Rates

How does Council value your property?

Rates are calculated on each property’s Assessed Annual Value (AAV), which is determined by the State Government’s Office of the Valuer-General (OVG):

• Assessed Annual Value (AAV) is the estimated yearly rental value of the property.

New valuations occur every six years. Adjustment factors are determined every two (2) years for AAV.

If you do not agree with the AAV or Adjusted AAV of your property, you can lodge an objection with the OVG. The lodgement of an objection does not alter the requirement to pay rates when due.

How are my rates calculated?

General Rate

Council’s rate structure is based upon a two part general rate per property. The rates for the financial year commencing on 1 July 2024 and ending on 30 June 2025 are:

• A fixed charge of $567.61
• A variable rate of 4.1266688 cents in the dollar of AAV.

A property’s variable general rate is calculated by multiplying its AAV by the rate of cents per dollar. The variable rate is then varied according to the subcategories of use or predominant use of the land.

Waste Management Charges

Ratepayers pay an annual charge for kerbside bin collection services. The waste management charges vary depending on the size of bins provided.

Fire Service Contribution

Fire Service charges are collected by Council on behalf of the Tasmanian State Government as a contribution towards the funding of the State Fire Commission operations across various districts.

For more information refer to Council’s Rates and Charges Policy 2024-2025 and Rates Resolution 2024-2025

Am I eligible for a pensioner remission?

The State Government’s pensioner rates remission provides a remission for Council rates. Eligibility of a pensioner remission is determined by the State Government Department of Treasury and Finance.

To be eligible to receive a remission as at 1 July each year:

1. You must be the liable to pay the rates on the property for which you are claiming a remission and the property must be your principal place of residence.
2. You must hold one of the following valid cards:

• Pensioner Concession Card (PCC)
• Health Care Card (HCC) – Seniors Cards do not qualify
• Department of Veteran Affairs ‘Gold Card’ endorsed with TPI or War Widow

The date the card was granted on must be on or before 1st July of the current financial year. The card must be presented to Council’s Customer Service Officers when submitting an application form.

In the case of joint property ownership, at least one of the owners must meet the above eligibility criteria. There is a limit of one remission per year per pensioner household.

Pensioners who received a remission last year should receive a remission automatically.

To apply for a pensioner remission please complete the Pensioner Application for Rates Remission form Pensioner Application Rates Remission 2024-2025

When do I need to apply for a pensioner remission?

Applications for pensioner rate remissions cannot be received prior to 1 July of the current financial year. All applications must be received by 31 March to receive the remission for the current financial year.

Retrospective applications can be submitted, however, conditions apply.

How much is the pensioner remission?

Eligible pensioners will receive the following remissions, noting that limits apply:

• State Government – 30% (maximum limits apply).
• State Fire Commission – 20% (of the fire levy service rate).

The 2024-2025 maximum limits are:

• $559 for Pensioners who are not a customer of TasWater
• $379 for Pensioners who are also a customer of TasWater

Email & SMS – Receive your rates notice directly via email  

You can register to receive your rates notice by Email and reminder messages by SMS  – it’s fast, convenient and will help Council to become more sustainable.

To register Receive your Rates Notice by Email – Sorell Council

Once you register for email rates notices, you will no longer receive a paper copy of your rates notice in the mail.

BPAY View – Receive your rates notice directly via internet banking

BPAY View allows you to view, download and print your rates notice via your internet banking.

You can register for BPAY View through your bank or financial institution when you log on to internet banking.

You will need the following details to register:

• BPAY View Registration Number: Find the BPAY logo and BPAY View registration number at the front of your rates notice in the bottom left hand corner

Once you register for BPAY View, you will no longer receive a paper copy of your rates notice in the mail.

If your postal address changes, you must notify Council in writing, as soon as possible:

By Email: sorell.council@sorell.tas.gov.au

By Post: Sorell Council, PO Box 126, Sorell, Tasmania 7172

In Person: Visit Council’s Office at 47 Cole Street, Sorell

New Owner Details Notification Form

Change of Address Form

Council’s rates are due and payable each financial year (1 July to 30 June).

Annual rates notices are mailed out during July, followed by instalment reminder notices prior to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th instalment due dates.

Rate payments can be made as one annual payment or by four equal instalments. Alternatively, you can pay your rates by direct debit from your bank account. Direct debit arrangements can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, by instalments or annually.

Rate due dates

Paid in full:

• 11 September 2024

Paid by four instalments:

• 1st instalment: 14 August 2024
• 2nd instalment: 16  October 2024
• 3rd instalment: 15 January 2025
• 4th instalment: 12 March 2025

What if my payment is late?

Where any rates payable to Council are not paid on or before the due date, interest and penalty charges will be applied:

• Penalty of 8.5% per instalment, will be charge on the balance of the outstanding instalment amount.
• Interest of 3.00% per annum, applied daily, will be charged on the balance of the unpaid rates.

What if I am experiencing difficulties in paying rates?

If you are experiencing financial hardship and you are having difficulty paying your rates instalment by the due date, there are options available.

Payment Arrangements

Contact Council on 03 6269 0000 to discuss alternative payment arrangement options. Interest and penalty on outstanding rates payment will still apply under payment arrangements.

Payment Arrangement For Rates Account

Financial Hardship Assistance

Council’s Financial Hardship Assistance Policy can provide relief to ratepayers experiencing genuine and serious financial hardship. Rate relief under the policy includes postponing rate payments, remitting late payment penalty and interest and remitting rates.

To seek financial hardship assistance from Council, an application (including a completed Application Form) must be made in writing, addressed to the General Manager.

For more information and to find out if you’re eligible refer to Council’s Financial Hardship Assistance Policy and Application Form

What happens if I don’t pay my rates?

If you do not pay all or part of a rate instalment by the due date, Council may take legal action to recover the outstanding amounts. If Council take legal action against a ratepayer, the ratepayer may be liable for the legal costs associated with the action.

Direct Debit

You can pay your rates by direct debit from your bank account. Direct debit arrangements can be weekly, fortnightly, monthly, by instalments or annually.

Complete a Direct Debit Request form and return to Council:

• By Email: sorell.council@sorell.tas.gov.au
• By Post: Sorell Council, PO Box 126, Sorell, Tasmania 7172
• In Person: Visit Council’s Office at 47 Cole Street, Sorell

Direct Debit Request form can be completed online here

Direct Debit Alteration form can be completed online here

Direct Debit Cancellation from can be completed online here

Pay over the phone via BPOINT

You can pay your rates over the phone using your Visa or MasterCard. Available 24 hours a day.

Call 1300 276 468 and follow the prompts.

You will need the following details:

• Biller Code: 18317
• Your Customer Reference Number: Find the BPOINT logo, biller code and reference number at the front of your rates notice in the bottom left hand corner
• The payment amount

Pay online via BPOINT

You can pay your rates online using your Visa or MasterCard. Available 24 hours a day.

Pay your Bill here: Sorell Council (bpoint.com.au)

You will need the following details:

• Biller Code: 18317
• Your Customer Reference Number: Find the BPOINT logo, biller code and reference number at the front of your rates notice in the bottom left hand corner
• The payment amount

BPAY – Pay by phone, internet and mobile banking

If your bank or financial institution offer online BPAY services, you can make a rates payment via internet, mobile or phone banking.

You will need the following details:

• Biller Code: 18317
• Your Customer Reference Number: Find the BPAY logo, biller code and reference number at the front of your rates notice in the bottom left hand corner
• The payment amount

POST Billpay – Pay in person at Australia Post

Rates payments can be made at any Australia Post Office nationwide.

You will need to have your rates notice with you to make a payment.

Pay by Mail

Mail a cheque or money order to: Sorell Council, PO Box 126, Sorell, Tasmania 7172

Please make the cheque or money order payable to Sorell Council.

Pay in person at Council’s Offices

Rate payments can be made by visiting Council’s office at 47 Cole Street, Sorell. Council’s office is open between 8.00am and 4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

For more information on any of the above information, please phone Council on 03 6269 0000.

In accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993 and the Fire Services Act 1979, Council adopted the following Rates and Charges Resolution for rateable land within the Council’s municipal area.

Rates Resolution 2024-2025