Rate Payments

How and when do I pay my rates?

If you are experiencing financial hardship and are having difficulty paying your rates, or the below payment options do not suit your needs, please contact the Greater Shepparton City Council Rates & Revenue Team on 03 5832 9700 immediately to discuss an alternate arrangement. See more below.

Pay by Four Instalments

Four instalments will be due and payable by the following dates:

  • Instalment 1: due on or before 30 September 2024
  • Instalment 2: due on or before 30 November 2024
  • Instalment 3: due on or before 28 February 2025
  • Instalment 4: due on or before 31 May 2025

Reminder notices will be sent prior to each instalment due date. Any instalment payment received after the due date will be charged penalty interest at the rate of 10% per annum (as set by the State Government) from the due date until the overdue instalment is paid in full.

Pay by Ten Instalments

Looking for a convenient payment method that is easier on your budget and relieves the worry of paying on time? Pay in ten equal monthly instalments, via direct debit only.

Payments will be deducted from your account on the last Friday of each month, commencing in September and ending in June of each rating period.

To apply to pay by ten monthly instalments, complete and return the Direct Debit Request Form (see the How to Pay section below) at least two business days prior to the September direct debit payment. Direct debit is the only payment method available for this instalment option.

10 Monthly Payment Option Flyer

PDF, 401 KB

How to Pay

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 and Customer Reference Number as shown at the bottom of your 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. To apply to pay your rates via direct debit, please complete and return the Direct Debit Request Form (below).

Rates Direct Debit Request Form

PDF, 356 KB

Payment through the Mail

If sending payment through the mail, you must mail the Bank Deposit Slip (detach from the bottom of your Council rate notice) together with your cheque (made payable to Greater Shepparton City Council and crossed Not Negotiable) to the following address:

Greater Shepparton City Council
Locked Bag 1000
SHEPPARTON VIC 3632

Please do not pin or staple your cheque to the Bank Deposit Slip(s), and you should retain the top portion of your rate notice for your records. Receipts will not be issued for payments by mail.

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 9am and 4pm, 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 POSTbillpay (Phone 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.

* Calls from mobile phones will be charged at mobile phone rates.

Payment by Centrepay

Use Centrepay to make regular deductions from your Centrelink payment. Centrepay is a voluntary and easy payment option available to Centrelink customers.

Go to humanservices.gov.au/centrepaybusiness for more information and to set up your Centrepay deductions.

Payment by Phone

You can pay your rates via telephone with a MasterCard or Visa by calling 1300 181 761.

Receive Your Notices Electronically

Free yourself from paper and do the environment a favour at the same time, by signing up to receive your Council notices electronically via eNotices or BPAY View. Not only does this allow you to receive your notice quicker than via the post, once you have signed up you can view previous notices as far back as the 2014/2015 year. 

  • To register with eNotices, complete the registration form on the eNotices website.
    • To register, enter your email address and the eNotices reference number shown on your rates notice.
    • Rates notices will be delivered via email as a PDF document, and you are able to log into the eNotices website to view available previous notices.
  • For BPAY View, simply go to your online banking and follow the instructions to sign up for BPAY View. Please have your rate notice handy, as you will need this for your customer number and other details.

Please note: eNotices may be blocked or treated as Spam and therefore not appear in your inbox. If you have trouble receiving emails, please check your spam/junk folder and whitelist any emails to prevent further interruptions.

Payments Plans and Deferrals

On application, a person may enter into a suitable payment plan or deferral with Council for the payment of a rate and/or charge.

Council will assist a ratepayer to determine the conditions of a suitable payment plan or deferment including:

  • the duration;
  • the frequency;
  • the amount of each instalment; and/or
  • any other terms.

Council may cancel a payment plan or deferment at anytime if the terms of the plan are not complied with. Should a payment plan or deferment be cancelled, any amounts owing will become due and payable.

Payment Difficulties

If you are having difficulties paying your rates, please contact the Council immediately on 03 5832 9700 to discuss alternative arrangements available under Council’s Financial Hardship Policy (available for download below), or complete a Payment Plan Form. You can lodge this form online, or download a printable PDF of the form below. This method may include options such as a payment plan serviced by Direct Debit or Centrepay.

Complete the Rates Payment Plan Form Online

Approval may be granted as long as an acceptable amount is paid either on a weekly, fortnightly or monthly basis.

All enquiries are treated confidentially, and early communication from you may help prevent the commencement of costly legal action for the recovery of outstanding rates.

Change of Mailing Address and/or Ratepayer

The Local Government Act 1989 requires property owners and ratepayers to advise of any changes in ownership or mailing address. Incorrect addresses and ownership records may cause unnecessary delays in the delivery of your rate notices. This may result in interest and costly legal fees on your rates account.

You must notify the Council in writing if you:

  • Have changed your mailing and/or residential address;
  • Have changed your name (a copy of your driver's licence or relevant certificate is required);
  • Wish to nominate your tenant as the ratepayer (ie. as the recipient of the rate notice);
  • Wish to remove a former tenant as the ratepayer.

To notify the Council of a change in mailing address and/or ratepayer, please complete and return the Change of Address/Name Form (below). This form must be signed by the property owner, and the property owner's residential address is required for voting purposes.

Change of Address/Name Form

PDF, 541 KB

Change of Property Ownership

The Local Government Act 1989 requires property owners and ratepayers to advise of any changes in ownership or mailing address. Incorrect addresses and ownership records may cause unnecessary delays in the delivery of your rate notices. This may result in interest and costly legal fees on your rates account.

The Council must receive written notification of changes of ownership following the sale of a property. The relevant signed ‘Notice of Acquisition’ must be completed and forwarded to the Council no later than one month after the disposal or acquisition of the property.

Liability for rates levied on a property, including arrears, become the responsibility of the new owners unless arrangements are made for payment at settlement.

Copies of Rate Notices

A copy of your rate notice from the current rating period is available and will be supplied on request, but may incur a charge.

Copies of rate notices for the seven rating years preceding the current rating year are available at a cost per notice per year. Please refer to Council’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.

Please contact Council if you would like to request a copy of your rate notice.

Allocation of Monies

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

  1. Legal Costs owing (if any), then
  2. Interest owing (if any), then
  3. Arrears owing (if any), then
  4. Current rates/charges/levies owing.

Payment of the current balance owing is divided proportionally between Council rates and charges and the Fire Services Property Levy.