Rates - how to pay

How to pay

You can pay your rates online, by direct debit, automatic payment, internet or telephone banking, or in person.

Note: A 2% discount is offered if the full year's rates are paid by the due date for the first instalment (i.e. 20 August).

Automatic payment

Regular payments are made from your bank account (weekly, fortnightly or monthly).
You will need to increase the payments from time to time so that they completely clear your instalments and you avoid late payment penalties.

Contact Council's Customer Service Centre on (07) 348 4199 or info@rotorualc.nz for further information.

Credit card

You can use Mastercard or Visa to pay rates through the secure online payment service. This service is only accessible via Council's website.

This method will charge a fee, based on the amount paid, for each transaction. Council does not receive any part of this fee.

Tap the following button to pay your rates with your credit card.

Pay your rates by credit card

Direct Debit

Paying by direct debit means you can pay your rates the secure and easy way. To pay your property or water rates by direct debit please click the link and complete the online form.

Pay your rates by direct debit

In person

Pay by cash or EFTPOS at Council's Customer Service Centre 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua

Online banking and telephone banking

You can use internet or telephone banking to pay your rates and other Rotorua Lakes Council payments.

Please ensure you include your properties valuation number in the Payer Reference field.

Online banking

Rotorua Lakes Council should be set up as a bill payee with your bank.

Certain banks, e.g. ANZ, require you to contact them to set this up and you will need to provide the bank with the Valuation Number from your rates invoice for the applicable property. The bank will have all of the other required details.

To set up Rotorua Lakes Council for your bill payment:

Log on to your bank account
Select your Bill Payment function
Search for Rotorua Lakes Council, as your Bill Payee. (you do not need the bank account number.)
Follow the prompts.

If you experience difficulty with your internet banking set-up contact your bank's Customer Service 0800 number.

Note: For multiple properties, it is essential that a separate payment is set up for each property.

Telephone banking

Before contacting your bank to set up payments by telephone contact Council's Customer Service Centre on (07) 348 4199 or info@rotorualc.nz for the information you need.

Receiving your Rotorua Lakes Council rates invoice

Rotorua ratepayers receive separate rates invoices from Rotorua Lakes Council and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

The timing of your four quarterly invoices from Rotorua Lakes Council will not change. You will receive one invoice per year from Bay of Plenty Regional Council in late August/early September for payment by 20 October.

Visit the BOPRC website for more information about regional council rates (boprc.govt.nz), email rates@boprc.govt.nz or call the regional council on 0800 884 880.

Keep your contact details current

A key to receiving your rates invoice or Council being able to stay connected with the owners of properties in our district is for owners to keep their contact details up to date. Owners/people move, email addresses change, landlines are disconnected and/or cellphone numbers become obsolete.

Update your details by:

Visiting the Customer Centre: 1061 Haupapa Street, Rotorua
emailing: info@rotorualc.nz
or calling: (07) 348 4199

Rates invoices by email

You can receive your rates assessments and invoices by email rather than by regular mail. This should be useful for overseas-based and other non-resident property owners.

Visit the 'Rates by email registration' page to register for this service

Avoiding late payment penalties

A 10% penalty applies to any part of a quarterly rates invoice not paid by the due date specified on that invoice. The final payment dates for each quarter of the rating year are 20 August, 20 November, 20 February, and 20 May.