If you choose to pay your rates in one lump sum, payment will be due on Thursday 15 February 2024.
- If you are paying in four instalments the first instalment payment will be due on 30 September 2023.
- Direct Debit Applications for payment of 2023-2024 rates and charges in nine monthly instalments are now closed.
- Applications for payment of 2024-2025 rates and charges in nine monthly instalments will open in early 2024.
Due dates that fall on a weekend or Public Holiday will be due the next business day.
Direct Debit request forms for payment in four instalments up to 22 September 2023 and for payment in full up to 8 February 2024.
This video explains how your share of the rates is calculated.
Your 2023-2024 annual rate notice has changed.
Waste Service Charges have been separated from the general rate charge and will be itemised on your rate notice and include Public Waste Service Charge, Kerbside Waste Service Charge and Supplementary Bin Charges (where applicable).
Visit the Waste Service Charge page to learn more.
Email rate notices
Whitehorse City Council encourages ecologically friendly delivery of your rates notice via electronic methods. See section below on How To Receive Your Rates Electronically. Sign up today and do your bit to save the planet.
Please note that payments made by credit cards will incur a surcharge of 0.6%. This fee helps Council to recover the cost of merchant fees charged by financial institutions.
Credit card surcharge fees do not apply for payments made by BPAY, payments by debit cards, cheque, cash or money order or payments in person at Australia Post.
Where do your rates go?
Your rates and charges provide around 66 percent of Council’s total annual income, which helps to deliver more than 100 services to residents.
This income funds various Council services, including:
- Kerbside and Public waste Services
- Maintenance of sports fields, parks and gardens
- Leisure and Recreation Services
- Arts and Cultural Services
- Libraries
- Health and Family Services
- Community Engagement and Development
- Maintenance of footpaths, drains and roads, sustainability and depot operations
- Community Laws, parking, school crossings and emergency management
Find out more about how rates are calculated and how councils work.
When Are My Rates Due?
You can choose to pay your rates in a lump sum (the total amount in one payment), in four instalments or in nine instalments (direct debit only).
If you choose to pay a lump sum, your rates are due on Thursday 15 February 2024.
If you choose to pay your rates in instalments (smaller amounts spread over a period of time), the due dates for each amount are as follows:
Four Instalment Payment Option
- Instalment 1: Saturday 30 September 2023
- Instalment 2: Thursday 30 November 2023
- Instalment 3: Wednesday 28 February 2024
- Instalment 4: Friday 31 May 2024
- Instalment 1: Saturday 30 September 2023
- Instalment 2: Tuesday 31 October 2023
- Instalment 3: Thursday 30 November 2023
- Instalment 4: Sunday 31 December 2023
- Instalment 5: Wednesday 31 January 2024
- Instalment 6: Wednesday 28 February 2024
- Instalment 7: Sunday 31 March 2024
- Instalment 8: Tuesday 30 April 2024
- Instalment 9: Friday 31 May 2024
Due dates that fall on a weekend or Public Holiday will be due the next business day.
If you are unable to pay your rates in full or by instalments by the due dates, you may enter into a payment plan.
Our online Rates Payment Plan Estimator Payment plans must be registered with Council otherwise penalty interest may be charged for outstanding amounts.
If you are experiencing hardship don’t delay, please contact our rates department to explore your options at customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au or call us on 9262 6292.
You can also view our Hardship Policy ( PDF 603.2KB).
Council has two ways you can register to receive your rate notice electronically.
- Email Delivery: Sign up online to receive your rate notice by email.
- You will need to reference your rate notice
- Enter your assessment number and name exactly as it appears on your rate notice
- BPAY View: Register through your online banking. BPAY View sends your bills straight to your bank online, making receiving, storing and paying even simpler. Find out more at BPAY View.
Your Rates
How Are My Rates Calculated?
The Victorian Government caps rate increases each year. The cap for 2023-2024 is 3.5 per cent and applies to the average annual increase in rates. Council has met this cap.
How much you pay for your rates depends on the value of your property.
The Valuer-General Victoria gives Council a yearly valuation of your property. State laws require a yearly valuation. The valuation helps Council work out what your rates will be.
This valuation doesn't increase or decrease revenue for Council. Council uses the valuation to make sure that rates stay fair over time and reflect property values.
A decrease in your property valuation does not always mean you will pay less rates.
To work out your rates, the Whitehorse City Council multiplies the total capital improved value (CIV) of the property by the rate in the dollar. The CIV is the total market value of the land, plus buildings and other improvements.
Council sets the rate in the dollar each year. This helps Council work out what your rates will be.
CIV x rate in the dollar = rates
Council increased rates by 3.5 per cent for 2023/24 based on CIV and the rate in the dollar.
The 'rate in the dollar' for the 2023/24 rating year is 0.141535 cents.
Find out more about property valuations.
Overall, Whitehorse property values have decreased by an average of 2.5 per cent, with:
- average residential decreasing by 3.6 per cent
- commercial increasing by 4.3 per cent
- industrial increasing by 18.5 per cent
Objecting to a Valuation
If you feel the value disclosed on your valuation and rate notice is not a correct reflection of its market value, as at the date on the notice (1 January 2023), you can lodge a valuation objection within 60 days of the date of issue on your rate notice. Access the rating valuation objections portal to submit your valuation objection.
Changing Your Details
We need to make sure our property records are correct and up-to-date.
This means you must let us know in writing as soon as possible if there is a change to:
- any name, company, trust, power of attorney, body corporate or agent
- address
- email address
- mobile telephone number
- occupancy
To change your details, email customer.service@whitehorse.vic.gov.au or send us this form with your new details ( PDF 268.27KB).
Change of Ownership
The Local Government Act 1989 (Section 231) provides that when ownership of a property changes, a prescribed form must be lodged by a prescribed person within one month of settlement.
Please contact your conveyancer or solicitor if Council has not received the prescribed form within one month of settlement.
Fire Services Property Levy
Your rates notice includes a separate Fire Services Property Levy (FSPL), which we are obliged to collect on behalf of the State Government to fund the Metropolitan Fire Brigade and the Country Fire Authority (CFA).
Although this levy appears on rates notices, it is not a council charge for council services. It replaces the existing fire services levy charged by insurance companies in your home insurance premiums.
Council must collect the FSPL on behalf of the state government. All property owners, including non-rateable property owners, must pay the FSPL. All FSPL collected is paid in full to the State Revenue Office (SRO)
Council will issue the 2023/24 Valuation and Rate Notice in August 2023 and each notice will include the FSPL as a separate charge.
How much is the FSPL?
There will be a fixed charge of $125.00 for residential properties and $254.00 for non-residential properties, plus a variable rate based on your property’s capital improved value listed on your rate notice.
Appealing Against Rates and Charges
The Local Government Act 1989 (section 184 [1] and [1B]) provides that if you are aggrieved by a rate or charge levied by Council (other than an appeal or objection against the valuation or against differential rating or against special rates and charges or special rates under section 221), you may, within 60 days after receipt of your Valuation and Rate Notice, lodge an appeal with the County Court and give to the Council notice that you intend to lodge such an appeal.
The grounds of appeal are set out in section 184 [2]. If for the first time your rate notice levies a special rate or charge, the Local Government Act 1989 (section 185) further provides that a person may apply to the Victorian Civil Administration Tribunal (VCAT) for a review of a decision of Council to impose a special rate or charge on that person.
The application must be made within 30 days after the date of issue of your rate notice.
The grounds of appeal are set out in section 185 [2] [b]. A person may also apply to VCAT under section 185AA for a declaration concerning the validity of a decision of Council to impose a special rate or charge.
Payment Options
- Direct Debit: Complete a direct debit application. For further information please contact Council on 9262 6333. Credit card accounts not accepted.
- BPAY: The BPAY biller code is 18325. Contact your financial institution and quote your ten digit Customer Reference Number shown on your rate notice. There is no credit card processing fee for payments by BPAY.
- Internet: Pay by card online (MasterCard or Visa). A credit card processing fee of 0.6% will be added to the total amount payable for payments made by credit card (no fee for debit cards).
- Telephone: Payment by card (MasterCard or Visa) can be made by calling 1300 120 147 and quoting your assessment number as listed on the front of your rate notice. A credit card processing fee of 0.6% will be added to the total amount payable for payments made by credit card (no fee for debit cards).
- Mail: Make the cheque payable to Whitehorse City Council. Mail the bottom portion of rate notice and payment to:
Whitehorse City Council, PO Box 14818, Melbourne VIC 8001.
Receipts will not be issued for payments by mail.
- In person: Present your rate notice with your payment to any of Council’s Services Centres (Whitehorse Civic Centre in Nunawading, Forest Hill Chase Shopping Centre or Box Hill Town Hall). EFTPOS, credit card, cheque, cash or money order are accepted. A credit card processing fee of 0.6% will be added to the total amount payable for payments made by credit card (no fee for debit cards). Payment can also be made at any Australia Post outlet without a credit card processing fee.