Rates
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Paying your rates
Your rate payments help us to provide the Woollahra community with services including road maintenance, footpaths, upkeep of parks and reserves, planning and development services, libraries, and dedicated services for young people, families and people with a disability.
All rates are levied in July for the upcoming financial year and may be paid in full by the end of August or by four equal instalments by the last day of August, November, February and May each year. Interest at the rate of 9.5 % from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 per annum accrues daily on overdue amounts.
Notify us if your rates postal address has changed
You can update your rates mailing address by using our online form or emailing records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au.
Pay a rates notice online
It's really easy to pay your rates online. You simply need your account number and credit card details.
Pay rates online
Methods of payment
Council's preferred method of payment is direct debit.
Register for automatic direct debit rates payments
Set up direct debit to have your rates automatically paid from your bank account on each due date.
Register for direct debit payments
Rates can also be paid:
- At any branch of the Commonwealth Bank
* To use this payment option, a Rate Notice is required
- By cheque (payable to Woollahra Council) mailed to Locked Bag W146 Sydney NSW 1292
* To use this payment option, a Rate Notice is required
- By credit card over the phone on 1300 859 660
- Online payment service (charges apply)
- In person at our Customer Service Centre by cash, cheque, credit card (charges apply) and EFTPOS.
- BPAY: Biller Code 57711 - Telephone & Internet Banking. Contact or access your online banking to make this payment from your cheque or savings account. Please use your assessment number as the payment reference.
For more details phone Council's Rates Department on 9391 7051.
Charges for credit card payments
The Reserve Bank of Australia has formally decided that surcharging on debit, prepaid, and credit cards will cease from 1 October 2026. Woollahra Municipal Council will cease all card usage fees from this date which is consistent with the Fees & Charges 2026/27(PDF, 2MB) published in the current Operational Plan(PDF, 14MB) (page 31 / 32). Some historical forms or publications may continue to reference card usage fees or surcharges while updates are being progressively applied. Where there is any discrepancy, the current payment arrangements published on this page and in the Operational Plan apply.
Register for Rate eNotices
Sign up to receive your Rates notices via email.
Sign up for eNotices
View previous and current rates notices
To register, you will need a prior Rates or Instalment Notice and to enter some security information for verification purposes. Please note that the archive notices are available to property owners only.
View step by step instructions(PDF, 345KB) on how to register to view previous and current rate notices.
Register to view your previous and current rate notices
Are you already registered? Access the Rates Notice Archive.
The archive includes annual notices going back to July 2022.
Historical rate notices issued before 2022 can be requested by emailing records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au. A fee of $15.80 per notice applies to requests for copies of historical rate notices issued before 2022 or notices relating to previous property owners. Requests for multi-year rates transaction histories that require a written response are subject to a minimum fee of $57.40.
Fees are applicable until 30 June 2027.
Please note: The rates notice archive and registration process are managed by our service provider, Print Mail Logistics (PML). When you register, you will be directed to a secure site managed by Print Mail Logistics.
Residential rates
Approximately 86% of the rateable properties in the Woollahra Local Government Area are residential.
The rates on residential properties consist of a base amount plus an amount calculated by multiplying land value by a rate in the dollar. The base amount generates 50% of total residential rates with the other 50% calculated based on land value.
A State Government rebate of up to $250 per year can be granted to eligible pensioners, subject to verification by the Department of Veterans Affairs or Centrelink. Eligible pensioners also receive a full rebate for Council's Environmental and Infrastructure Renewal Levy.
Business rates
Approximately 14% of rateable properties in Woollahra are businesses.
Business rates are based on the following categories:
- General business
- Double Bay business area
- Rose Bay business area
- Oxford Street, Paddington business area
- Edgecliff business area
- Bellevue Hill business area
- Edgecliff/Grosvenor Streets business area
- Fiveways, Paddington, business area
- New South Head Road, Vaucluse, business area
- Old South Head Road, Rose Bay, business area
- Old South Head Road, Vaucluse, business area
- Plumer Road business area
- Queen Street business area
- Watsons Bay business area
The business rates are calculated by multiplying land value by a rate in the dollar, subject to a minimum rate of $910.00for 2026/27(a fixed rate in the dollar based on varying land values).
Valuations
The Valuer General is an independent statutory officer responsible for providing impartial land values.
Council is currently utilising a valuation base date of 01/07/2025 which is supplied by the Valuer General.
See the Valuer General's Land values and Council rates fact sheet for more information about land valuations.
Change of Name
Do you need to change your name on your rates notice or is the name on your rates notices incorrect?
The owner’s name on the rates notice comes from the land registry. You must first apply to NSW Land Registry Services (LRS) to update the name on the Certificate of Title for your property. Once LRS updates the title, they will advise your local council, and your council records will be updated accordingly.
Contact NSW Land Registry Services (LRS) for information on how to change your name on the Certificate of Title. You can visit their website or call 02 8776 3575 or 1300 396 076.
If your name is spelled incorrectly on your Rates notice, please let us know by emailing records@woollahra.nsw.gov.au.