Rates - FAQs

City of Stirling Rates Direct Debit Instalment Option Service Agreement Terms and Conditions (section 6.49 of the Local Government Act 1995) Definitions

• City means the City of Stirling of PO Box 1533, Osborne Park, Western Australia, 6916
• Current rate year means the Rate Year when this agreement is executed
• Direct Debit Authority means the authority attached to this agreement authorising the payment to the City pursuant to this agreement
• Future rate year means all Rate Years after the Current Rate Year
• Direct Debit Amount means the amount specified to be paid by the Ratepayer in the Direct Debit Authority
• Property means the property described in this agreement
• Rate Notice means the rate notice issued by the City to the Ratepayer for the Property for a particular rate year
• Rate Year means the period commencing 1 July in a year and expiring 30 June in the following year (a financial year) 
• Ratepayer means the person named as the Ratepayer in this agreement
• Ratepayers Bank Account means the account with a financial institution nominated by the Ratepayer in the Direct Debit Authority
• Rates and service charges means the total amount due in line with a rates notice, including local government rates, the emergency services levy, charges for waste services and security patrol, swimming pool inspection fees, penalty interest, instalment fees, legal fees and direct debit administration fees.

• The Ratepayer agrees to pay:
  • The rates and service charges
  • Late payment interest as per Section 6.51(1) of the Local Government Act 1995 and Regulation 70 of the Local Government (Financial Management) Regulations 1996 which will accrue over the payment period
  • Any costs incurred by the City as a result of the Ratepayer failing to perform any obligations under this agreement
  • Any charges imposed by the City’s bank in relation to the Direct Debit Authority
  • Any charges imposed by the Ratepayer’s financial institution in relation to the Direct Debit Authority
  • Administration charge for the set-up of the agreement as notified in the adopted budget fees and charges schedule
  • Future rate years.

The City will notify the ratepayer in writing by giving at least fourteen (14) days’ written notice, of any increased variations to the direct debit amount during a rate year to cover any of the following:

• Increase in the rates and service charges
• Change in the rates of interest charged by the City
• Additional interest, costs or charges payable by the ratepayer to the City.

If there is a reduction to the amounts in the ratepayer’s direct debit plan, the City will notify the ratepayer in writing.

The ratepayer can elect to pay their rates and service charges in full, in instalments or by rates smoothing. The amount of each payment option is outlined on the rates notice.

The direct debit agreement authorises a payment in full, in two or four instalments, or on a rates smoothing basis, as elected by the ratepayer. The direct debit arrangement is a legal agreement between the City and the ratepayer.

The ratepayer must check with their financial institution that direct debit is available from their nominated bank account. Direct debit is not available on all bank accounts offered by financial institutions.

The ratepayer must make sure that the bank account details, including the BSB and account numbers which are provided to the City, are correct. If in doubt, the ratepayer must confirm the details with their financial institution.

The ratepayer must ensure that there are sufficient cleared funds available in their account to allow each direct debit payment to be made on the due date.

Should there be insufficient cleared funds in the ratepayer’s account to meet a particular direct debit payment, the ratepayer must arrange for the due payment to be made by another payment method within seven (7) days.

Dishonoured payments incur a fee of $2.75 per transaction. This fee will be added to the ratepayer’s account.

The Ratepayer can make changes to their direct debit arrangement by notifying the City in writing to:

• make any change(s) to their nominated bank account,
• make amendments to the frequency of direct debit payments
• stop or defer a direct debit payment
• or terminate this agreement with at least five (5) business days before the next due debit.

To make changes to their nominated bank account, the Ratepayer must complete a direct debit change of bank account details form.

To make changes to the frequency, stop or defer direct debit payments, the Ratepayer must complete a customer enquiry and feedback form or email ratesdd@stirling.wa.gov.au

A change is only permitted if the proposed change still results in the rates and all other payments due under this agreement being paid in full by the last payment date.

If the ratepayer is unable to make a payment in line with this agreement, they must contact the City’s Rates Team at least five (5) business days before the payment is due to change the payment arrangement.

If no alternate payment arrangement has been made with the City and one of the following scenarios applies, then the City may request in writing immediate payment of the balance of the rates and service charges, and all other fees and interest due under this agreement:

• The ratepayer fails to pay any amount payable under this agreement when it falls due, and does not make that payment within seven (7) days after the due date
• The ratepayer cancels or changes the direct debit authority without written agreement with the City
• The ratepayer’s direct debit dishonours on a total of four (4) occasions for the smoothing option during the rate year for any reason
• The ratepayer’s direct debit dishonours on a total of two (2) occasions for the four instalment option during the rate year for any reason
• The ratepayer’s direct debit dishonours on a total of one (1) occasion for the two instalment option during the rate year for any reason.

For declined transactions, the following will apply:

• In the event of declined payments outlined in section five (5), the City will cancel the agreement. If the account is not paid in full, or another payment arrangement entered into, the City may commence normal debt collection procedures
• The City and the ratepayer are unable to enter into a new direct debit payment plan for this current rate (financial) year once a direct debit plan has been cancelled due to declined transactions outlined in section five (5)
• Cancelled direct debits will be charged penalty interest on outstanding amounts from the original due date. Overdue Emergency Services Levy incur penalty interest at a rate of 11 per cent and rates and service charges incur penalty interest at a rate of 5 per cent.

If the City delays in enforcing this agreement or gives the ratepayer additional time to pay, that delay and extension of time is not a waiver of the City’s rights to enforce any provision of this agreement.

The City offers a fixed direct debit plan for ratepayers who are unable to enter into the smoothing, instalments or pay in full option. Ratepayers must contact the City on (08) 9205 8555 to register for this direct debit plan.

The ratepayer can elect to pay their rates and service charges weekly, fortnightly or monthly as agreed between the City and the ratepayer.

The direct debit will be ongoing for a two-year period from the date of the first payment.

Dishonoured payments incur a fee of $2.75 per transaction. This fee will be added to the ratepayer’s account.

In the event of four (4) declined payments, the City will cancel the agreement. If the account is not paid in full, or another payment arrangement entered into, the City may commence normal debt collection procedures.

The ratepayer should check their account statement on a regular basis to verify the amounts debited from their account are correct.

If the ratepayer believes that there has been an error in debiting their account, they should notify the City immediately by calling (08) 9205 8555 and provide notice in writing to the City as soon as possible so that the City can resolve the query promptly. Alternatively, the ratepayer can contact their financial institution.

If, following an investigation, the City concludes that the ratepayer’s account has been incorrectly debited, the City will credit the overpayment against the next payment due, and direct the ratepayer’s financial institution to adjust the next payment accordingly. The City will also notify the ratepayer in writing of the outcome.

If a ratepayer has been charged a lesser amount, the ratepayer must arrange for the due payment to be made by another payment method. The City will notify the ratepayer in writing of this instruction.

If the City concludes, as a result of investigations, that the account has not been incorrectly debited, the City will provide an explanation in writing, along with any evidence for this finding.

The City takes all reasonable steps to keep information about ratepayers secure, and to ensure that employees or agents of the City who have access to the information do not make any unauthorised use, modification, reproduction or disclosure of that information.

The City will keep any information (including the ratepayer’s bank account details) in the direct debit authority confidential and will only disclose information held about the ratepayer to the extent specifically required by law for the purposes of this agreement (including disclosing information in connection with any query or claim).

To contact the City in relation to the direct debit agreement, the ratepayer can contact the City in the following ways:

• Email ratesdd@stirling.wa.gov.au 
• By post City of Stirling, PO Box 1533, Osborne Park, Western Australia 6916
• Telephone (08) 9205 8555
• Complete online via customer enquiry and feedback form here.

To request payments pursuant to this agreement, the ratepayer must complete the direct debit request form on the City's website.

Applications for direct debit must be completed and submitted to the City at no later than 16 August 2024, in order for the first payment to commence on 30 August 2024.

An application must be completed for each rate assessment separately.

Upon receiving the direct debit authority, the City will confirm acceptance of the agreement by executing the agreement and notifying the ratepayer in writing via email.

Check their account statement to verify that the amounts debited from their account are correct.

Arrange for a payment to be made by another method for the declined direct debit(s) as per the agreement to pay in full by the last payment date.

The Ratepayer must notify the City in writing relating to this agreement:

Email ratesdd@stirling.wa.gov.au or complete a customer enquiry and feedback form here.

Alternatively, by post to City of Stirling, PO Box 1533, Osborne Park WA 6916.

The City will notify the Ratepayer in writing by sending a notice via email or post to the address you have given us in the direct debit application.

Any notice will be deemed to have been received on the third banking day after issue.

Please direct all rates enquiries to the City of Stirling, rather than to your financial institution.

All rate-related communication addressed to the City should include the rates assessment number.

The City of Stirling accepts no responsibility for correspondence not being received, being received late due to postal delays, or for being illegible.

*Please note, due to the City’s Christmas closure period the weekly smoothing payment will be deducted on Thursday 2 January 2025 and Friday 3 January 2025. 

If you are unable to pay any of the payment options on your rate notice due to financial hardship, you can apply for a payment arrangement.

A special payment arrangement has a $30.00 administration fee and penalty interest will accrue daily on the balance of the overdue account until it is fully paid.

Please note: pensioners and seniors are not charged an administration fee when setting up a payment arrangement.

Please let us know promptly, in writing, of any changes to your contact details. Property owners must make sure that the City has the correct address and contact details for the service of notices

To update your contact details, please complete a customer enquiry and feedback form.

Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1995, when a person sells or disposes of land, the owner/agent must advise the City in writing, within 21 days of the change in ownership, giving full details of the purchaser.

If you feel that the valuation applied to your property is incorrect, you can lodge an objection with Landgate's Valuer General's Office, within 60 days of the issue of your rates notice.

For more information, please contact the Valuer General's Office on (08) 9273 7373 or visit Landgate's website here.

Section 6.81 of the Local Government Act 1995 refers that rates assessments are required to be paid by the due date, irrespective of whether an objection or appeal has been lodged. In the event of a successful objection or appeal, the rates will be adjusted, and you will be advised accordingly. Credit balance may be refunded on request.

GST is not payable on your rates assessment.

Emergency Services Levy (ESL) is collected by local government on behalf of the State Government Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) by including the levy on local government rate notices.

The levy is to fund Western Australia’s fire and emergency services, including all career fire stations, volunteer fire brigades, State Emergency Services (SES) units, Volunteer Marine Rescue Service and multi-purpose volunteer emergency units.

Emergency Services Levy for a Safer State

For more information about the ESL, visit the DFES website.

The service aims to provide visible and responsive community patrols, mobile and CCTV technology and safety initiatives to help prevent crime and reduce anti-social behaviour to create a safer City.

An annual fee is charged per subdivision to enable the provision of these services and initiatives.

State Government legislation requires that all private swimming pool enclosures must be inspected at least every 4 years. The City will charge a fee of $200.00 for the initial inspection which includes the issue of a certificate of compliance and an annual fee is charged to relevant property owner/s for the ongoing inspection costs.

Should you wish to pay via one of the instalment options on your rate notice and the first payment is zero, you will need to contact the rates team on (08) 9205 8555 to elect to go on this payment option.

Ratepayers can request a refund of a credit on their rates account by contacting the Rates Team via the customer enquiry form or the Customer Contact Centre. 

Please note, if your rates account is not in credit your refund request may not be approved.  

Ratepayers who believe that they are unable to meet the rate payment obligations by utilising any of the City’s payment options may be entitled to a financial hardship arrangement.

The City will work with the ratepayer to review their financial position and if approved, the City will cease charging interest or penalties on overdue accounts and suspend any debt recovery within an agreed upon timeframe.

Contact the Rates Team on (08) 9205 8555 to discuss further.

Financial Hardship Policy

The City of Stirling does not charge a credit card fee to make a payment online.

Penalty interest accrues on amounts which remain unpaid after the due date. Overdue rates, waste, community safety, and pool inspection charges incur penalty interest at a rate of 5 per cent.

Overdue Emergency Services Levy (ESL) amounts incur penalty interest at a rate of 11 per cent as directed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

Penalty interest for current rates and ESL does not apply to registered pensioners and seniors. However, penalty interest for waste and other charges will be incurred if payment is not received by the due date.