Properties & Rates
Rates in Alice Springs
Alice Springs Town Council (ASTC) provides and maintains a comprehensive range of environmental, humanitarian, recreational, cultural services and facilities.
About 78% of the money needed to provide these services comes from rates levied on properties in Alice Springs.
ASTC aims to keep rates as low as possible. Considering our small population and the extra expense involved in acquiring goods and services in the centre of Australia, council rates compare favourably with those charged by many other councils around the country.
The current rates brochure is below.
Rates Notice Email Delivery Information Brochure — EZYBILL
Many of Council’s ratepayers have requested that Council remind them via email about upcoming rates instalments.
Enter your details below to subscribe to this mailing list.
Rates Email Reminder
Pay your rates online.
General Rates
The General Rates are calculated as the higher value of:
- multiplying the Unimproved Capital Value of the parcel of land by the declared rate set by ASTC, or
- the minimum amount payable, as set by ASTC, multiplied by the number of separate parts or units that are adapted for separate occupation or use.
The Unimproved Capital Value of land used by Alice Springs Town Council is provided by the Valuer‑General.
The Unimproved Capital Value is the value of the land without any improvements, that is, a vacant block without buildings, fences, etc.
Valuations are updated every three years. Fluctuations in valuations cause shifts in the amount of rates paid by individual ratepayers in various areas of the town.
If you have any queries regarding the valuation of your property, these should be directed to the Valuer-General’s Office.
Payment of Rates
Rates and charges for each financial year (1 July to 30 June) are due and payable by four instalments. Reminders are provided to each ratepayer in the form of a Rate Notice or Instalment Notice issued at least 28 days before each due date.
Ratepayers may choose to pay the full amount of the rates and charges for the year by the first due date. Pay your full annual rates and charges (and any arrears) by the first instalment date and you could win a rates refund!
Early Bird Rates Prize Draw
The Early Bird Rates Prize Draw applies only to individuals (being a natural person, not companies, government bodies, or incorporated bodies), who are automatically entered into the Early Bird Rates Prize Draw to win a refund on their rates (not exceeding $3,000), upon payment of the full amount (whole year) by the first instalment date. The refund does not include the cost of waste management and collection charges. Winners are notified and announced in local media.
There are penalties for late payments
If your rate payment is not received by the due date the account will be in arrears.
Penalties for late payment on the outstanding instalment will be calculated on a daily basis from the date on which the missed instalment was due until the date payment is made in full.
Penalties for late payments are charged at a set percentage per annum.
If you are having difficulty in making the required payment by the due date, please contact the Rates Office on
(08) 8950 0500.
Due Dates
The due dates for the 2023/2024 financial year are as follows:
• 1st Instalment — Friday, 6 September 2024
• 2nd Instalment — Friday, 1 November 2024
• 3rd Instalment — Friday, 31 January 2025
• 4th Instalment — Friday, 11 April 2025
Detailed information about this year’s rates is available in the Rates Declaration below.
Ways to Pay your Rates
BPAY View: Log into your online banking and register for BPAY View. Information regarding how to register can be found on your rates notice, and is also available from our BPAY View page. For more information regarding BPAY View, visit the official BPay View website.
Online Payments: Click here and follow the links to make a payment.
In Person: Make your payment at the Civic Centre from 8am to 5pm weekdays by cheque, cash, MasterCard or Visa.
By Mail: Post a cheque or money order, or complete your MasterCard or Visa details on the Credit Card Authorisation slip at the bottom of your Rate Notice, to ASTC at PO Box 1071, Alice Springs NT 0871. Mail payments must be received on or before the due date to avoid a penalty for late payment.
By Phone: Phone 1300 437 967 with your MasterCard or Visa details.
By BPAY: Contact your participating bank to pay directly from your cheque, savings or credit card account. Quote the biller code and reference number as indicated near the BPAY logo on your rates notice.
By Direct Debit: Complete an application form which is available from the Civic Centre or download from our forms page. ASTC can then draw on your cheque or savings account on the dates rates are due.
By Payroll Deduction: Employees of the NT Government and some other organisations can pay their rates through regular payroll deductions.
Please Note: Ratepayers remain responsible for ensuring payments are made in full by the instalment due dates. Please ensure correct reference details are used when making payment — failure to do so may incur a charge.
If you believe you will have difficulty making the required payment by the due date, please contact the Rates Officer on 8950 0500.
Notification of Managing Agent
If you are the principal ratepayer for a property within the municipality and you have instructed a real estate agent to manage your property on your behalf, you will need to complete this form to notify ASTC of the postal address of the agent so that all future rates correspondence can be sent directly to their office.
Notification of Managing Agent can be downloaded below.
Change of Address
Avoid any problems by remembering to notify ASTC when changing your address.
The Local Government Act requires ratepayers to notify ASTC in writing of any change of mailing address within 28 days.
A penalty of $3,240 (20 penalty units) for not doing so may apply. The form is on our Forms page.
Concession for Pensioners
Aged Pensioners are entitled to a concession on their rates.
Concessions for eligible pensioners are automatically included in their assessment on the rates notice.
Enquiries regarding your eligibility for pensioner concessions on rates and rebates for part-year eligibility should be directed to the Northern Territory Concession Scheme, please contact the NT Concession & Recognition Unit on 1800 777 704 or email to: ntconcessionandrecognition@nt.gov.au