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If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to set up Centrepay deductions.
You can also set up deductions in any of the following ways:
- by asking the business you want to pay to set it up for you
- using the myGov mobile app on your mobile device
- using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app on your mobile device
- by calling us on your regular payment line
- at a service centre with help from our staff.
Once you’ve arranged a Centrepay deduction, we pay the business for you, out of your Centrelink payment. We’ll send you a letter confirming details of the deduction including the start date. You can also check your deduction summary online.
The lowest amount you can set up is $10 per fortnight.
When it will start
You can tell us when to start your deduction. This could be either:
- from your next Centrelink payment
- anytime up to 8 weeks in advance.
We’ll deduct the money every fortnight. We’ll do this on the same day you get your Centrelink payment.
If you tell us to change or start a deduction we’ll deduct the money from your next payment. If you tell us within 5 business days before your next payment, it may not start until the following fortnight.
If you have more than one deduction, you need to check the order you asked us to pay them in. We’ll pay them in the order we received your requests, unless you ask us to change the order.
What details you need
You’ll need all of the following details:
- your Centrelink Customer Reference Number (CRN)
- the bill details, such as the account or billing number
- the name of the business you’re paying
- the business address and phone number if you have them
- the business’s CRN.
To find the business CRN, search Find a business or organisation. Its CRN will always start with 555.
What choices you need to make
You must choose all of these:
- how much you want us to deduct each fortnight
- which Centrelink payment you want the deduction to come out of
- when you want the deduction to start
- when you want the deductions to end.
You can set either:
- an end date, no more than 12 months in advance
- a target amount, of the total amount you need to pay.
You can set these at any time. If there is no end date or target amount the deduction will continue to pay the business until you cancel it.
Things to be aware of
Your deduction request won’t go through if:
- you already have a deduction with the same business, from the same benefit type and for the same service reason
- there isn’t enough money available from your Centrelink payment
- your deduction amount is less than $10 or the business’s minimum amount.
What step by step guides we have
We’ve got guides to help you with your Centrepay deductions.
Follow our step by step guides to:
- add a new Centrepay deduction
- cancel a current Centrepay deduction
- update or suspend a current Centrepay deduction.
You can read how to create a Centrelink online account.
When to check your deductions
Check your deductions online regularly to make sure they’re correct. Read more about how to keep track of your Centrepay deductions.
If your Centrelink online account is linked to myGov, sign in now to manage your deductions online.
If you don’t have a myGov account or a Centrelink online account you’ll need to create them.
You can also manage your deductions by:
- using the Express Plus Centrelink mobile app
- contacting the business and asking it to correct the deduction
- calling us on your regular payment line
- visiting a service centre.
If you’ve paid too much to a business, you can:
- reduce the ongoing amount
- suspend your deduction for a period of up to 13 weeks
- contact the business to ask it to refund you the overpayment amount.
If a deduction was set up and paid that you didn’t authorise, you can:
- correct or stop the deduction
- contact the business to request a direct refund of the overpayment.
If you need any further assistance you can:
- read about your rights
- call us on your regular payment line
- write to our complaints and feedback service.
Which businesses use Centrepay
You can only use Centrepay to pay a business that we’ve approved.
You can find a list of businesses that use Centrepay in your area. Enter your location into the find a business or organisation search tool. It’ll show you a list of businesses near you.
If a business doesn’t use Centrepay
If a business doesn’t have Centrepay you’ll have to pay them using another payment option. For example, BPAY or direct debit.
We aren’t accepting new Centrepay business applications while we reform Centrepay.
What happens if I cancel my Centrepay deduction
You can choose to cancel a Centrepay deduction at any time. If you do, make sure you have other arrangements in place to pay your bills or ongoing expenses another way.
If you would like to restart the deduction in the future, you’ll need to give your consent again. This means you need to set up the deduction again. To restart your deduction, contact the business or us.