Payment Options for Fees and Fines

How to pay

Online Penalty Payment Portal

For a court fine or monetary order, using your penalty notice you can visit onlineregistry.lawlink.nsw.gov.au and click ‘Pay Your Penalty’. You will need the Payment Reference Number (PRN) published on this notice. Note that you may have multiple Payment Reference Numbers on this document. Please search and pay each PRN individually to ensure you have paid all fines that are applicable. Payments can be made via a credit card or debit card. Cards accepted include MasterCard, Visa and American Express.

Fees for civil matters can also be paid via the Online Registry website.

Online Simple Payment Portal

Email the court and you will be sent a secure web link to make payment via our Simple Payment Portal. For email addresses see website.

The types of payments able to be made using this option include fines, costs, victim service levies, compensation orders (made as part of a Monetary Order), civil debts not exceeding $10,000.00,  filing fees, transcript fees and application fees.

By Phone

Credit Card payments may be made by contacting the NSW Court Service Centre on 1300 679 272 between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to Friday. You will need to supply your PRN or case number.

By Post

Please make out a cheque or money order to The Registrar and send it with a copy of the Notice of Penalty to the address shown on the top right of your penalty notice.

At the Registry

Payments can be made by cash, EFTPOS, cheque, money order or by credit card. Please note that EFTPOS and credit card facilities are not available at all Court Registries.

Time to pay

If you cannot pay the total amount owing on your penalty notice by the due date, you should apply for what is known as 'time to pay'. You may need to give information in writing about your financial circumstances. Please complete Application for time to pay and email, take or post to any Court Registry. For email addresses see website.

For time to pay in civil judgments see here.

Centrepay Deductions (Centrelink)

If you receive a pension or benefit from Centrelink and want to pay a fine with a payment plan deducted from your Centrelink payments, you should complete and sign a Payment Plan Application of Court Fines for Customers in Receipt of a Government Payment and send it with your notice to the address shown on the top right of your notice or email the court. For email addresses see website. You should keep copies of the authorisation and the notice for your own records. 

Victims Support Levy

The Victims Support Levy or VSL is an amount levied on people who are found guilty of offences in New South Wales courts. The VSL is not a penalty imposed by a court or judicial officer; it is imposed automatically by legislation when a person is convicted of an offence by a court. A victims compensation levy is payable in relation to each separate offence.

A victims compensation levy needs to be paid within 28 days of the court finalising the case.

For more information download the court levy information sheet.

Court Costs Levy

People who are found guilty of offences in summary proceedings before a Local Court may have to pay a Court Costs Levy (CCL). The CCL is not a penalty imposed by a court or judicial officer; it is imposed automatically by legislation when a person is convicted of an offence by the local court. A court costs levy is payable in relation to each separate offence.

A court costs levy needs to be paid within 28 days of the court finalising the case.

For more information download the court levy information sheet.

If you do not pay by the due date

Monies not paid by the due date will be referred to Revenue NSW for recovery action.

Referral to Revenue NSW

If you do not pay the fine on time or make other payment arrangements, the outstanding amount will be referred to Revenue NSW.

The types of action Revenue NSW can take include:

• Suspending your vehicle driver licence and/or recreational boat driving licence.  
• Ordering the Sheriff to take your goods or property and sell them to pay the amount you owe. 
• Taking money from your bank account or wages by a Garnishee Order.
• Taking you to court so we can examine your financial situation. 
• Registering an interest in any land or property you may own.
• Removing your permission to drive in NSW on an interstate or international licence.

See the NSW Government website for more information.

In certain circumstances, you may be able to apply to Revenue NSW to do an activity to pay off your fines with activities like counselling, courses or treatment programs. See Revenue NSW Work and Development Order. If the fine was ordered for a commonwealth offence, other types of enforcement action may be taken against you.

You will also have to make additional payments if Revenue NSW takes recovery action.

Further Information

For more information download the Paying Fines Information Sheet (coming soon).

For more information regarding civil judgments see here.