Does the City of Belmont offer a discount?
Yes!!
The City of Belmont is one of the few metropolitan Councils that still grant a discount when rates are paid in full by the due date. Some Council’s only offer a discount if payment is made within a shorter timeframe and some Councils no longer offer a discount at all.
What is the latest date I can pay and still receive the discount?
To be eligible for the discount, the account must be finalised by the due date as shown on the original rate notice.
The City of Belmont strictly enforces the due date for payment of rates for ratepayers to be eligible for the discount.
Please be aware that rates received after the due date will not be eligible for the discount. This includes payments received by mail regardless of when they were posted, so please enusre that any cheques are posted early to ensure that they are received on time.
What options are available for paying my rates?
The City of Belmont offers three options for payment of rates. It is very important that the first payment is made on the due date shown on your rate notice to be eligible for the instalment option.
If not received by the due date, the instalment options shown on your rate notice are automatically deleted from your account. You will also start to incur late payment penalties.
Option 1. Pay by the due date and receive the discount offered by the City as shown on your rate notice issued each year in August.
Option 2. Two instalment option (This option incurs a $15.00 administration fee).
All arrears, together with half the rates and charges and half of the administration fee are included in the first instalment. The second instalment is for the remainder of the rates and charges and the balance of the administration fee. This is due approximately four months after the original rate notice is due.
Option 3. Four instalment option. (This option incurs the $15.00 administration fee and a 5.5% instalment interest charge). All arrears are included in the first instalment together with a quarter of the current rates and charges. The balance of the account is equally split over three instalments due approximately two months apart.
Instalment notices are issued approximately four weeks before they become due. If an instalment is overdue, it will incur penalties until such time as it is paid in full.
What do I do if I wish to pay by instalments but cannot pay the first instalment by the due date?
If you wish to pay by instalments but know that you will be late for the first payment, please write to the City’s Rates Department and advise them when your payment will be made. This way the instalment program may not be automatically deleted if payment is not received by the due date. This is a manual process, so if the City is unaware that the payment will be late, it will automatically be cancelled.
What do I do if I cannot pay my rates by the due date?
If you cannot pay your rates by one of the three options available on your rate notice, you are required to contact our Rates Department immediately. This will allow you to discuss your account with our friendly staff.
Any request for alternative arrangements will still be required in writing. All alternative arrangements will attract a $30.00 administration fee.