Win $1000 off your next rates bill!

Sunshine Coast ratepayers have the chance to win up to $1000 off their mid-year rates bill just by signing up to receive their future rates notices by email.

Corporate Strategy and Finance Portfolio Councillor Tim Dwyer said the $1000 prize incentive was a healthy, smart, creative step to encourage ratepayers to receive their rates notices electronically, providing both convenience for the ratepayer and cost reductions for council.

“It costs council a significant amount of money to print and then mail out rates notices to Sunshine Coast ratepayers using traditional postal services,” Cr Dwyer said.

“And just as importantly, email rates notices will benefit our environment in many ways.

“Moving to an online system is not only financially and environmentally cost-effective but also allows our ratepayers to receive their notices wherever they are, anywhere in the world and arrange payment in a more timely manner to ensure they don’t miss the early bird discount period.

“I encourage ratepayers who are currently receiving their rates notices in the post to visit council’s website and sign-up to MyCouncil or login to their existing MyCouncil accounts and change your preferred rates notice delivery method from post to email before February 21.

“You’ll then go into the draw to win up to $1000 off your next rates bill.”

All ratepayers who currently receive their rates notices by email will be automatically included in the draw. Terms and conditions apply.

You’ll find a step-by-step guide to setting up your MyCouncil account and changing your preferred rates notice delivery method on council’s website. MyCouncil is an online dashboard where residents can interact with council, view their property, rates, business and animal details and make requests and payments.

There’s also a new way to pay your Sunshine Coast Council rates via the Sniip app which allows you to make a secure payment on your mobile device.

The Sniip app enables users to store debit or credit card information securely within the app and make payments immediately. You’ll find more information about paying via the Sniip app in your rates notice and can download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.

In addition to Sniip, there is a range of convenient options available for paying your rates, including BPAY, by phone on 131 816, in person at Australia Post, at one of council’s customer contact centres or by mail.

Council also has a direct debit option, which can be set up to pay rates in full by the due date, to make life easier for busy ratepayers. To assist with online or over-the-phone payments, property owners will need their payment reference number, found on their rates notice.

Ratepayers who cannot make payment by the due date are encouraged to enter into an arrangement to pay their current rates by instalments by logging into MyCouncil or by calling council’s customer contact centre.

For rates inquiries, email council at [email protected] or phone (07) 5475 7542 between 8.15am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Win $1000 off your next rates bill!

FAST FACTS – HOW TO PAY YOUR RATES

• Online payment – available 24/7 through council’s website (follow the Pay and Apply  link on the homepage)
• Sniip® - pay using your smart phone
• BPAY - if registered with your financial institution
• Phone 131 816 - from anywhere in Australia using a credit card
• Australia Post – pay in person with cash, cheque or EFTPOS
• Customer Service Centres – pay in person from 8.30am to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday (locations listed on the bottom of rates notice)
• Mail – pay using cheque or money order to Sunshine Coast Council, Locked Bag 72, Sunshine Coast Mail Centre 4560