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Changes to the way we can receive foreign currency cheques and money orders
The Australian payment system is changing. Some banks no longer accept foreign currency cheques and international money orders. From 19 December 2024, we can no longer accept payments made by these methods.
If you’re not already, you’ll need to use an electronic payment method or Australian currency cheque to repay a debt.
Repaying money you owe
You need to do this if you owe us money, and any of the following apply:
- you don’t currently get a payment from us
- you currently get a payment from us and want to make extra repayments
- you want to repay the money you owe in full.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, you can repay money online. To do this, sign into myGov and select Money you owe.
You can also do this by using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app.
If you need help to use the Money you owe service, you can use our online guides. If you have a Centrelink online account, use the Centrelink online account guide. If you have an Express Plus mobile app, use the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app guide.
If you need help repaying money or setting up a repayment arrangement, please call us on any of the following:
- your regular payment line
- the Centrelink Indigenous debt recovery line, if you’re an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Australian
- the Centrelink multilingual phone service, for help in your language.
If you repay your Centrelink debt using your credit card, you may be charged additional fees by your financial institution. This is because credit cards can charge a high interest rate and cash advance fees.
You’ll need to contact your financial institution for more information about these fees.
If you enter into a repayment arrangement with us to repay your debt over an agreed period of time, we won’t charge you interest. This only applies if you make your first repayment by the due date and keep to your arrangement.
If you’re experiencing financial hardship, we’d like to help. Please call our debt recovery line.
In some situations, we may use your tax refund to reduce the amount of money you owe. Read more about how we recover debts at tax time.
The following table outlines the different Centrelink payment methods you can use to repay money you owe if you’re in Australia.
| Payment method | What you need to know | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| Direct debit | You can set up automatic deductions from your bank account. | Use the Money you owe service to set up the automatic deductions. |
| BPAY | Use phone or internet banking. Check with your financial institution for any fees charged. | Include: Biller Code: 21915 Reference number: Find this in the letter we sent you. |
| In person | Pay in person at any Australia Post office or postal outlet. You can pay by:
| Use the barcode from your letter in your Money you owe service. If you don’t have a barcode, ask us for a payment card to make regular payments. To request a card, call us. |
| Billpay | Make a payment through Australia Post’s online Post Billpay service or by calling their Post Billpay line. | Include: Billpay code: 0802 Reference number: Find this in the letter we sent you. Pay over the phone by calling Australia Post on 131 816. |
| Credit card | Make a payment using Visa or Mastercard. Check with your financial institution for any fees charged. | Use the Money you owe service to repay your debt using Visa or Mastercard. |
The following table outlines the different Centrelink payment methods you can use to repay money you owe if you’re overseas.
| Payment method | What you need to know | What you need to do |
|---|---|---|
| BPAY | Use phone or internet banking. Check with your financial institution for any fees charged. | Include: Biller Code: 21915 Reference number: Find this in the letter we sent you. |
| Billpay | Make a payment through Australia Post’s online Post Billpay service. | Include: Billpay code: 0802 Reference number: Find this in the letter we sent you. |
| Bank transfer | Transfer money from your overseas bank to Australia. | Account number: 093003318778 Use your reference number in the description section of the transfer. Transfer to: The Reserve Bank of AustraliaGPO Box 3947 Sydney NSW 2001 Australia |