Rates and charges are Council’s primary source of revenue used to provide and manage our services, projects and infrastructure. Each year Council assesses the needs of the community and sets a rate for the new year in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993, Fire Services Act 1979 and the Waste and Recovery Act 2022.
Rate Instalments
Rates Instalment due dates for 2025-2026 are:
- Tuesday 30 September – 1st instalment/payment in full due date
- Friday 31 October – 2nd instalment
- Friday 30 January – 3rd instalment
- Friday 27 March – 4th instalment
The Rates Resolution outlines how Council arrived at setting rates for this financial year.
West Coast Winners
Council has launched a new way to say thanks for paying your rates on time.
If you’ve paid in full by 30 September 2025, you’ll automatically go into the running to win one of four vouchers valued at $2000, $1000, $500 and $500. Winners will be drawn at the October Council meeting, and vouchers can be spent at West Coast businesses – helping to boost the local economy.
Why West Coast Winners, and not a discount for paying rates in full?
When a discount is applied under the Act we can’t put terms and conditions on it therefore it has to apply to all properties – a discount would then apply to all ratepayers who pay rates in full by a set date, including large industry and government agencies.
Council doesn’t know how many ratepayers will pay early therefore we also can’t budget for how much a discount would cost – this could potentially lead us to a deficit.
West Coast Winners is an initiative that Council is offering, allowing us to set the terms and conditions – we know the cost and can budget for it, and we’ve also determined that businesses, government departments, Council staff and Councillors are exempt. Ratepayers can also opt out (in 2025-2026 one ratepayer chose to opt out).
Taking the above into consideration, reinstating a discount would also cost more than the $4,000 allocated for West Coast Winners in 2025-2026 – as shown in the table below.
Total rates paid in full by 30 September | $4,272,177 |
3% Discount on these rates if applied to all | $128,165 |
3% Discount if applied to West Coast Winner eligible properties | $53,753 |
3% Discount that would have been made available to Businesses, Government Departments etc | $74,412 |
Council will review the West Coast Winners initiative as part of the rates review process leading into the 2026-2027 financial year.
Please note: properties owned by businesses, government departments, Council staff and councillors are not eligible. Family members are welcome to enter. Eligible ratepayers can also choose not to be entered into the West Coast Winners draw – just let us know by 29 September.
Building a new home?
Successfully building a new residential dwelling qualifies the ratepayer for a two-year exemption from the general rates charge.
A third year of exemption may also be available if the ratepayer has received the Tasmanian Government’s First Homeowners Grant.
The New Residential Build Incentive Scheme was introduced by West Coast Council in recognition of the limited residential housing options available in the region, coupled with the supply of vacant land within each town.
The intention of the scheme is to encourage new developments to meet the growing housing need.
Applications for the New Residential Build Incentive Scheme are presented to Council for consideration. To apply please complete the form below.
Electronic Rates Notices
Property owners in the West Coast Council area can register an email address and ‘Opt In’ to receive their Rates Notices electronically.
This service will provide a faster, more reliable, and environmentally friendly alternative to paper copies and registering is simple – click the button below to register!
Understanding Rates
Rates are a tax levied by council. Their purpose is to support the council in providing services for the benefit of all residents. Rates help pay for:
- waste and recycling collection & disposal
- animal control
- local roads, footpaths and drainage
- stormwater disposal
- operation of halls, gyms and swimming pools
- maintenance of parks, playgrounds and sportsgrounds
- State Government charges for a range of services including fire service and planning
- other works, programs and facilities.
Rates are normally made up of a general rate and a service rate and/or charge. Under certain circumstances, a council may levy a construction rate or charge, or a separate rate.
The rights and responsibilities of ratepayers and councils are set out in Part 9 of the Local Government Act 1993.
A general rate is a ‘progressive’ tax, reflecting the land, capital or Assessed Annual Value (AAV) of property. It may involve an additional fixed charge which applies equally to every property.
A council may make a general rate whether or not it provides any services to the land upon which the rating is made.
A council may make a service rate for any, all, or a combination of the following services:
- waste management
- stormwater removal
- fire protection
- a community medical service
- an on-site wastewater treatment or disposal system requiring a permit
- any other prescribed service.
The service rate is also ‘progressive’, being determined by the same property value as the general rate. Councils may set a minimum amount payable for a service rate if it does not include a fixed charge.
Councils may levy a service charge in addition to, or instead of , making a service charge.
A service charge is a fixed charge payable on each property. The charge may differ in various parts of the municipal area depending on the type of service being provided and the circumstances in a particular area.
A council may make a separate rate in respect of any land or class of land within its municipal area. This may occur where, in Council’s opinion, there is a need to plan, carry out, make available, maintain or improve anything on behalf of the affected land, or owners or occupiers of that land.
If a council decides to make a separate rate it must undertake a consultation process with the ratepayers of the affected land.
A separate rate may only be made for a 5 year period before it is subject to a review process and further consultation with affected ratepayers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Generally, owners of land have to pay rates. Occupiers of land may pay the rates in exceptional circumstances. They may do so with the written consent of the owners. If someone other than the owner is paying the rates then the council has to be notified accordingly.
Rates are paid periodically by a due date or dates set by each council. A rates notice is posted to ratepayers, allowing approximately 60 days before payment of the entire amount is due, or, if payment is by instalments, at least 30 days before the first payment is due.
Council instalment dates vary from year to year but are usually on the last Friday of September, November, January and March of respective years. Check the dates at the top of this page, or contact Council is you are unsure.
An assessed annual valuation is an assessment of the market value of a property, at a specific date and in accordance with legislation. The Valuer-General determines the AAV under the Valuation of Land Act 2001
It is the gross annual income that, at the time of valuation, the owner of the property might reasonably expect to obtain from letting it to a tenant. The assessed annual value of the land cannot be less than 4% of the capital value of the land.
It is the expected sum of money that might be realised if the land and any existing dwelling or improvements were offered for sale at a particular time. For instance, on a rates notice, it may show land value as $40,000 and capital value as $125,000. The capital value includes the land value plus the value of any buildings on the site.
If you wish to check your rates balance, please contact your council Ph: (03) 64714700 and ask to speak to Council’s Rates Officer who will be able to provide you with an up-to-date balance.
Under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993, a ratepayer may apply to a council for remission of all or part of the rates paid or payable.
To be entitled to apply, the Local Government (Rates and Charges Remissions) Act 1991 requires that a ratepayer must be an eligible pensioner and must occupy the property as his or her principle dwelling on or prior to 1 July of the rating year.
To be an eligible pensioner you must have:
- a Centrelink Pensioner Concession Card OR
- a Department of Veteran’s Affairs Repatriation Health “Gold Card” that is TPI endorsed
Applications for rates remissions must be received by the council by 31 March of any year in which the rates are calculated.
A ratepayer who is having difficulty in paying rates should contact their local council at the earliest opportunity to arrange a payment schedule that is agreeable both to the Council and the ratepayer. This is essential to avoid council taking legal action to recover the outstanding rates.
A ratepayer may also apply to council to defer the payment of rates on the grounds of hardship. An application has to be in writing and must be lodged with the council’s General Manager.
A council may grant or refuse a deferral application. Any granted deferral may be subject to a condition that the ratepayer pay interest on the amount due.
If a ratepayer does not pay the rates on his or her property a council may commence legal action against the ratepayer to recover the outstanding amount. If council takes such legal action the ratepayer may also be liable for the council’s legal costs associated with the action.
If rates, or any one rates instalment, are not paid on or before they fall due, the council may impose a penalty not exceeding 10% of the amount owing, and/or charge a daily interest rate determined by the council.
If rates are not paid for a period exceeding three years, the council may sell a property or part of a property to recover the unpaid rates. The council can sell it by public auction or by direct sale.
If the owner of a property cannot be found, the council may apply to have that property transferred to the council.