Note: A fee of 0.4% of the transaction value applies to all card payments. Find out more.
To make it as easy as possible to pay your rates, the City of Swan offers several different payment options. You can pay your annual rates in full, by instalments, by direct debit, or a self-managed payment plan.
Learn the diverse ways to pay your rates below.
Call us on 1300 276 468.
National Relay Service
If you are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication difficulty please contact us by:
Step 1
Contact us through your preferred NRS call channel detailed on NRS call numbers and links.
Step 2
Provide the NRS with our phone number (08) 9267 9267.
For more information, visit the National Relay Service website.
If you require assistance from the Interpretation Service, please use the following contact details:
- Tel: 13 14 50
Post your cheque (cash will not be accepted) to the City of Swan, PO Box 196, Midland, WA, 6936.
You can pay your rates in person at the City of Swan Administration Centre, a City of Swan library, or any Australia Post Office.
Please take your rate notice with you to make payment. If you do not have a notice we can still help with your payment.
The following payment options are accepted at the City of Swan Administration Centre:
- cash
- cheque
- EFTPOS, and
- Visa, Amex or Mastercard credit cards.
Accepted at all City libraries:
- EFTPOS
- Visa, Amex or Mastercard
- Maximum credit card limit of $30,000.
Please contact your local post office to find out their accepted payment options.
Direct debit ensures your rates are automatically paid from your savings or cheque account every week or fortnight. View the Direct Debit Terms and Conditions.
To set up a direct debit, register for the City's Online Services Portal. If you have not received your 2024/25 rate notice please call Rating Service on 08 9267 9160 and we will send an email with your activation code, or we can send the application via email or mail.
Plans or instalments
If you're unable to pay your rates in full, you may want to consider the following options.
This allows you to pay your rates in four instalments. However, certain conditions apply when choosing this option:
- You must pay the first instalment by the due date specified on the Notice. Otherwise, this option will no longer be available to you and you'll need to pay the amount in full or contact Rating Services to discuss alternative payment options, such as direct debit or payment plan
- As per the Special Meeting of Council of June 26, 2024, Council resolved to continue interest at five per cent and no administration charge for ratepayers entering into the formal rates instalment program
- Penalty interest at five per cent per annum will be accruing on a daily basis on all Rates and Specified Area Rates for Midland District Drainage, Hazelmere/Guildford District Drainage, Hazelmere Industrial Area Infrastructure GRV or UV, that remain unpaid after the due date (penalty interest does not apply to current rates due by registered Pensioners or Seniors)
- Emergency service levy (ESL) penalty interest will be accruing daily at eleven per cent (11%) per annum on all overdue ESL charges as determined by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
The adopted instalment due dates for 2024/25 are:
- 6 September 2024
- 15 November 2024
- 24 January 2025
- 28 March 2025.
Extreme financial hardship
If you are experiencing genuine financial hardship due to exceptional circumstances you may be eligible to apply for assistance.
At the Ordinary Council Meeting on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, Council adopted a new POL-C-198 Financial Hardship Policy to strengthen the City’s commitment to help vulnerable ratepayers.
Complete our financial hardship application form and send it to swan@swan.wa.gov.au.
Late payments
A five per cent per annum penalty interest charge accrues daily on all overdue rates and specified area rates.
Emergency service levy (ESL) penalty interest will be accruing daily at eleven per cent per annum on all overdue ESL charges as determined by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).
Recovery of Rates
If the amount shown as payable in respect of rates and charges is not paid in full, or the first instalment is not paid by the due date, the full amount will become overdue and may be recovered by court action (general procedure claim, which if ignored, may be followed by a Property Seizure and Sale Order).
If a General Procedure Claim is issued against you, all legal fees incurred will be added to your property's outstanding balance, the default is registered by the Magistrates Court and is available to all credit reporting agencies within Australia where the details are shown for a period up to five years.
See the Rates Legal Recovery Steps and Rates Legal Recovery Guidelines for more information.
Change of address
If you've changed your address or you're about to, please advise the City in writing or via our online change of address form.
Authority to act
If you want to nominate an individual/s to have authority to act on your behalf, please submit the Authority to Act Form.
Refund request
Is your rates account in credit and you'd like a refund? Please complete a refund request form.