Fine review process
Key information
You can apply to us to challenge a Revenue NSW decision about outstanding fines, including payment plans, a work and development order, or writing off your overdue fines.
If hardship can be proved, we may direct Revenue NSW to:
- set up a payment plan
- defer payment of your overdue fines
- write off some, or all of your overdue fines
- issue or vary a work development order
What is hardship?
Hardship is where payment of the fines would leave you unable to provide your immediate family with the basic necessities of food, shelter, clothing, medical expenses, and other basic requirements.
How is hardship determined?
We will consider:
- whether you can pay your fines by re-arranging your finances
- your overall financial position, looking at income and expenditure, and asset and liability statements
- whether your current financial difficulties are short-term
- what you have done to try to pay your liability
- any other factors to support your case for hardship.
If you have substantial assets such as an investment property, the HRB may consider if that can help pay your debt.
Eligibility
Who can apply
Individuals who have had one or more overdue fines issued in your name and Revenue NSW has:
- refused your application for a payment plan
- refused your application to reduce the payments on your payment plan
- approved a payment plan at a higher rate than you offered
- refused to write-off your overdue fines
- refused to approve a work and development order or vary an existing one
- cancelled your work and development order.
Who can’t apply
- Companies
What your application needs to include
- how your financial, medical and personal circumstances stop you from paying your fines now and in the near future
- you must attach documentation to support your case
- a completed Authority to Act form (PDF 1.51MB) – if applicable.
What happens after my application is submitted?
- After you apply, Revenue NSW will advise you in writing whether or not your case is eligible to be heard by the HRB.
- You may be asked to provide more information to support your case.
- If your case is eligible, Revenue NSW will tell you when the Board will consider your application.
- You do not need to appear before the HRB.
- No action will be taken until the HRB hears your case.
Will my driver licence or vehicle registration be restored?
No. We do not have authority to remove NSW Roads and Maritime Services restrictions.
However, Revenue NSW may remove the restrictions until the Board hears your case. Revenue NSW will contact you after you apply to tell you whether the restrictions have been lifted.
Successful applications
If an application is successful, we will direct Revenue NSW to:
- set up a payment plan
- defer payment of your fines, or
- write off some or all of your fines.
Revenue NSW will contact you with the outcome.
Unsuccessful applications
We may agree with the decision made by Revenue NSW. In this case, Revenue NSW will write to you to tell you what happens next. This could include further enforcement action to recover the debt.
There is no further right of objection or appeal.
Contact us
Got a question or need more information about the Hardship Review Board?
Other ways to contact:
Call: 02 7808 6946
Write to us:
Hardship Review Board
PO Box A2571
Sydney South NSW 1235