Rates & services
- How can I pay my rates?
Council Rates and Fees | Litchfield Council - Where do I find a copy of my rates notice?
- Please contact Council on 08 8983 0600 or council@litchfield.nt.gov.au to confirm
your mailing address and ownership details. Once all details have been confirmed
you are able to request a copy of your Rate Notice.
- Please contact Council on 08 8983 0600 or council@litchfield.nt.gov.au to confirm
- How is the interest on overdue rates calculated?
Microsoft Word – 13.02.02 Attachment B Rates Declaration (002) - Who decides how rates are calculated?
Microsoft Word – 13.02.02 Attachment B Rates Declaration (002) - Where does the money from rates go?
- Councils need to charge rates to raise revenue so they can provide services and
infrastructure to their communities. Each year as part of the budget process, councils
decide the rates and charges for the financial year. The level of rates that landowners
must pay is at the sole discretion of their council. - Rates are not reflective of the services used by any particular property but contribute
to the whole community’s use of council services just like the taxes paid to the
Australian Government contribute to a range of government activities.
Rates funds are used to maintain, improve and provide services and facilities for the
Municipality. - Rates are a tax that is usually based on the values of properties.
Being a tax the rates paid may not relate directly to the services, infrastructure or
facilities used by each ratepayer (eg not all ratepayers will use parks, a public library
or cycle paths) and it is not possible for many services to be charged out on an
individual basis (eg street lighting). - However all residents and businesses in local government areas make use of local
government services, infrastructure or facilities at some point in time regardless of
where they live (eg driving on roads, using parking space, putting rubbish in a public
bin, benefitting from street lighting).
- Councils need to charge rates to raise revenue so they can provide services and
- Can I set up a payment plan for my rates?
- What happens if I don’t pay my rates on time?
- Section 258 of the Northern Territory Local Government Act 2019 allows council to
conduct sale of land for overdue rates and charges proceedings. The process that
council undertakes is in accordance with the legislation. - Where a property meets the below criteria, a report will be presented to council for
consideration to proceed with sale. - If rates have been in arrears for at least 3 years, and an overriding statutory charge
securing liability for the rates has been registered for at least the last 6 months, the
council may sell the land. - Council may then resolve to issue a notice of intention to sell the property, to the
registered owners, mortgagees and interested parties. - The property will be sold by public auction that is advertised in the NT News, on
council’s website and at the property in question. - Owners of the property have up until the date of auction to pay their outstanding
rates and charges. Properties will be available on council’s website up until the day of
the auction. If payment is received prior to the auction, the auctioneer will advise the
attendees of any properties that will not be auctioned.
- Section 258 of the Northern Territory Local Government Act 2019 allows council to
- How do I apply for a rates concession or hardship assistance?
- Ratepayers who are not in a position to settle their rate account in full or in
three instalments due to hardship are encouraged to contact the Rates Officer on 08
8983 0600 or email council@litchfield.nt.gov.au to arrange fortnightly or monthly
payment by agreement with Council.
- Ratepayers who are not in a position to settle their rate account in full or in
- Can I get a discount for paying my rates early?
- How do I update my contact details for rates notices?