Rates & Property

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Rate Payments

Council makes several rates payment options available to residents and businesses. Please make sure you have your rate notice at hand when choosing any of these payment options.

Municipal Rates & Charges: Payment Options

  1. POSTbillpay by phone, using credit card, Visa, MasterCard or AMEX  on 13 18 16. International callers: +61 13 18 16.  POSTbillpay Biller Code: 3025. Ref: please refer to your rate notice.
  2. POSTbillpay by internet, using Visa, MasterCard or AMEX  visit http//www.postbillpay.com.au and follow the instructions. POSTbillpay Biller Code: 3025. Ref: please refer to your rate notice.
  3. BPay via internet or phone banking, see http://www.bpay.com.au. BPay Biller Code: 8672. Ref: please refer to your rate notice.
  4. Direct Debit, by way of ten (10) equal monthly deductions from your nominated cheque or savings account. Credit cards not accepted. Please see Direct Debit Further Information.
  5. At any Australia Post Office, cash, cheque, money order, EFTPOS, Visa or MasterCard are accepted. AMEX is not accepted. 
  6. In person at any Port Phillip Town Hall - St Kilda, Port Melbourne and South Melbourne see Town hall locations cash, cheque, money order, EFTPOS, MasterCard, Visa & AMEX are accepted. 
  7. By mail (cheque together with payment slip) to Port Phillip City Council, Private Bag 14808, Melbourne Mail Centre VIC 8299.

Rates Payment and Dates (2011/2012)

Payment in Full

Single lump sum payment made on or before 15 February 2012.

Payment by Instalments

Pay in four (4) instalments across the year. The following dates apply:

INSTALMENT DUE DATE
1st instalment

Must be paid on or before 30 September 2011

By paying the first instalment by this date, you are then eligible to pay the remaining instalments as follows:
2nd instalment on or before 30 November 2011
3rd instalment on or before 29 February 2012
4th instalment on or before 31 May 2012

Interest Charged on Late Payments

The Port Phillip City Council has carefully considered the provisions of the Victorian Local Government Act in relation to the charging of penalty interest on late payment of rates. The council has adopted the policy that all rates and charges not paid by the due dates will be charged interest at the prescribed rate, currently 10.50 per cent until paid in full. 

Rate notices are issued by the City of Port Phillip with five and a half months' notice each year, with its annual account not falling due until 15 February. To confidently plan its delivery of activities and services to the community (which are primarily funded by revenue raised by rates), the City of Port Phillip relies on punctual payment of rates by property owners. The interest charged on late payments provides an incentive for rates to be paid on time, and ensures that those ratepayers who do pay on time are not disadvantaged.

For ratepayers electing to pay rates in one lump sum (by 15 February) and who fail to do so, the interest will be charged from the date payment is received back dated to the date the rate was declared (1 July of the previous year).

If paying by instalments, interest will only be charged from the due date of the particular instalment which has not been received by the due date. With the risk of large interest penalties being added, payment by instalment provides a significant incentive for ratepayers to choose this payment option.

Direct Debit

Payments will be deducted from the nominated cheque or savings bank account (credit cards not accepted) on a monthly basis from 15 September 2011 to 15 June 2012 (Ten deductions).  

  • Any arrears must be paid before ratepayers can enter into a direct debit agreement.
  • Applicants must ensure that sufficient cleared funds are in the account when the payments are to be drawn.  Fees may apply for any returned unpaid transaction.
  • If the due date falls on a weekend or public holiday, then the payment will be deducted on the next business day.  
  • The authorisation to debit the account is in the same name as the account signing instruction held by the financial institution where the account is held.
  • Complete, date and sign the Direct Debit Request Form, then post together with the 'Direct Debit Request Service Agreement' page to the Rates Department, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182. Applications must be received by 31st August 2011.
  • Once form is signed, the direct debit agreement is a continuous agreement that can only be cancelled in writing at least 7 days before the next debit date.   
  • Reminder notices will not be issued for the 10 monthly deductions.
  • Direct Debit is not available for the four instalment option.

IMPORTANT: Direct debiting through the Bulk Electronic Clearing system (BECS) is not available on all accounts.   Applicants should check their account details (including the Bank State Branch (BSB) number) directly against a recent statement from their financial institution before completing the drawing authority. 

Download the Direct Debit Request Form  - If you are unable to print, please collect a form from any Town Hall or contact us for a posted form. Please return the filled section along with the 'Direct Debit Request Service Agreement' page to the Rates Department, City of Port Phillip, Private Bag 3, St Kilda VIC 3182.

Contact us or use eServices to ask us a question, request information or give us feedback online. If you prefer contact ASSIST on (03) 9209 6777. To inform us of a Change of Address check the information on the Rates & Property page.

If you are deaf, hearing or speech impaired and need to contact ASSIST please use the National Relay Service  

Speak and Listen users phone 1300 555 727, then ask for ASSIST – Port Phillip – 03 9209 6777