Responding to an overdue fine from Revenue NSW

You will receive an overdue fine from Revenue NSW if you:

• didn’t respond to an order for restitution from Victims Services, or
• consented to an order for restitution, or
• had a payment arrangement with Victims Services for a provisional order made before 27 April 2020 and stopped making payments. 

If you receive an overdue fine while you are in prison, you should contact Revenue NSW to put your fine on hold until you are released. 

You should also speak to Corrective Services to find out if you can do a Work and Development Order (WDO) to pay off some or all of your debt. 

You can pay an overdue fine in full before the due date.

You can pay in full:

• online on the Quick payment page on the NSW Government website
• over the phone by calling 1300 130 112 to pay by credit card
• by BPAY from your bank account
• by mailing a cheque or money order
• in person at an Australia Post Office or Service NSW, or
• using the Service NSW app.

For more information, see Pay your fine on the NSW Government website.

You can apply to pay by instalments

• online on the NSW Government website
• over the phone by calling 1300 138 118
• by completing the Payment Plan Application – Individuals form and send it by post.

For more information, see Set up a payment plan on the NSW Government website.

If you are receiving Centrelink benefits, you can arrange to pay by instalments through Centrepay. For more information, see Centrepay on the Services Australia website.

• Instructions: Payment Plan Application- Individuals (PDF, 1MB). 
• Sample:  Payment Plan Application - Individuals (PDF, 491KB). 

You can speak to a free financial counsellor to help you work out a suitable payment plan. For more information, see Talk to a Financial Counsellor on the National Debt Helpline website.

It’s important to keep up with your repayments. If you fall behind with your repayments, Revenue NSW can take enforcement action against you for the outstanding amount. If you want to change your payment plan, you should contact Revenue NSW. 

If your application to pay by instalments is refused, you may be able to apply for a review. Before you apply for a review, you should first speak to Revenue NSW about their decision. For more information, see Step by step guide -Applying for a review at the Hardship Review Board.

You may be eligible to apply for a Work and Development Order (WDO) to help you pay off all or some of your fines. A WDO is where you agree to do unpaid work, an educational course, or a medical or mental health treatment plan through an approved sponsor. WDOs can reduce your fines by up to $1,000 per month.

For more information, see Applying for a Work and Development Order. 

You may be eligible to apply for a write off of your fine if you are not suitable for a Work and Development Order (WDO) and have:  

• a medical condition, long term illness, severe injury or disability
• a supervised mental health treatment under a community treatment order
• an alcohol dependency or serious addiction to drugs
• been unemployed for a long period of time
• family or carer responsibilities
• serious financial stress where you can't meet daily living expenses or loan repayments.

You will need to provide details of your financial circumstances and explain why you are not suitable to do a WDO. 

You can't apply for a write off just because you think you are not guilty, or that the fine is too much. 

It is a good idea to get help from a free financial counsellor or an advocate to speak to Revenue NSW on your behalf. 

A write off can be reversed if you get a new overdue fine notice or your circumstances improve within five years. It can also be reversed if you give false information.

 Step by step guide - Applying for a write off

The Hardship Review Board can consider decisions made by Revenue NSW about:

• a refusal of your application for a payment plan 
• a refusal of your application to reduce the amount you pay on your payment plan
• a payment plan that you can’t afford
• a refusal of your application to have your fine written off
• a refusal of your application for a Work and Development Order (WDO).

The Hardship Review Board can’t consider whether the fine was issued correctly or fairly. 

Step by step guide - Applying for a review at the Hardship Review Board

Advocates are organisations that are registered with Revenue NSW. They can help you understand your options to deal with the fine and speak to Revenue NSW on your behalf.

Advocates include services like Legal Aid NSW, Community Legal Centres and Financial Counsellors Association of NSW. 

Depending on your circumstances, an advocate may help you:

• postpone enforcement action by Revenue NSW 
• arrange a payment plan
• apply for a Work and Development Order
• apply for a write off.

You can speak to an advocate at: 

• Revenue NSW Advocacy Hotline on 1300 478 879 Monday to Friday between 8.30am to 5.00pm
• National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007 Monday to Friday between 9.30am to 4.30pm.

If you identify as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you can contact the First Nations team at Revenue NSW on 1800 002 345 to discuss the best way to manage your fine.

It’s important to deal with an overdue fine immediately. If you don’t respond to an overdue fine, Revenue NSW can take enforcement action against you to recover the money and add an enforcement fee each time.

If you move interstate, the overdue fine can be enforced by the authority of the State or Territory you live in.

Enforcement can include: