Katherine and Litchfield Council Rates Concession for Pensioners

Rates Concessions for Katherine and Litchfield

Pensioners and eligible card holders in Katherine Town Council and Litchfield Council areas receive the same NT Concession Scheme rates relief as other Territorians — the $200 annual rates cap and a garbage concession — but the garbage amounts differ:

• Katherine Town Council: $45 per household per year garbage concession
• Litchfield Council: $25 per household per year garbage concession

The rates concession is the same everywhere in the NT: 62.5% of your annual general rates, capped at $200 per household. Combined with the garbage credit, Katherine ratepayers receive up to $245 in annual concessions, while Litchfield ratepayers receive up to $225.

The lower garbage concession in Litchfield reflects its semi-rural classification and different waste management cost structure. This can be a notable difference for ratepayers comparing their benefits to Darwin ($46.25) or Alice Springs ($52).

Applying Through the NTCRU

The application process is the same regardless of which council area you live in. Apply to the NT Concession and Recognition Unit (NTCRU) — not to your local council — with:

• Completed NTCS Membership Application Form
• 100 points of identification (at least one from Category A identity and one from Category B address)
• Copy of your qualifying Centrelink or DVA card
• Proof of NT residency

After approval, submit your Katherine or Litchfield rate notice to register your property. The NTCRU notifies the council, and future rate notices include the concession credits automatically.

NTCRU contact: 1800 777 704 or [email protected].

Local Hardship Relief

Both councils maintain their own hardship policies beyond the NTCS concession:

Litchfield Council operates Policy FIN06 Rates Concessions, which gives the CEO delegation to grant one-off rate or charge waivers for the current year, rate payment deferments, and remission of accrued interest. Rural and residential property owners experiencing hardship apply directly to the Litchfield rates administrator in writing.

Katherine Town Council processes hardship applications under the Local Government Act 2019 (NT). If you are struggling to pay after the NTCS concession has been applied, contact the council to discuss payment arrangements.

In both cases, you must have claimed the NTCS concession first before the council considers additional local relief.

Remote and Regional Councils

If you live outside Katherine or Litchfield — in areas like West Arnhem Regional Council ($120 garbage concession), Central Desert ($75), or Coomalie ($40) — the NTCS rates concession still applies at $200, with the garbage amount set by your specific council area. Residents in unincorporated areas outside any council boundary do not pay local council rates and are ineligible for the rates and garbage concessions, though other NTCS benefits like electricity and water concessions still apply.

For the full council-by-council garbage schedule and application walkthrough, see our NT Pensioner Rates Concessions guide.

See more Northern Territory guides →