As a Council, we’re committed to delivering essential services and maintaining public amenities that enhance our community’s quality of life.
The cornerstone of our funding comes from property taxes known as ‘rates’. Rates are based on the assessed value of each property.
Below you’ll find information to guide you in fulfilling your role as a valued ratepayer, including details on rate charges, payment terms and concessions.
Pay your rates
Rates are now due in four equal instalments to provide greater flexibility and alleviate the financial burden of needing to pay upfront.
Instalment due dates:
- 31 August 2025
- 30 November 2025
- 28 February 2026
- 31 May 2026
Larger amounts can still be paid at any time, including paying the total balance in full.
You can conveniently pay for your rates by clicking the button below.
Direct Debit for Rates
A direct debit from a nominated bank account can be set up to pay your rates. This can be done weekly, fortnightly, monthly or quarterly on a continuous basis or with a nominated finish date. Please contact the Rates Office to discuss the amount required to be paid. You may opt to do a one-off annual payment. If opting for the annual direct debit, this must be applied for each year it is required. It is not an ongoing arrangement.
Rates Notices by Email
If you would like to receive your rates notices by email, please fill out the form by clicking on the button below. Please note this means paper copies will cease to be sent.
Rates discount
Our Council determines the level of early payment discount it offers when setting rates each year. The discount for the 2025-26 financial year is 2.5% (excluding the fire levy) for rates paid in full by 31 August 2025.
Late payments
The Council will be charging interest on overdue balances. Ratepayers who cannot pay their balance by the due dates are strongly encouraged to set up payment plans by contacting our Rates Office.
Why are rates important?
Rates play a crucial role in sustaining our community’s well-being and supporting essential services. They fund vital infrastructure projects, maintain public facilities, and ensure the delivery of essential services such as waste management, roads, and parks. By paying your rates, you contribute directly to the continued growth and development of our region.
Pensioner Rates Remission
To be entitled to apply, the Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991 requires that a ratepayer must be an eligible pensioner and must occupy the property as his or her principal dwelling on or prior to 1 July of the rating year.
To be an eligible pensioner you must have:
- a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card OR
- a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Repatriation Health “Gold Card” which bears the inscription “War Widow ” or “TPI” OR
- an Australian Government Health Care Card. (Possession of an Australian Government Seniors Health Card does not qualify the holder for a rates remission).
Applications for rates remissions must be received by the Council by 31 March of any year in which the rates are calculated.
Conservation Covenant Rate Rebate
Council supports landholders who permanently protect high conservation value land with a conservation covenant.
Eligible landowners can apply for a rate rebate of $5 per hectare per year (minimum $50, maximum $500) if their land is covenanted under the Private Forest Reserves Program or the Protected Areas on Private Land Program (Tasmanian Nature Conservation Act 2002).
Eligibility is based on properties listed annually by the Department of Natural Resources & Environment.
Landholders must apply to Council to receive the rebate.
Frequently Asked Questions
We have made some important changes to our ‘Council Rates and Charges’ as well as ‘Payment Terms and Conditions’. The below Q and A is designed to answer any questions you might have related to our rates and charges for the 2025-26 financial year. If you are still unsure and would like some more information, please contact our team in the Rates Office.
Rates are adjusted in line with the Council Cost Index (CCI) to ensure the financial sustainability of the Council. Over the past five years, Council rates have increased by 17.3% for the average residential property, while the Council Cost Index (CCI) published by Local Government Association of Tasmania (LGAT) has increased by 20.0% during the same period.
Holding prices down indefinitely has the impact of falling behind on critical upgrades and services – costs that continue to grow over time. To effectively respond and continue to deliver the same level of services, prices must also increase.
Council must balance its service levels with the needs and expectations of the community and set appropriate levels of tax to adequately fulfil its roles and responsibilities.
Rates and Charges are an important source of revenue for Council, representing some 55% of the total revenue estimated to be received by Council in 2025-26.
The rates and charges are set each year by Council in close consultation with management.
We recognise that a rate increase can pose financial challenges for some residents. If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact our Rates Office on 03 6429 8900 to discuss an agreed payment plan, or for information on what assistance programs are available.
Yes – a payment plan can be arranged to assist ratepayers making payments.
Payment plans can be made on a frequency and amount that suits ratepayers budget, but the plan must cover your current rates balance by 31 May to be eligible.
Payment plans may still incur interest charges on any overdue portion of rates.
To avoid interest charges, the payment plan must be sufficient to cover the quarterly instalment due date obligation.
If a ratepayer has an agreed payment plan, debt recovery action is put on hold by the Council.
The Council will be charging interest on overdue balances.
Ratepayers who cannot pay their balance by the due dates are strongly encouraged to set up payment plans by contacting our Rates Office.
Interest will be charged if any of the due dates are not met. The overdue interest rate is as prescribed under section 128 of the Local Government Act 1993 and is calculated daily and charged at the end of each month.
Ratepayers will continue paying interest on overdue rates and charges until we receive full payment of the outstanding amount.
The Council recognises cases of genuine hardship requiring compassion in special circumstances. Ratepayers that are experiencing difficulty in paying are encouraged to contact the Council’s Rates Office.
Interest charges may be considered for relief or waived under limited circumstances.
Requests for relief must be in writing, addressed to the Chief Executive Officer and will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Refer to Applying for Financial Hardship Assistance at the bottom of this page.
Consideration will be given to:
- Genuine financial hardship: Ratepayers experiencing significant financial difficulties may be eligible for an interest waiver upon proving supporting evidence in line with the Council policy.
- First time offence: Consideration will be given to those ratepayers who have incurred charges for the first time and have a history of good payment behaviour including timely communication with Council.
There are a number of not-for-profit and government funded organisations that can assist with financial assistance and budget planning services. Ratepayers are encouraged to reach out if they are experiencing financial difficulty.
Resources:
National Debt Helpline
Phone: 1800 007 007
Website: https://ndh.org.au/
The Salvation Army
Phone: 03 6208 1488
Website: https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/need-help/financial-assistance/
Anglicare Tasmania
Phone: 1800 243 232
Website: https://www.anglicare-tas.org.au/financial-counselling/
Rural Financial Counselling Service Tasmania
Phone: 03 6272 5992
Website: https://www.rfcstasmania.com.au
Applying for Financial Hardship Assistance
A ratepayer who is having difficulty in paying rates should contact the Council at the earliest opportunity to arrange a payment schedule that is agreeable both to the Council and the ratepayer. This is essential to avoid the Council taking legal action to recover the outstanding rates.
A ratepayer may also apply to the Council to defer the payment of rates on the grounds of hardship. An application has to be in writing and must be lodged with the Council’s Chief Executive Officer.
A council may grant or refuse a deferral application. Any granted deferral may be subject to a condition that the ratepayer pay interest on the amount due.
All applications for financial hardship assistance will be assessed in accordance with the Central Coast Council’s Financial Hardship Assistance Policy.
To seek financial hardship assistance from the Council, please complete the Electronic Rates Hardship Application Form using the link below and submit it along with any supporting documents to the Chief Executive Officer.
A copy of the Financial Hardship Assistance Policy is available for download below.
If you require assistance to complete the form, please contact our Rates Office on 03 6429 8900.