How to pay
Note that penalty charges apply daily to late payments. Visit our Late payments page for information on due dates, and late payment penalty charges.
To pay, you will need your Customer Reference Number (listed on your Rates and Charges Notice).
Pay via Credit or Visa/Mastercard Debit Card
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For security reasons, online payments cannot be made using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection and the transaction will be declined.
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Pay Rates Online or to pay via phone, call 1300 323 269.
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Note: Visa/Mastercard Credit and Visa/Mastercard Debit cards 0.45% surcharge, American Express 1.4% surcharge and Diners Club not accepted.
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Pay via BPAY
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Pay via Direct Debit
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Complete a Rates Direct Debit Form to have your annual or quarterly rates payments automatically debited from your cheque or savings account.
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Form must be received by Council at least two weeks before next due date.
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Pay via cash, cheque or EFTPOS
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Didn't receive your Rates and Charges Notice?
Recently moved?
It is your responsibility to advise Council of your new address and contact details. To update your details complete the Change of Postal Address form on our website.
Notification of changes to your postal address will not be accepted by Council over the telephone.
Switch to receive rates notices via email
Receive your rates notice via email by submitting our online Change of postal address form.
Overpayment of your rates account
Additional payments made to a rates account are automatically applied to any remaining instalments and can only be refunded if charges for the current rating year have already been paid in full.
To apply for a refund, complete the Rates Overpayment Refund Application form and include sufficient evidence of the overpayment such as a bank statement or receipt. A refund fee is applicable and will be deducted from the refund amount.
Late payment interest charges & legal proceedings
Penalty interest will apply on a daily basis for unpaid amounts after the due date. Where an account is overdue, Council may take legal action to enforce and recover the overdue amount.
Visit our Late payments page for more information and contact Council before your rates are due to avoid additional charges.
Payment of Rates - Frequently Asked Questions
To view other rates FAQ topics visit our Rates Frequently asked questions page.
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>Can Council reduce or waive fees?
As rates are secured against the land, Council is legally unable to reduce or waive the value of rates. Under the legislation, Council can waive interest or late fees when customers enter into payment arrangements.
Council encourages all ratepayers to pay their charges on time.
If you are experiencing financial difficulties in paying your rates, Council may be able to assist. Visit our
Hardship Assistance page for further information.
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>Can the interest charges be waived and or frozen?
Council is committed to assisting customers who are experiencing financial hardship. We can offer payment arrangements such as interest free extensions and interest free payment plans to ease the burden.
To request a payment arrangement, please submit a Hardship Assistance Payment Arrangement Form available from our
Hardship Assistance page before the due date of the rate payment.
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>How to dispute my rates charges (if you believe there has been an error by Council)?
You can request a review of rates charges (including interest or legal) if you believe an error caused by Council contributed to the charges. Requests due to oversight, being unaware or not receiving the rates notices will result in your request being unsuccessful.
Check the following before submitting your dispute.
- Have you made payments on time? Visit our Late Payments page.
- Have you advised Council of your current postal address? Update your address here or see above for how to receive your rates notice online. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure Council has the correct address for the service of the rates notice.
All disputes must be submitted in writing with documentation attached to support your claims that an error caused by Council contributed to the charges.
Please email: mail@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
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>If I pay strata fees, do I still pay rates to Council?
Yes, rates are separate from strata or owner corporation (body corporate) fees. Council rates must be paid directly to Council. To pay your Council Rates and Charges, visit
Pay my rates.
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>What are ordinary rates, waste and stormwater charges?
There are three types of charges that may be listed on your Rates and Charges Notice.
Ordinary Rates
Ordinary rates (also referred to as Rates) are used to provide essential services such as the road network, street lighting, street cleaning, footpaths, parks, sport and recreation facilities, environmental planning and conservation, city rangers, pest control, libraries, town planning and building control, community services, and much more.
Council is legally obliged to determine and charge an ordinary rate for each year on all rateable land in its area. Ordinary rates are made up of a variable rate based on the land value of individual properties in proportion to the total value of all land in the Local Government Area.
The type of Ordinary Rate depends on the rating category (or sub-category) applied to your property.
Visit Council's page on How rates are calculated and spent for more information.
Domestic Waste Management Charge
The Local Government Act 1993 requires councils to levy an annual charge for domestic waste management services on all parcels of rateable residential land for which the service is available, whether or not it is actually used. All property owners should contribute to the current and future provision of waste services. Charges for this service include the supply of waste, recycling and green waste collection bins, collection and disposal costs. Also included in this annual charge are other costs such as the bi-annual household clean-up kerbside collection service and education programs conducted by Council. Vacant residential land is charged a vacant land charge. These charges are applied on a cost recovery basis.
Council levies other charges for additional services such as additional waste collection bins.
Stormwater Management Charge
This contributes to the cost of providing new or additional stormwater services across the local area. These activities may include:
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stormwater pollution prevention,
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flood mitigation,
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rainwater and stormwater harvesting,
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community education programs and stormwater drainage systems operations and maintenance.
The maximum amount that a council can charge is $25 for an average residential block, and the charge can only be levied on properties where council provides a stormwater management service.
The yearly charge for residential landowners is $25 while strata unit owners pay $12.50.
Business land owners pay $25 for each 350sqm or part of 350sqm, up to a maximum of $1,500. Business strata units pay $5 or $25 per 350sqm (or part thereof) of land area that would apply to the land subject to the strata scheme divided on a pro-rata basis between the lots, not less that $5 for any individual lot.
Certain land may be exempt from the charge, such as Crown land, rural land, vacant land containing no impervious surfaces, and land belonging to charities and public benevolent institutions.
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