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Following consultation with stakeholders, we are removing some service reasons. We’re also reducing the scope of other service reasons.
Removal of service reasons
We are removing each of the following service reasons from Centrepay by 1 November 2026:
- social and recreational commitments
- household goods lease and rental
- funeral expenses
- basic household items
- motor vehicle registration
- employment expenses
- savings.
Excluded expenses and payment arrangements
Some expenses for goods and services like tobacco, alcohol or life insurance remain excluded from Centrepay.
The list of items will be expanded to limit purchase of things like mobile phones, tablets and laptops. The purchase of these items will continue to be available through No Interest Loans only.
Changes to service reasons
There will be fewer types of businesses eligible for Centrepay under some service reasons.
Food Provision
There will be fewer businesses eligible to use the Food Provision service reason.
From 3 November 2025 only businesses that meet the definition of a ‘remote community or grocery store’ will be able to use the Food Provision service reason.
We’ll remove all other businesses currently using this service reason from Centrepay by 1 November 2026. To reflect this change, the service reason has been renamed to ‘Food Provision in Remote areas.’
This revised service reason will be open to existing and new businesses to access Centrepay if they meet some rules. A business can’t primarily provide meat or meat products, such as butchers.
A business must also be both:
- a retail community store
- in a remote or very remote area.
To make sure there’s ongoing access to meals on wheels providers, these businesses will be available under an alternative service reason of Homecare and Trade Services.
Learn more about Goods and Services.
Legal and professional services
The professional services service reason will only include Legal Aid and legal services provided at a low or reduced cost by law firms.
This excludes all other professional services from this category including accountants and financial planners.
Travel and transport
The travel and transport service reason will include only transport services such as bus or coach travel.
Items like self-storage, fuel and vehicle repairs are no longer included.
Conditions to be added to deductions
From 3 November 2025, we’re adding mandatory conditions to deductions depending on the type of service reason the business is using.
Any new deduction will need these mandatory conditions. You will have until 4 May 2026 to add these to deductions that were already in place prior to 3 November 2025.
Rental and utility arrears inclusion
We’ll allow Centrepay to be used for rental arrears and final utility bills even where the person is no longer a customer.
General feedback
If you’re a customer and having trouble working out a Centrepay issue with a business, contact us through Centrepay complaints and feedback.
If you think a business commits fraud against Centrepay, you should report it. Find more information on how to report fraud.
If you’re a business, you can email or call our Centrepay for businesses team.