About Your Rates

Last updated: 16 Jul, 2024 03:15pm

 

Rates for 2024/25

How to pay

Penalties

Usually by the middle of July, you would have received your Rates Invoice for the new rating year.

This year, there has been a delay in the setting of the 2024/25 rates.

We understand the importance of these for your financial planning and regret any inconvenience this may cause.

Please rest assured that while issuing rates has been delayed, any weekly, fortnightly or monthly direct debit arrangements you may have in place will continue as they are. All ratepayers are able to make payments at any time and in any amount that suits. This flexibility helps ensure you can manage your rates payments in a way that best fits your budget.

We’ve included a list of questions and answers below, but please contact us if you require more information or need further assistance.

You can email us at rates@cdc.govt.nz and we’ll be back in touch as soon as possible.

I need to adjust or cancel my direct debit. What can I do?

Contact us at rates@cdc.govt.nz and we will be happy to help. 

I need a rates rebate. What do I do.

Rates Rebates will still go ahead, although won’t be processed until after the first rates invoices have been issued. 

Forms will be available from our office. 

Why has the delay happened?

Our Long Term Plan [LTP] review has been delayed due to extended hearings, delays from QV in housing valuations and Audit NZ capacity issues. The latter then identified some issues we need to rectify, and we’ll work closely with them on this over the next month. This means that our LTP will not be considered by Council until Wednsday 18 September. Our 2024/25 rates invoices will not be issued until after this has occurred. 

What does this mean for ratepayers?

Payment dates

  • Council will finalise payment dates at the next Council meeting on 31 July. We’ll be able to provide an update immediately following this. The delay in issuing of Rates Invoices will likely see our instalment schedule change from four equal payments to three – more information will be provided on this as soon as possible.

Payments

  • Ratepayers can make any payment against their Rates account at any time – this includes setting up a direct debit or automatic payment.   You do not have to wait for invoices to be issued.

Direct Debits

  • Current weekly, fortnightly and monthly direct debit arrangements will remain in place, continuing as normal. These will be adjusted once new Rates Invoices are issued. Any payments made prior to Rates Invoices being issued will be held in credit against relevant Rates accounts.

  

When will this situation be sorted?

Council will receive a recommendation to consider new payment dates and periods at the next Ordinary Council meeting on 31 July. We will be working to provide timely updates as the situation changes. Updates will be posted to the website as and when available. The agenda for Council meetings will be available through our Meetings page when complete.

How to Pay

You can pay your rates by:

Cash and EFTPOS payments can be made at the Council Office, Holloway Street, Carterton between the hours of 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.

This method of payment enables you to pay your rates from home.

However it is very important that we receive the correct references with your payment so that we can credit the payment to the correct rate account.

Visit our How To Pay page for Bank details and payment instruction.

You can also ask the Rates Officer by emailing rates@cdc.govt.nz or phone 06 379 4030 to help with setting up any electronic payments.

Direct debit (or “Easy pay”) allows your rates to be paid automatically from your bank account. Payments can be made fortnightly, monthly or quarterly. You decide. This system ensures that your rates are always paid on time if there is sufficient balance in your account.

To start paying by direct debit, you can:

At this point, Council does not provide the facility to allow payment by credit card.

  • Bank: Bank of New Zealand
  • Acct Name: Carterton District Council
  • Acct Number:  02 0608 0086383 03

If paying by internet banking please include your Rating Valuation Number as Payee Reference.

Which payment method is best?

We recommend you pay by direct debit. If rates change, as they do most years, or you get a rebate, or you pay a lump sum, or anything else that changes how much rates you need to pay, we will recalculate the payments for you and amend the direct debit.

All changes to your payment details will be advised to you in writing (or email if you prefer) before implementing a change.

And best of all, you will not incur penalties while you are under a direct debit arrangement.

 

What if I get behind in payments?

If you’re getting behind in payments and your rate account is in arrears, it is important that you contact the Rates Officer as soon as possible to discuss payment arrangements.

The sooner you contact us, the sooner we can arrange something.

By making contact and entering into a payment agreement you minimise the risk of Council contacting your bank to add your outstanding rates to your home loan.

 

Get your rates bill by email

If you would like to receive your rates invoices by email, please contact rates@cdc.govt.nz with your email address.

Contact us if you need any further help.

Penalties

Penalties are charged for late payments and/or if installments are not paid in full by the due date. If you are paying rates by automatic payment please ensure that the amount you are paying is sufficient to pay the amount payable by the due date. Penalties will be incurred if payments are insufficient.

Pursuant to Sections 57 and 58 of the Local Government (Rating) Act 2002, penalties will be charged on rates outstanding as follows:

  • 10% of the amount of each rate instalment remaining unpaid on the penalty date as shown on each rates installment.
  • 10% will be added to any balance remaining outstanding from previous rating year(s) (including penalties previously charged) as at the beginning of July each year.