Offender levy
A new offender levy has been introduced that will be used to fund a range of new services for victims of serious crime and ensure that offenders contribute to addressing the harm that their crimes cause.
The new levy is not a fine but an automatically imposed fee of $50 that is required by law to be paid by anyone sentenced in the District or High Court.
Questions and answers on the offender levy
What is the offender levy?
Why is the offender levy being introduced?
What happens to the money collected – will it go directly to victims?
Why was $50 chosen as the amount for the offender levy?
Who does the offender levy apply to?
Is the offender levy an automatic part of a sentence?
What happens with multiple sentences?
Can an offender levy be given to a company?
How can people pay the offender levy?
What if someone can’t afford the offender levy?
When does the offender levy have to be paid?
What is the offender levy?
The offender levy is an automatically imposed fee of $50 that is required by law to be paid by anyone sentenced in the District or High Court.
Why is the offender levy being introduced?
The purpose of the offender levy is to ensure that offenders contribute to addressing the harm that their crimes cause to victims.
What happens to the money collected – will it go directly to victims?
The offender levy doesn’t go directly to victims but will be used to fund additional entitlements and services for victims of serious crime.
Why was $50 chosen as the amount for the offender levy?
A flat $50 offender levy, regardless of the crime committed, was decided upon by Parliament as the best option to ensure as many offenders as possible pay it.
Who does the offender levy apply to?
It applies to anyone sentenced in the District or High Court whenever one or more convictions are imposed by a Judge, Community Magistrate or Judicial JP.
It does not apply:
- Where an offender is discharged without conviction
- When a youth is sentenced in the Youth Court
- When anyone is sentenced in the Family Court
- When an order is set by a Tribunal or
- To people who have infringement fines (as they are not a sentence from a District or High Court nor do they result from a conviction).
Is the offender levy an automatic part of a sentence?
No. The levy does not form part of a sentence. The severity of the crime is dealt with in the sentencing process (which may also include reparations to victims).
What happens with multiple sentences?
Offenders will be required to pay one offender levy at the time of each sentencing event, regardless of how many convictions they receive.
Can an offender levy be given to a company?
Yes – any company that is convicted and sentenced in a District or Higher Court is required to pay the offender levy.
How can people pay the offender levy?
People can pay the offender levy in person over the counter at the Collections unit at the District Court or at NZ Post Shop or Westpac Bank branch; online at www.fines.govt.nz or over the phone on 0800 4 FINES (0800 434 637).
What if someone can’t afford the offender levy?
Anyone who can’t pay the levy should make arrangements with Collections staff at the District Court.
When does the offender levy have to be paid?
Offenders should pay the levy, or make arrangements to pay it, before they leave the Court. Offenders will receive written notification shortly after they are sentenced and will be given 28 days to pay it.
