratepayers can request that rate payments be automatically debited from their nominated account either weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or on the dates set for instalments or lump sum. A request form can be downloaded from the link at the bottom of this section.

Payment through the Mail

If sending payment through the mail, ratepayers MUST mail the Bank Deposit Slip (detailed at the bottom of the Council's rate notice) together with their cheque (made payable to Greater Shepparton City Council and crossed Not Negotiable) to the following address:

GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL
PRIVATE BOX NO. 14838
MELBOURNE VIC. 8001

The top portion of the rate notice should be retained as a record of payment. Postal delays will not be accepted as an excuse for late payment.

Payment at the Council Office (90 Welsford Street, Shepparton)

Ratepayers can make payment to the Council's cashier by presenting their rate notice (intact) between 8.15am and 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.

Payment may be made by either:

• CASH
• CHEQUE (made payable to GREATER SHEPPARTON CITY COUNCIL)
• EFTPOS

Payment in Person at any Post Office

Ratepayers can take their rate notice to any Australia Postshop, Business Centre, Post Office or Licensed Post Office to make payment in person. POSTbillpay can process cash and cheque payments and EFTPOS transactions for credit and debit cards. In the case of credit card transactions, MasterCard or VISA card transactions are accepted.

Payment by Phone on 13 18 16

For the cost of a local phone call*, POSTbillpay by phone allows ratepayers to pay their rate account 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The step-by-step process is quick and easy to use. Ratepayers will be given a receipt number as immediate confirmation of their transaction.

(*The cost of mobile phone calls will be charged at mobile phone rates.) 

Payment by Centrepay

Use Centrepay to arrange regular deductions from your Centrelink payment.  Please call the Council on (03) 5832 9700 to organise a Centrepay deduction.

Payment through the Commonwealth Bank

By completing the information required on the Bank Deposit Slip (detailed at the bottom of your Council rate notice), ratepayers can pay the amount due at any Commonwealth Bank. They do not need to hold an account with the Bank at which they make their payment. Payment cannot be made through a Bank once the final date for interest-free payment has passed.

Allocation of Monies

All rate payments received will be allocated in the following order:

1. Legal Costs owing, if any
2. Interest owing, if any
3. Arrears owing, if any
4. Current rates and charges owing.

Change of Property Ownership

The Council must receive written notification of changes of ownership following the sale of a property. A formal “Notice of Disposition” or Notice of Acquisition” completed by the vendor/purchaser or solicitor or agent acting for the vendor/purchaser is required.

Liability for rates levied on a property which are overdue become the responsibility of the new owners unless arrangements are made for payment on settlement.

Notification of Change of Address

Property owners and ratepayers are reminded that they are required to notify the Council of all changes to their postal address.  Changes of ownership or address will not be accepted by telephone and must be submitted in writing. A Change of Address Form is available for download at the bottom of this section.  Alternately, a form can be completed over the counter at the Council office. This form needs to be signed by the property owner and the owner’s residential address is required for voting purposes.

An incorrect address may cause unnecessary delays in postal delivery, particularly your Rate Notices. This may result in interest and legal costs being costs being payable by you due to late or non payment of your rates.

Reprint of Your Rate Notice

A reprint of your rate notice from the current and/or previous years will be supplied at a cost of $2.00 per notice/year.  Please contact the Council to request a reprint.

Payment Difficulties

If you are experiencing difficulty with paying your rates and charges, you may make an application for a payment arrangement by contacting the Council's Rates and Valuations team on (03) 5832 9700.

Approval may be granted as long as an acceptable amount is paid either on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis. It is important to act immediately if you intend to apply for a payment arrangement.

Interest (currently at 10.5 per cent per annum) will still be charged on overdue rates and charges not paid by their respective due dates.

Payment Due Dates

Rates and charges can be paid either:

1. Annually, by a lump sum payment made on or before 15 February 2011; or
2. Early, by lump sum payment on or before 24 September 2010 and receive 1.5 per cent discount on the total rates and charges raised for the current rating year; or 
3. Four (4) times yearly, by four (4) instalments. To qualify for the instalment program, the first instalment must be paid by 30 September 2010. Payments made after this date WILL NOT be eligible for the instalment plan and will be treated as part payment only, with the balance to be paid in full by 15 February 2011. The first instalment is an amount as near as possible to 1/4 of the current rates and charges, plus any arrears. The remaining instalments must be paid by the following due dates:
   • Instalment No. 2 - due on or before 30 November 2010
   • Instalment No. 3 - due on or before 28 February 2011
   • Instalment No. 4 - due on or before 31 May 2011