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Setting up a direct debit is a secure, convenient way to pay your rates.

You'll be able to sign up for direct debits from early July. Please check back then.

Important direct debit information

  • A direct debit arrangement means payments will be calculated to be spread across the rates year, rather than having to be paid in full by 20 October 2022. It also means that you won’t get charged a late payment penalty.  
  • If you are currently paying your rates by a direct debit you will need to set up a new direct debit for the Regional Council portion of the rates.
  • Within the direct debit set-up, there is a wide range of frequency options and timings of instalments, including weekly or fortnightly on a Tuesday or Thursday, or monthly (on the 20th), or annually.
  • This is handy for budgeting and means you don’t have to worry about remembering to make a payment.  
  • Our direct debit authorisation form will be available from early July.

Common direct debit questions

Direct debit means you can pay your rates invoice in regular instalments (weekly, fortnightly, monthly or annually), spread over the rates year. This is handy for budgeting and means you don’t have to worry about remembering to make a payment. It also means that you won’t get charged a penalty on any amount that is still owing after the due date for the current rates year.  

A key benefit is it means that you won’t get charged a penalty on any amount that is still owing after the due date for the current rates year.  

Once you sign up, we’ll take the agreed regular payments from your bank account. If the payment amount changes, we’ll always let you know before taking the funds from your account. You can cancel the direct debit at any time by contacting us. 

An automatic payment is a regular payment that is set up and controlled by the customer, whereas a direct debit is a payment plan that has been agreed between the customer and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.  

Automatic payments are typically set up via online banking, and you’ll need to manually change the payment amount yourself from year to year. Direct debits are different from automatic payments as they are set up with your bank by Bay of Plenty Regional Council after you have agreed to the payment plan. Council adjusts the payment for you each year, and notifies you at least 10 working days before the amount changes. 

It’s important to note that when paying your rates by automatic payment, you must pay the full amount by the due date stated on your invoice to avoid penalties.   

Your city or district council may be in touch about changes to your direct debit for the rates year 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023.  

You’ll need to set up a separate direct debit with Bay of Plenty Regional Council to pay your regional council rates for the rates year 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. You will need to do this even if you currently pay your city/district council and regional council combined rate by direct debit.  

To pay your 2022/23 rates, Bay of Plenty Regional Council ratepayers will be able to set up a direct debit any time from the beginning of July through to 19 October. 

We will notify you within 5 working days that your direct debit authorisation form has been processed.  For people who chose to pay weekly or fortnightly, the first payment will commence Tuesday 2 or Thursday 4 August. We will notify you 10 days prior what your direct debit amount will be.

Direct debit authorisations for rates payments are a legal contract between you, your bank and the council. Because your existing agreement was set up with your city/district council and not us, this unfortunately means we do not have legal permission to withdraw your rates from your bank account until a new direct debit is set up through us.