Rates
We provide a range of important services to our community. These services include community services, sporting and recreation services, environmental planning, public health, environmental protection and waste collection, treatment and disposal. The rates you pay allow us to fund these services.
You can register to receive your rates via email by signing up to eNotices.
- the new owner of a property
- or
- owner of a property on recently subdivided land
Alternatively, you can register to receive your rates through BPAY. View by logging on to your internet banking.
To receive your rates notice by email instead of mail, register online at Register to receive e-notices form (one -time registration).
- the new owner of a property or
- owner of a property on recently subdivided land
If you are a new owner, it might take a few months to come in the mail - look out for a rate notice from Council which has an e-notice reference number to register for electronic rates notices (e-notices).
You can find it on the top right corner of your rates notice.
Find out how to change your address, name or email information on your rates.
We are Cashless
Council does not accept payments by cash or by cheque* at our administration centre and other facilities, including libraries, leisure centres, animal shelter, plant nursery and Hazelhurst Arts Centre. Please visit our We are Cashless page for more information.
Rates payments
There are several different ways to pay your rates. You will require your reference number located on the bottom of your rate notice. Please note, there is no Credit Card surcharge.
If you wish to pay your rates in full, they will be due on or before 31 August.
If you choose to pay quarterly, your payments are due by:
- 1st instalment: 31 August
- 2nd instalment: 30 November
- 3rd instalment: 28 February
- 4th instalment: 31 May
If you wish to pay by instalments, there is no additional cost.
Yes. Interest accrues on rates and annual charges that remain unpaid after the due date. In 2022-23 the interest rate is 6% per annum, calculated daily.
We encourage all ratepayers to meet their rate commitments as they are due. If you are experiencing financial difficulties, please refer to our Financial Hardship page.
Overpayments can only be refunded if an account is in credit. To organise a refund, you need to provide:
- a copy of your receipt or bank statement
- your property address and/or property number (link to picture of rate notice)
- the date and amount paid
- the method of payment used
- your EFT details including BSB and account number.
Rebates
To qualify as an eligible pensioner, you must own and live in the rateable property in Sutherland Shire and hold either a:
- Pension Concession Card,
- Veterans Affairs TPI or EDA Card, or
- Veterans Affairs Gold Card and receive income supplement support.
To find out further information visit our Pension concessions webpage.
Eligible aged pensioners may apply for to defer the payment of their rates - PDF - 116 KB for the balance of their account to be paid when the property is sold, passed to estate or on termination of a pension concession card.
Calculating rates
Your rates are calculated by multiplying your land valuation by a 'rate in the dollar' amount.
Your land valuation is provided by the NSW Valuer General. All properties in Sutherland Shire Council were revalued on 1 July 2019. These values will be used for rating for three financial years 2020-21, 2021-22 and 2022-23 (1 July 2020 – 30 June 2023).
The rate in the dollar for each rating category is set by us each year in our annual Operational Plan - PDF - 12337 KB.
Your annual rates and charges are made up of three components: rates levy, stormwater management service and domestic waste service.
We also set a minimum rate each year. This means that if the result of your rate calculation does not reach a certain amount (minimum), then the amount of your rates will be equivalent to the minimum rate. In 2022/2023 the minimum rate for all properties is $965.40.
For example: If your land value multiplied by the rate in the dollar came in at $700, then you will be charged the minimum rate of $965.40 in 2022/2023.
The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal NSW (IPART) has set the rate peg for 2022-23 at 0.7% for councils with no or negative population growth. The rate peg | IPART is the maximum limit (presented as a percentage) that we are permitted to increase its income from rates.
A council can apply to IPART for a Special Variation to the rate peg which will be considered against the guidelines set by the NSW Office of Local Government.
IPART has approved a Special Variation to increase the rate peg to 2.5% for 2022-23.
If you are not satisfied with the category given to your property, you may apply to us to have this reviewed. We will notify you of the outcome and reasons for our decision.
If you do not agree with the category given to your property following the review, you may appeal to the Land and Environment Court. You must do this within 30 days of receiving our review decision.
Council is legally required to levy an annual charge for the domestic waste management services for each parcel of rateable land for which the service is available. This charge is mandatory and includes the following waste services:
- free electronic waste collection events
- free household chemical collection events
- free waste education workshops
- two household clean up services per financial year
- waste provision for public events
- illegal dumping investigations and removal, and
- public place recycling bins.
Some parcels of land are exempt from rates and charges, including land within a national park or land that belongs to a school, charity or religious group and that is being used for those purposes. Unless you meet the exemption criteria outlined in the Local Government Act 1993, you are not exempt from paying rates.
Each year we update our Delivery Program that includes our Operational Plan - PDF - 12337 KB. These documents define how we plan to deliver services to the community for the next financial year and beyond. We encourage our community to review these documents during the exhibition period. If you have concerns, make a formal submission to ensure your feedback can be considered.
Land Values
The land value of your property is determined by the NSW Valuer General every 3 years. We are obliged by law to apply the latest land valuations.
A person has the opportunity to object to their land valuation within 60 days after receiving the Notice of Valuation, either online to the Valuer General online form or by phone 1800 110 038 to request an objection form.
While your objection is being reviewed, you are required to continue to pay your rates. If your objection is successful, the NSW Valuer General will adjust the value of your land.