Rates
Want to know more about how the City of Victor Harbor plans to spend your Council rates to ensure Victor Harbor remains a great place to live, work, visit and invest in?
Council rates are set based on the City of Victor Harbor's operating budget.
The City of Victor Harbor's 2023/24 budget aims to balance the provision of essential services and projects to keep Victor Harbor moving forward, while also acknowledging the current cost of living pressures. Learn more.
You can also sign up to Council's monthly email newsletter, Victor Viewpoint, to hear about what's happening throughout the year.
The capital value of your property will include the value of your land, buildings and any improvements made to the land.
The Office of the Valuer General determines the capital value for your property, which is then provided to the Council for the purposes of calculating your Council rates.
If you believe that your property value is incorrect you may lodge an objection within 60 days of receiving your first rate notice for the financial year. Council has no influence over capital value or objections. Objections must be in writing using one of the following methods;
- Online: www.valuergeneral.sa.gov.au
- Email: OVGobjections@sa.gov.au
- Post: Office of the Valuer General, GPO Box 1354, Adelaide SA 5001
Further information and objection applications forms are available online at www.valuergeneral.sa.gov.au or by calling 1300 653 346.
What is the Revaluation Initiative?
Each year, the Valuer-General of South Australia independently and objectively determines site and capital values for every rateable property in the state (referred to as the General Valuation). Your property valuation may increase or decrease each year depending on changes to your property or as a result of other market influences.
The Valuer-General has undertaken a Revaluation Initiative to improve the accuracy of the data that forms the basis of the annual General Valuation and rural properties within the City of Victor Harbor has formed part of the current review cycle. This review, which impacts valuations applied to the 2023/24 financial year, may result in increases or decreases to some property values due to influencing factors such as rezoning and redevelopment.
Further information regarding property valuations, and the Revaluation Initiative, is available on the Office of the Valuer-General website at www.valuergeneral.sa.gov.au
Will my Council rates go up?
Not necessarily.
Councils use property values as the basis for distributing the rating responsibility across their ratepayer base.
Council does not automatically receive more money because property values increase. While some people may pay more or less rates, this amount is dependent on the change in value of their property relative to the overall valuation changes across the Council area.
Council budgets are set annually, with a ‘rate in the dollar’ used to ensure that the required rate income is received from ratepayers.
In simple terms, calculating how much each property contributes to rates each year involves determining the total amount of income required to provide services and dividing this across the total value of all rateable properties to establish a ‘rate in the dollar’. The value of each rateable property is then multiplied by the ‘rate in the dollar’ to calculate the rates contribution for that property.
When you receive your rates notice, if you disagree with the revised value of your property, you may lodge a written objection within 60 days following receipt of the first rates notice. Information on how to do this is on the back of your rates notice.
Differential Rates
Council applies differential general rates based on the land use of the property, from the following categories:
- Residential: Including the use of land as a dwelling, includes both rural and urban land
- Vacant: The non-use of the land constitutes a vacant land use for differential rating
- Commercial: Includes the use of land as a shop or office
- Industrial: Including the use of land for production and manufacturing
- Primary Production: Including the use of the land for farming and intensive animal keeping
- Other: Any other land use not referred to in a previous category
If you believe the incorrect land use has been applied to your property you can lodge an objection with Council.
Objection to Land Use Description Application Form
Fixed Charge
Council applies a fixed charge on all rateable properties in its area to recover approximately 18% of the rate revenue required, with the balance raised through differential rates.
Where two or more pieces of contiguous rateable land are owned by the same owner and occupied by the same occupier, only one fixed charge will be applied.
Adjoining Properties for Council Rates Application Form
Where two or more pieces of rateable land within the Council area constitute a single farm enterprise, only one fixed charge will be applied.
Single Farm Enterprise for Council Rates Application Form
The 2023/24 differential rating figures and fixed charge are shown in the table below;
Land Use | Differential Factor | Cents in $ | Fixed Charge |
Residential | Base Rate | 0.327 | $479 |
Commercial | + 30% | 0.426 | $479 |
Industrial | + 15% | 0.377 | $479 |
Primary Production | -10% | 0.295 | $479 |
Vacant Land | +50% | 0.491 | $479 |
Other | Base Rate | 0.327 | $479 |
How are my Council rates calculated?
Your differential general Council rates are calculated by multiplying the capital value of your property by the corresponding rate in the dollar for the land use of your property and then adding the fixed charge.
(Capital Value x Rate in $) + Fixed Charge = Differential General Rates
Example: A residential house with the capital value of $550,000
(550,000 x 0.003831) + $479 = $2,282.45 per annum
The Hills and Fleurieu Regional Landscape Levy, previously known as the Natural Resources Management (NRM) Levy, is a State Tax. Councils are required under the Landscape South Australia Act 2019 to collect the levy on all rateable properties on behalf of the State Government. The City of Victor Harbor is in the area of the Hills and Fleurieu Landscape Board.
The 2023/24 Hills and Fleurieu Regional Landscape Levy will raise a total of $670,713 for the Hills and Fleurieu Regional Landscape Board, as shown in the table below.
Hills and Fleurieu Regional Landscape (RL) Levy | 0.010102 |
How is my Regional Landscape Levy calculated?
Your Regional Landscape Levy is calculated by multiplying the capital value of your property by the corresponding rate in the dollar for the previous NRM Board area.
Capital Value x rate in $ = RL Levy
Example: A property with the capital value of $550,000
550,000 x 0.010102 / 100 = $55.56 per annum
Council rates can be paid annually or quarterly. Additional rate notices will be issued for subsequent quarters where a balance remains on the account.
The 2023/24 Council rate due dates are as follows;
Annual or 1st quarter – 7 September 2023
2nd quarter – 7 December 2023
3rd quarter – 7 March 2024
4th quarter – 7 June 2024
Payment methods
Rates can be paid using any of the following payment methods;
- Bpay – from your participating financial institution using Council’s Biller Code 918532 and your unique reference number shown on your rate notice (this is not your assessment number)
- Online – by Visa or Mastercard and using your unique Bpay reference number shown on your rate notice. Access the online payment here. Please note the payment portal will not work from the web browser Internet Explorer, please use Chrome or another alternative.
- Mail – posting a cheque or money order to PO Box 11 Victor Harbor SA 5211 with your payment slip or remittance advice
- Phone – by calling 1300 276 468 and using the Council’s Bpay Biller code 918532 and your unique reference number shown on your rate notice
- In Person – at our office 1 Bay Road Victor Harbor SA 5211 during normal business hours Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
- Australia Post – in person at an Australia Post outlet, by phoning 13 18 16 or online www.postbillpay.com.au, using Council’s Post Billpay code 2836 and your unique reference number shown on your rate notice.
- Direct Debit – payments can be debited from your nominated bank account (credit cards cannot be used) quarterly or by regular weekly/fortnight/monthly payments. Payment arrangement direct debits are also available. Please complete and return the application form. Direct Debit Request Form
Payment Arrangements
While Council rates are automatically divided and payable in quarterly instalments, Council understands that some ratepayers may prefer or need to pay their Council rates in smaller and more regular payments throughout the year to assist in personal budgeting.
Payment arrangements and due date extension can be negotiated with ratepayers who may be experiencing financial difficulties or need to set up weekly/fortnightly/monthly payments. Fines and interest exemptions may be applicable where the requests are received prior to the due date.
Please contact the Senior Rates Officer on 8551 0500, email localgov@victor.sa.gov.au, or visit the Civic Centre (1 Bay Road, Victor Harbor) in person and complete the application form to apply.
Payment Arrangement Application Form
Council also offers direct debit payments for ratepayers from their nominated bank account (credit cards cannot be used), with the following options:
- Quarterly – the quarterly instalment amount debited on the due date shown on each rate notice.
- Payment arrangement – weekly/fortnightly/monthly payments that are calculated by Council to pay the annual rates amount by 30 June each financial year. Payment amounts are recalculated each financial year and late payment fines and interest exemptions may apply.
Financial Difficulties or Hardship
Council acknowledges that some ratepayers may experience difficulties in paying their Council rates at times. Ratepayers are encouraged to contact our Senior Rates Officer for a confidential discussion on 8551 0500, in person or by email localgov@victor.sa.gov.au.
For ratepayers experiencing significant financial hardship they can apply for a remission or postponement of part or whole of their Council rates. Applications are considered on their own merits and should provide evidence of situation. Ratepayers are expected to have seen a qualified Financial Counsellor.
Council Rates Rebates
The Local Government Act 1999 provides for mandatory Council rate rebates for some properties, specifically land used for health services, community services, religious purposes, public cemeteries, zoos and educational institutions. There are also provisions for other rebates at Council discretion.
Rate Capping
Council recognises that hardship can result from the imposition of substantial increases in Council rates. Applications for relief by way of rate capping will be received and considered where the increase in rates levied upon a property exceed the 2022/23 rates levied by more than 15%. Such capping will only apply to a ratepayer’s principal place of residence since 1 January 2022, that have not been subject to improvements.
Capping on Council Rates Application Form
Seniors Rates Postponement
Seniors Rates Postponement offers eligible ratepayers who hold a State Seniors card to postpone the Council rates over $500 on their principle place of residence. Please contact Council on 8551 0500 for further information.
Pension Concessions
The previous State Government pension concession on Council rates was discontinued and replaced with the Cost of Living Concession from 1 July 2015. To check your eligibility for all State Government concessions contact the Concession SA Hotline 1800 307 758 or visit www.sa.gov.au/concessions
Ratepayers are required to keep their contact details and postal address details in the assessment record updated. A change in postal address can be provided over the counter at the Civic Centre (1 Bay Road, Victor Harbor) or via email to localgov@victor.sa.gov.au. Written notifications are required for deceases estates, change of names or Power of Attorney.
Alteration to Assessment Record Form – Change of Address
Alteration to Assessment Record Form – Change of Name
Alteration to Assessment Record Form – Deceased
Alteration to Assessment Record Form – POA
EzyBill (emailed bills)
Council rate notices can now be emailed using EzyBill. To register please follow the link below to create an account using your preferred email address, then register using your assessment number and valuation number shown on your rate notice.
Council provides Section 7 searches under the Land and Business (Sales and Conveyancing) Act 1994 and Section 187 Certificates of Liabilities under the Local Government Act 1999.
Applications must be received in writing and accompanied by the prescribed fee. Request for Section 7 (Full) searches must also be accompanied by a copy of the Certificate of Title.
Applications can be emailed to localgov@victor.sa.gov.au but should not include credit card details for payments, our cashiers can call to take payment over the phone. Monthly sundry debtor accounts can be offered to those agents who make multiple requests every month.
Section 7 Search Application Form
Note for Conveyancers for settlement
Updated rate balances and Bpay details can be obtained at no charge (where a Certificate of Liabilities isn’t required), by emailing localgov@victor.sa.gov.au and advising of the settlement date.
Where a new Certificate of Liabilities is required, a complimentary certificate will only be provided within 60 days.
Council requests that all conveyancers provide notification of the completed settlement transaction and any payments made by Bpay.