Rates

Who pays Local Government Rates?

The Shire of Chittering levies rates each year to fund a range of Council services such as maintenance of parks, library services, roads, health, planning and building services, Ranger services and support for community groups

Rates Notices are mailed to ALL property owners in July of every year and are due within 35 days from the date of issue. Please inform the Shire of Chittering in writing if you change your mailing address. This can be done by sending an email to chatter@chittering.wa.gov.au

How your rates are calculated?

Local Government Authorities in Western Australia levy rates against each property by determining a 'rate in the dollar' which is then multiplied by the Valuation of the property, either the Gross Rental Value (GRV) or Unimproved Value (UV), as determined by the Valuer General's Office.
 

• GRV is the estimated yearly rental value of your property and is provided to Council by the Valuer General (a State Government Office) every four (4) years. A value for vacant residential, commercial or industrial land is calculated at three per cent of the determined resale value.
• UV is the site value of an unimproved property, also provided to Council by the Valuer General’s office, on an annual basis.

Different rate levels are charged for Gross Rental Value and Unimproved Value properties.

Minimum rates

A minimum rate is set in recognition that every property receives some minimum level of benefit from works and services provided by the Shire.

Payment options

In accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Act (1995) and the Local Government Financial Management Regulations (1996), Council offers ratepayers a choice of payment of rates by either one or four instalments. To offset the cost of offering the instalment payment option, the Local Government Act allows Council to charge a $10.00 Administration Fee on the second, third and fourth instalment plus interest at the prescribed rate on all instalment payments.

Council has endeavoured to provide a wide variety of convenient payment methods for its ratepayers.

Payment methods available for payment of rates include:

• Pay your rates online (credit cards only) Rates Payments
• Payment via BPay using your savings, cheque or credit account
• Pay over the phone 1300 276 468
• Mail to: Shire of Chittering, PO Box 70, Bindoon WA 6502
• In person at the Administration Centre (office hours only)
• Payment by Cash, Cheque, Money Order, EFTPOS (No Cash Out), MasterCard & Visa Card.

Please DO NOT send cash payments through the mail.

Instalment payments

Providing that requirements for eligibility for the Rates Instalment Payment Option have been met, a ratepayer may pay their rates off in conveniently sized instalment amounts.

To qualify for the instalment option, ratepayers must pay any arrears and the full amount of the first instalment by the due date for instalment number 1.

The payment must be received by the Shire by close of business on that date. No responsibility can be taken for any delays encountered in the delivery of the mail.

The due dates for payment of rates by instalments for the 2011/2012 rating year are:

Interim rates

Some ratepayers may receive amended rate notices during the year called Interim Rates Notices. These notices are required to be issued if the Valuer General's Office considers that the Gross Rental Value (GRV) or Unimproved Value (UV) of a ratepayers' property has changed.

Any alteration to the property could cause the GRV or UV of your property to be re-assessed by the Valuer General's Office. Typical events which could trigger a revaluation and the need to issue an Interim Rates Notice include:

For GRV and UV property

• Creation of a new property
  (If a lot is created from a subdivision or amalgamation)

For GRV property

• Improvements or additions to the property
  (Installation of a swimming pool, construction of a garage or carport or the addition of a bedroom)
• Demolition of a property (This is usually the first step in the redevelopment of a site and only the first in a series of interim rate adjustments)
• Removal of a swimming pool

When a new or amended valuation is supplied by the Valuer General's Office, a reason for the amendment and effective date of the valuation is also provided. This information will be shown on your Interim Rates Notice.

For further information please contact the Rates Department on (08) 9576 4600 or chatter@chittering.wa.gov.au.