Rates Frequently Asked Questions

First half notice for 2024-2025:
This notice will be issued August/September 2024 being for the period 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024. 

Second half rate notice for 2024-2025:
This notice will be issued February/March 2025 being for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025. 

Yes, Application form to be completed: recieve rates notices electronically. 

Please note all owners of the property MUST sign the application and the rates notice can only be sent to one email address. 

No. Council posts or emails (if requested) rates notices to the last known postal / email address. 

It is the ratepayer's responsibility to notify Council of any changes to their postal address / details. 

To update, fill out the Name and Address form. 

Council's Building & Planning Team can provide details of zoning and what the land can be used for. 

The State Government introduced a waste levy as of 1 July 2019 as part of a new strategy for Queensland. 

The aim of this levy is that it will reduce the waste produced at home and business that ends up as landfill, which means that there is no additional levy on household rates. 

You will receive a supplementary rate notice if charges on your notice had to be adjusted. 

This could be the case if your property was:

• Amalgamated
• Subdivided
• Subject to a valuation change by the Department of Resources
• Changes to service charges e.g. waste

Rates help pay for Council's core services. These are things like waste, animal management, libraries, community grants, art galleries, roads, water, parks and gardens, and sporting and recreation facilities. 

Maranoa Regional Council uses a differential rating scheme to calulate properties' general rate. This is a fair and equitable way of charging according to land use. 

Calculations are based on land valuations set by the Queensland Government's Department of Resources. 

Council does not determine these valuaitons, but they are used when calculating how much landowners pay in general rates. 

Council calulates a rate charge by multiplying your property's land valuation by a dollar rate which is set by Council during the budget deliberations. For all categories a minimum rate is applied. 

Changes to land valuations - either increases or decreases - do not necessarily mean a similar change in rates. 

For more information about land valuations, visit the Queensland Government Land Valuations website. 

If the full rates balance is not paid by the due date, interest is charged at the current rate of 11% per annum, which compounds daily. 

Vacant water and vacant sewerage charges apply to each lot that is vacant land and is within 100 meters of a Council sewer and / or water main and which Council considers is capable of being connected. 

Where a dwelling is situated across two or more adjoining lots and are included on one rate assessment, Council will treat those lots as if it were a single lot and will levy one water and sewerage access charge. The owner of the land if responsible for demonstrating to Council they are entitled to this exemption. 

A garbage service charge will be levied on all properties where a garbage collection service is avaliable and the premises are capable of being occupied. The garbage charge will apply whether the service is utilised or not. 

While we try our best to ensure notices are correct when they are issued, each ratepayers situation is unique and sometimes quite complex. 

If you believe that something is incorrect on your notice, or you have any questions, please contact our Rates & Utilities team who will be able to look up your individual record. 

Yes. The Department of Resources will issue a new or amended valuation for your property. 

When Council recieves this information, we will issue a Supplementary Rate Notice. In some instances, the date of effect is back dated to previous rating periods / years. 

Your solicitor who acted on your behalf in the conveyance, would have made adjustments at settlement. Please contact your solicitor for more information or speak with the Rates & Utilities Team. 

• To confirm the accuracy of the meter reading, compare the reading on your water consumption notice to the current reading on your physical water meter (read the black digits only)
  • If this is less than the notice reading, please take a photo and contact the Rates & Utilities Team. 
• Council will arrange for a staff member to re-read and do a preliminary test on your meter
  • If the meter reading is correct and the preliminary test proves correct the charges will stand. 
  • If the ratepayer still disagrees with the outcome, they can request Council to carry out an investigation by completing a Water Meter Investigation form and paying a fee (refer to Council's Fees and Charges). 
  • If the meter is found to be faulty, Council will refund the fee to you, however if the meter passes the testing, you will forfeit the fee and your water consumption account will stand. 

If it is found that the ratepayer has an internal leak, they will need to contact a licenced plumber to undergo repairs at the ratepayers expense. 

Water is our most precious resource, and we all have a part to play in protecting it. 

For water-saving tips, including how to conduct a home audit and test for water leaks, click here. 

Yes, but an Application for Rates Search Form for you to complete and pay the appropiate fee, prior to submitting to Council. 

A discount of 5% will be allowed to any ratepayer that pays all rates and charges in full, including arrears, within 30 days after the issue of the notice. 

Discount applies only to the general rates. 

It depends on the circumstances surrounding the delay in payment. Payment must be received by Council on or before the close of discount. This is clearly stated on the back of the rates notice. 

This includes people who have paid their rates by electoronic transfer. It can take approximately 3 working days for payment to be received by Council. 

Some ratepayers may have circumstances which are 'beyond the ratepayers control' on why payment was not made by the due date. On these occasions the ratepayer will need to submit a letter to be tabled at a Council meeting for their consideration, explaining in detail their circumstances. The discount can only be granted by Council resolution. 

This also applies to people who haven't received their rates notice. Council advertises to let the public know that rates notices have been issued and that the rates notice has been sent to the last known address of the ratepayer. It is the ratepayer's responsibility to update their address with Council. 

The Queensland Government and Maranoa Regional Council offers eligible pensioners the following rebates on their Council property rates:

• State Government: A 20% reduction up to a maximum of $200 per year; and
• Maranoa Regional Councl: A 50% rebate on the general rates only to a maximum of $235 per year. 

Find out more about the Queensland Government property subsidies by visiting their property concessions page. 

To be eligible for these rebates you must adhere to the following:

1. The pensioner must be the owner/s or the life tenant/s (*) of the property (either solely or jointly);
2. The property must be the pensioner's freehold principal place of residence (**);
3. The pensionser must be the holder of a Queensland Pensioner Concession Card issued by Services Australia, or a Department of Veteran Affairs - Health Card (All conditions within Australia)

*A life tenancy can only be created by a valid will and is effective only after the death of the property owner, or by a Supreme or Family Court oder. 

** The address on your pension card must reflect the property address for which the rate concession is sought. 

Conditions apply for those who require full time professional care such as nursing homes, including:

• Property must not be rented and remains the financial responsibility of the property owner. 
• A statutory declaration may be required explaining the circumstances, including where the pensioner is residing.
• Power of Attorney documents. 

Pensioners who have previously received a rebate are not required to resubmit an application each year unless their circumstances have changed. Should circumstances change throughout the year, it is the responibility of the pensioner to contact Council to advise of the changes. 

To apply for the pensioner concession please complete the Application for a Pensioner Rates Subsidy / Concession form. 

Applying by email, post or in person:

Please download the Pension Application form and return your application by email, post or in person at any Council Service Centre. Please be aware you will be required to provide a copy of your pension card with your application. All applicants must provide a current phone number so Council can contact them if there are any issues with their application. 

If you apply for the pension rebate in person during the rates peiod, please bring your rate notice with you so an adjustment can be made. 

Please send the application form and a photocopy of your pension card to Council by:

• Post: Maranoa Regional Council, PO Box 620, Roma QLD 4455
• Email: council@maranoa.qld.gov.au
• Or submit in person at one of Council's Service Centres. 

You may be entitiled to recieve a pensioner rates subsidy on your next rates bill if you own and occupy the property and are the holder of either of the following:

• Queensland Pensioner Concession Card
• Department of Veterans Affairs Health Gold Card (All Conditions) 

For eligible cards please refer to the Services Australia website. 

A new application must be lodged with Council if you change your address (i.e. buy another house within the region as the pensioner details are not automatically transferred to the new property). 

You may also need to reapply if there have been changes in your pension entitlement. 

Not-for-profit organisations may be entitiled to a concession on their general rates and water charges. Refer to Council's Rates Rebate and Concessions Policy. 

The Rates and Water Access Concession for Community Organisations Application form needs to be completed and submitted with supporting documentation as detailed on the form. 

If you have an undetected water leak that would have contributed to a higher than usual water consumption, a concession may be available. 

Refer to What to do if you think you've been overcharged on your water consumption?

Council offers a variety of ways to pay your rates:

• BPAY: Contact your bank or financial institution to make this payment from your cheque, savings, debit, credit card or transaction account. For more information visit: www.bpay.com.au.
• Australia Post is an agent for Maranoa Regional Council. You can pay in person as you would at any Council Customer Service Centre, or you can pay by phone by calling: 13 18 16 or on the internet by visiting: www.postbillpay.com.au.
• Paying in person: Present this notice and your payment (Cash, Cheque, Money Order, Visa, Mastercard or EFTPOS) to any of Council's Customer Service Centres during the set opening hours of 8.20am to 5pm on weekdays (excluding public holidays). 
• eServices (online payment): Payment can be made using your credit card online through Council's secure online payment portal. Visit www.maranoa.qld.gov.au and click the Make a Payment tab and follow the prompts. 
• Phone: Payments can be made using a credit card by calling Council on 1300 007 662. 
  NOTE: Council does not accept payments using AMEX or DINERS CLUB cards. 
• Payment by mail: Only cheques or money orders are accepted by mail and should be made payable to Maranoa Regional Council. If a receipt is required, please tick where indicated on the remittance slip. 

Rates can be prepaid at any time. The funds will sit on your rates account as a credit until the next period of rates are issued. 

NOTE: The BPAY reference number relates only to one property. 
If you own multiple properties, you will need to use the relevant BPAY reference number for each property. 

Council does not have direct debit facilities, meaning we cannnot take money from your bank account. 

You can set up a formal payment arrangement for the outstanding balance to be paid off in accordance with Council's Rates and Charges Debt Recovery Policy. 

Interest will still be charged on your outstanding balance at a rate of 11% per annum, compounded daily. 

Applications to enter into a payment arrangement can be made using Council's prescribed Application for Rate Payment Arrangement form, or by phone contact with the Rates & Utilities Team. 

You will be required to apply to Council in writing, requesting an extension to your payment arrangement and outlining your circumstances for consideration at Council meeting. 

Council can either refund this money by EFT or alternatively, we can transfer the credit from one rate assessment to another. 

You will be required to complete a Request for Rates Utilities Refund or Transfer Form and submit to Council for processing. NOTE: ALL OWNERS MUST SIGN. 

Council requires a Name and Address Update Form to be completed for all owners of the property and submitted to Council for processing. 

If the change of address is a result of seperation, Council recommends that a request be put in writing so that the rate notice can be issued to both parties. 

This cannot be done through Council, You will need to contact Titles Queensland and lodge the necessary forms and payment. 

Once they have processed your application, they will then pass the information onto Council and we will update accordingly. 

This cannot be done through Council. You will need to contact Titles Queensland and lodge the necessary forms and payment. 

We can send multiple copies of notices to individual parties, however, if the rates are not paid, reminder letters and all other correspondence is issued only to the primary contact on the rate account (the first name listed on the account).

NOTE: Even if seperated, if both parties are listed on the notice then both are equally liable for the payment of rates and charges. 

In the event that a death has occurred, the solicitor dealing with the estate may be able to provide assistance in this matter as Titles Queensland will require forms to be lodged and fees paid prior to making any changes.