Pay your rates

When do I need to pay my rates?

That depends on which payment options you choose.

You can either pay in four instalments throughout the 2025/26 financial year:

  • Instalment 1 is due on 30 September 2025.
  • Instalment 2 is due on 30 November 2025.
  • Instalment 3 is due on 28 February 2026.
  • Instalment 4 is due on 31 May 2026.

Or as a single lump sum:

  • You'll receive a notice for this payment in August 2025.
  • Full payment is due on 15 February 2026.

If the first instalment amount isn't paid by the due date, we will assume you wish to pay in one lump sum.

Financial difficulty

If you are having difficulty paying your rates, we have financial hardship assistance options in place, including:

  • rate concessions
  • deferral of rates
  • interest waiving
  • payment arrangements.

Please note that we cannot waive rates or charges.

Log in to the platform to apply for financial hardship assistance. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up. Find out more about our online services. 

You can track the progress of your applications anytime through the platform.

For more information on available options, see our Rates Financial Hardship Policy(PDF, 607KB).

We also have a financial counselling partnership with Good Shepherd Australia who may be able to offer you advice and assistance with your financial affairs.

How to pay your rates

Online

Pay online

Online rates payments can be made via BPay, BPOINT and Australia Post Billpay. Our online self-service platform is not currently available for Rates payments. The full list of payment options is detailed on your rates notice.

BPAY

You can pay for your rates using BPAY on your rates notice. 

As of 2 February 2026 you will need to enter a new biller code 470401.  You need also need your new Stonnington 16 digit payment reference number.  Rates instalment notices with the new payment reference number were sent on Wednesday 4 February. You can also call Customer Service and ask for your new payment reference number.  Please update your frequently used payment references with the new details.

The old biller code of 20198 and reference number as shown on the 2025/2026 rates notice is still valid.  Any payments made using these reference numbers will be processed.

Pay via BPOINT

You can make a payment using the Commonwealth Bank BPOINT portal. Merchant fees may apply.

Pay through BPOINT

Australia Post Billpay

You can make a payment using the Australia Post Billpay portal with your credit card (Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards).

As of 2 February 2026 Council has a new Billpay code of 3657.  To complete your payment you will need the property reference number as shown on your instalment reminder notice. 

The old Billpay code of 3075 and reference number as shown on the 2025/2026 rates notice is still valid. Any payments made using these reference numbers will be processed.

Merchant fees may apply.

Pay with Australia Post Billpay

International payments

For international payments by phone please call +61 2 9423 5551. Merchant fees may apply.

Direct debit

You can pay your rates via your nominated bank account or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) using direct debit. Merchant fees may apply for credit card payments.

Direct debit payments are processed on the instalment due date (or the next business day). The amount you'll be charged is shown on your rate notices, and we'll still send you a reminder message before each direct debit payment.

Set up CBA direct debit

To set up paying your rates instalments directly from a nominated credit card or bank account, please register for direct debit via the City of Stonnington CBA BPOINT portal. You will require the Payment Ref No. on your rates notice.

When setting up your direct debit you may have the option to use either 470401-Online Payment or 20198-Rates as your Biller Code.

  • If you use 470401-Online Payment you need to use the 16 digit Payment Ref. No. from your Rate instalment notice.
  • If you use 20198-Rates you need to use the 7 digit Payment Ref No. from your Rates Notice.

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When you have completed the online application and accepted the terms and conditions, Council will be notified, and a letter will be sent to confirm this payment arrangement. New applications or amendments to existing arrangements must be made seven days before the instalment payment dates.

All banking information is managed through the CBA portal, and we retain none of that information in our system.

 

Centrelink

If you receive Centrelink payments, you can arrange to have your rates deducted directly. This is a free service.

Please contact visit your local Centrelink office for more information or visit the Centrelink website.

In person

You can make a payment to the City of Stonnington at our Stonnington City service centre.

You can pay by EFTPOS, credit card (MasterCard, Visa and American Express) cash or cheque.  Merchant fees may apply on card payments.

Card fees now apply for eftpos, credit and debit card payments on Council-issued invoices.

Our banking partners charge us merchant fees every time you make a credit, debit or eftpos payment. Like many service providers, we now pass this fee back to customers. This allows us to use recovered costs to deliver community services.

We currently pay more than $600,000 in merchant fees each year, which could go towards other community initiatives. The fee we are charging is the fee we are being charged.

The fee is calculated as a percentage of your payment.

If you pay by other methods such as BPAY, there is no additional fee.

For more information, visit Card fees.