Pay your court fine

If you can’t pay your fine in full by the due date, you can ask for more time to pay.

To do this, you need to complete:

• an Application for Time to Pay a Court Fine.

You can get a blank copy of these forms from:

• your nearest Local Court registry, or
• the Forms page on the Local Court of NSW website.

An offer to pay instalments of less than $100.00 per fortnight may not be accepted unless there are exceptional circumstances.

If you are receiving a Veterans Affairs Pension, Centrelink Payments or you have a concession card, you can offer to pay less than $100.00 as long as you pay at least $15.00 per fortnight.

You must make your instalment payments on or before the due date. If you don’t, the Court will refer the matter to Revenue NSW. Revenue NSW will send you an overdue fine and add an enforcement costs to your fine.

Instructions: Instructions for completing an Application for Time to Pay a Court Fine

Sample: Sample Application for Time to Pay a Court Fine

For more information, see Paying fines and judgement amounts on the Local Court website.

If you receive a Centrelink benefit, such as a pension or JobSeeker payment, you can apply to have fortnightly instalments deducted from your payments through Centrepay. Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/centrepay for more information.

To do this, you need to complete:

• a Payment Plan Application of Court Fines for Customers in Receipt of a Government Payment.

You can get a blank copy of these forms from:

• your nearest Local Court registry, or
• the Forms page on the Local Court of NSW website.

Instructions: Instructions for completing a Payment Plan Application of Court Fines for Customers in Receipt of a Government Payment

Sample: Sample Payment Plan Application of Court Fines for Customers in Receipt of a Government Payment

You should apply within 28 days from the date of the court order. After this time, additional costs may be added to your fine.

Once you make the request, the Local Court will refer the fine to Revenue NSW for collection. If your application is approved, Revenue NSW will write to you. The deductions from your Centrelink payment will continue until your fine is paid off.

For more information, see Paying fines and judgement amounts on the Local Court website.

If you can’t pay your fine, you may be able to complete a Work and Development Order (WDO). A WDO involves doing an activity as a way of paying off some or all of your fines. A WDO is only available if you:

• are experiencing serious financial hardship
• are experiencing a mental health condition
• have an intellectual or cognitive disability  
• are experiencing homelessness 
• are experiencing an alcohol or substance use disorder 
• are under the age of 18. 

You must ask the Court that issued the fine (verbally or in writing) within the 28 days of the court order to complete a WDO. If you don't, additional costs may be added to the fine.

Once you make the request, the Court will refer your fine to Revenue NSW. You should then contact Revenue NSW. Revenue NSW will determine if you are eligible for a WDO. 

The activities you can do vary, depending on your personal circumstances. Activities can include:

• unpaid work
• medical or mental health treatment
• a course
• financial counselling
• drug or alcohol treatment
• a mentoring program (if you are under 25).

For more information, see Work and Development Orders.

If you are not able to pay a court fine that is being enforced by the Revenue NSW, you may be able to ask the NSW Attorney General to recommend that your fine is remitted. If your fine is remitted, you will not have to pay it.

For more information, see Remission of fines and driver licence disqualifications on the Department of Communities and Justice website.