Hawke's Bay Regional Council is encouraging ratepayers to pay their rates the easy way and sign up for a direct debit.
Regional Council chief financial officer Bronda Smith says it's straightforward to set up a monthly or yearly direct debit payment.
"You simply need to fill out an online direct debit authority form, choose when to pay and submit the form. Once that form is lodged, we will set up a monthly or yearly rates payment deduction from your bank account," she says.
"If you sign up before 31 July this year, you will go in the draw to win one of five $100 prezzy cards, " she says.
Paying by direct debit has many advantages, says Ms Smith, such as payments can be spread over the year, and you won't receive any penalties as you pay on time, provided payments are honoured.
As more and more people are making electronic payments, cheques are being phased out on 1 July this year.
"We're here to support people through this change, and help you find payment options that suit you. We recommend direct debit as a safe, convenient option for those people who are used to paying by cheque and need to go to a different payment arrangement, " she says.
"It's worth noting that a direct debit is not the same as an automatic payment, which is an instruction from you to your bank to make a regular payment."
By submitting a direct debit form to the Regional Council, allows the Council to deduct the monthly or yearly rates payment, and adjust payment amounts each year, to reflect rates changes.
The handy rates calculator on the Regional Council website can help you to find out what your rates monthly or yearly direct payments are to ensure rates are paid in full by the due date of 20 September.
You just need to enter your address and when you would like to start your repayments and the calculator will work out your potential monthly or yearly payments.
If you are experiencing financial hardship, please contact the rates team to discuss a direct debit payment plan to suit your current requirements. You can phone 06 835 9200 for a confidential discussion.
Rates are due for payment on 20 September this year, and rates must be paid by 20 September 2021 to avoid a penalty. The rating year is from 1 July 2021 to 30 June 2022.
To sign up to direct debit and use the rates calculator, go to hbrc.govt.nz and search #ratesdd.
For more general information about how to pay, how rates are used, or sign up for rates by email, go to hbrc.govt.nz, search #rates.