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.
It’s important to check the date of the confirmed order. If the confirmed order was made more than 12 years ago, you should get legal advice.
Don’t ignore an overdue fine. There are no time limits for Revenue NSW to enforce an overdue fine.
This section covers:
If you are in prison
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.
Paying an overdue fine
You can pay an overdue fine in full by the due date or apply to pay by instalments. If you are receiving Centrelink benefits, you can arrange to pay by instalments through Centrepay.
For more information, see Paying an overdue fine.
Applying for a Work and Development Order
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.
Applying for a write off
You may be able to apply for a write off if you are not suitable for a WDO and you can’t afford to pay your overdue fine due to medical or personal reasons or financial hardship. A write off can be reversed if you get a new overdue fine notice or your circumstances improve within five years.
For more information, see Applying for a write off.
Applying for a review at the Hardship Review Board
If Revenue NSW has refused to write off your overdue fine, refused your application to participate in a WDO, or refused your application for a payment plan, you may be able to apply for a review of their decision at the Hardship Review Board.
For more information, see Applying for a review at the Hardship Review Board.
Getting help from an advocate
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.
For more information, see Advocates.
Enforcement of an overdue 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.
There are no time limits for Revenue NSW to enforce an overdue fine.
For more information, see Enforcement of an overdue fine.