Levy payments are easy to forget if you’re not checking them regularly.
Levy contributions are a regular part of owning a lot within an owners corporation or body corporate. They help cover the ongoing costs of running and maintaining the property, from shared spaces to the essential services that keep everything working behind the scenes.
Setting up a direct debit means your levies are paid automatically, on time and in line with your latest levy notice. You don’t need to remember due dates or adjust amounts yourself.
If your payments are processed through Macquarie Bank, direct debits are managed via biller‑initiated direct debit (BIDD) on the Direct Electronic Funds Transfer (DEFT) platform.
To confirm whether your levy payments are made through Macquarie Bank, you can usually check the payment slip at the bottom of your latest levy notice, or contact your strata, body corporate or owners corporation manager.
A BIDD is the type of direct debit arrangement used by Macquarie Bank for the payment of owners corporation or body corporate levies.
With BIDD, the amount shown on your current levy notice is automatically taken from your chosen bank account on the due date. Each time a new levy notice is issued, the payment amount updates to match it, so you don’t need to change anything if your levies increase or decrease.
You can start or cancel your direct debit at any time through DEFT. To help avoid missed payments, it’s also important to have enough funds available in your account on the due date. If a payment is delayed or missed, your owners corporation or body corporate may follow up with you.
Paying levies is part of owning a property in an owners corporation or body corporate. Explore your payment options with PICA Group to find a solution that works for you and simplifies payment management.
BIDD payments are set up through the DEFT website. Before you start, you’ll need your property’s DEFT reference number, which is usually found at the bottom of your latest levy notice.
To set up a BIDD payment, follow the steps below:
Visit deft.com.au and sign in or register for an account.
Go to ‘DEFT reference numbers’ and find the reference number for your property.
Select ‘Add DEFT reference number’ and follow the prompts to register your property.
Tick ‘Direct debit authorisation (Biller-initiated)’
Choose a payment method (bank account, debit card, or credit card).
Select ‘Add’ to save and complete the setup.
Once set up, your levy payments will be automatically deducted in line with your levy notices.
If you already have a DEFT reference number linked to your account, you may not need to start from scratch. If a direct debit was previously set up, you can check your existing details and update them as needed.
If the property’s DEFT reference number already appears in your account:
Visit deft.com.au and sign in to your account.
Go to ‘Schedule payments’ and check for any existing payments linked to the relevant DEFT reference number.
Select ‘Edit’, then ‘Delete’ to remove any existing schedules if needed.
Go to ‘DEFT reference numbers’, select the relevant reference number, and choose ‘Edit’.
Select ‘Direct debit authorisation (Biller-initiated)’.
Choose a payment method and select ‘Update’ to complete the setup.
Once your direct debit is set up, it’s worth taking a moment to check that everything is working as expected. This can help avoid any delays or interruptions to your payments.
To confirm your direct debit is active:
Visit deft.com.au and sign in to your account.
Go to ‘DEFT reference numbers’.
Check that ‘Direct debit authorised’ appears under the relevant DEFT reference number in the ‘DEFT reference numbers section’.
You can update or cancel the direct debit at any time by selecting ‘Edit’ next to the DEFT reference number.
Not sure where to start? This short video from Macquarie Bank explains how to set up a biller‑initiated direct debit.
If anything changes, such as your banking details or preferred account, you can update the payment method linked to your direct debit at any time. There’s no need to set up a new direct debit each time your details change.
To update your payment method:
Sign in at deft.com.au.
Select ‘DEFT reference numbers’ at the top of the page.
Choose the relevant DEFT reference number.
Update the payment method linked to the biller-initiated direct debit.
Select ‘Update’ to save your changes.
If you no longer want to use direct debit or prefer a different payment method for your levies, you can cancel it at any time. This gives you the flexibility to switch payment options if your circumstances change.
To cancel your payment method:
Sign in at deft.com.au.
Select ‘DEFT reference numbers’ at the top of the page.
Choose the relevant DEFT reference number.
Untick ‘Direct debit authorisation (Biller-initiated)’.
Select ‘Update’ to save the change.
Once cancelled, your direct debit payments will stop from the next business day. If a payment is already being processed, it may still go through and be charged to your account.
Need more help? Contact DEFT on 1800 672 162 for support with setting up or managing your payment methods.
Before renewing your agreement, take a moment to compare your options. Our quick and easy form can be completed in less than 30 seconds.
Managing a property comes with plenty of responsibilities, but paying your levies doesn’t have to be complicated. Taking a few minutes to choose a payment option that works for your lifestyle can make it easier to stay on top of contributions and focus on enjoying your home.
If you’re exploring your payment options, understanding how BIDD works is a good place to start. With the right setup in place, managing your levies can become a simple part of your regular household finances rather than something you need to remember each quarter.
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This article is edited by Lauren Shaw Regional General Manager and Licensee-in-Charge on July 2026.
