Scam texts and emails relating to fines continue to circulate. We do not send payment links in our texts or emails. If you get a message about a fine and are unsure whether it is genuine, please contact our call centre on 0800 4 FINES (0800 434 637) before clicking links or making any payment. Read more about identifying scams.
The levy ensures that offenders contribute to the cost of addressing the harm that their offending causes and assists in funding victim support services.
Crown funding for victim support services is $18.863 million per year and has increased by 358% since the levy was introduced in 2010 due to inflationary pressure, greater demand, and government investments. The levy has not been adjusted since its introduction, meaning victim services are now predominantly funded by the Crown, rather than by the levy, as was originally anticipated.
Offenders who are sentenced on or after 1 July 2026 will have to pay the new levy amount of $100. For more information on the levy visit our Paying the Offender Levy page.