Paying Rates

Te Utu Rēti

When to Pay

We divide your annual rates into four instalments. The payment dates are the same every year and rates must be paid on or before the last day for payment to avoid a 10% penalty.

Rate notices for each instalment are sent in the middle of the month (approximately) before the last day for payment. Sign up to receive your rates notice via email below.

Instalment No.	Rates due	Covering the period
1	20 August	1 July – 30 September
2	20 November	1 October – 31 December
3	20 February	1 January – 31 March
4	20 May	1 April – 30 June

Use the form below to get your rates notice emailed directly to your inbox.

How to Pay

There are several different ways to pay rates. If you need advice about how to set up different payment systems give us a call on 06 370 6300.

Pay Online

Pay by card on our website, or
Pay using internet banking by depositing your payment into our bank account:

MDC’s Rates Account
Westpac
03 0687 0271682 04

Quote your six-digit property number (on your rates notice) as the reference. If you own more than one property, you’ll need to set up individual payments for each property with each property number included as a reference. Please make sure payments are made before the due date.

Automatic Payment and Direct Debit

Direct Debit

You can pay your rates invoice through direct debit on a weekly, fortnightly, monthly, quarterly and annual basis by completing the form below.

Direct Debit Form (PDF, 2MB)

Automatic Payments

Set up your own automatic payments through telephone, internet or online banking. Your rates change every year so make sure your payments are recalculated regularly to cover each instalment, otherwise there may be a 10% late payment fee.

Quote your six-digit property number (on your rates notice) as the reference.

Manual Payments

In Person

You can come and see us at 161 Queen Street to pay your rates by EFTPOS or cash. Our office is open 9am – 4pm Monday to Friday.

By Post

You can mail payment to:

PO Box 444,
Masterton,
5840

You need to make sure postal payments are sent in time to reach us before the due date, otherwise there will be a 10% late payment penalty.

Receipts

Receipts aren’t issued unless you pay at the counter, or you request one. If you’re mailing your payment and you want a receipt, return the entire invoice and tick the “Receipt is Required” box on the remittance advice.

Late Payments

Late payment penalties

If you are late paying your rates you will be charged a 10% late payment penalty. The amount is based on how much of the current instalment is still unpaid. If you are having difficulty paying your rates, please get in touch with us on 06 370 6300.

Another 10% penalty will be charged on 1 July for the total of any of the previous year's unpaid rates.

Unpaid rates (arrears)

If you have unpaid rates (arrears), any payments you make will be put towards paying these off first. We work hard with residents to help them pay rates on time and will be in touch if we notice late payments.

If rates continue to be unpaid, we can list your arrears as a debt with a collection agency and this will affect your credit rating for up to five years. We may also contact a bank or person holding a mortgage on your property requesting immediate payment of arrears.

If necessary legal proceedings can be started to recover the unpaid rates. If rates remain unpaid, Council may sell your property to recover the arrears.

Sale of Property & Subdivisions

If you have sold your property you are responsible for all rates due at the time notice of sale is given. If you get an invoice in your name after you have sold your property, it might mean that we haven’t received a notification of sale. Your solicitor will need to issue the appropriate notification and return this assessment to council.

If you are selling and you pay your rates by direct debit, automatic payment, internet or telephone banking, get in touch with us on 06 370 6300 so we can cancel your current authority or change it to your new property.

Subdivision

If your property is subdivided and any of the new lots have been sold, you need to pay rates until the end of the rating year (30 June) for the whole property. The new owner won’t receive an annual assessment or invoice in their name until after 1 July (the next rating year).