An "anonymous source" has paid the rates for two of three properties owned by a Tasmanian family who refused to pay on the basis that they believe God owns their land.

The Meander Valley Council claimed it was owed $9,332 in unpaid rates on a residence at Mole Creek, and two adjacent properties in Chudleigh that make up the Melita Honey Farm shop in the state's north.

The family had previously told the council that the land belonged to the "Heavenly Father", and that rates payment was a matter "between council and God".

The council will now hire a real estate agent to sell the residence at Mole Creek.

A motion was passed at a council meeting in March to sell all three properties, unless rates were paid by yesterday.

Meander Valley Mayor Craig Perkins hopes the family will find Bible passages that allow rates to be paid. ( ABC News: Laura Beavis )

Meander Valley Mayor Craig Perkins said a payment was received several weeks ago for two of the properties.

"We understand it was an anonymous source that understands the value of that business to the Chudleigh community," he said.

Mr Perkins said the process to sell the Mole Creek property would begin immediately.

"If they arrived down here with a cheque tomorrow to pay the rates and costs associated with it so far, we would ask no more questions," he said.

"Unless there's a change of heart and they come to a new realisation and hopefully find some new text within the Bible that allows them to pay rates, I fear we will be in the position in three or so years time."

Council will go ahead with the sale of the family's residence unless rates are paid. ( ABC News: Carla Howarth )

A report to the council in March stated rates on the properties had been unpaid since 2010.

It said council officers met with the owners in November 2016, and they confirmed they would not pay the rates.

"They steadfastly reaffirmed their belief that the land was not theirs, but that of the Heavenly Father, that the council would be taking the land from him and that was a matter between council and God," the report read.

The most recent correspondence from the family cited in the report contrasted the council's adherence to the "law of the land" with the owners belief that:

"Our Heavenly Father is Sovereign and that He reigns today, thus we worship him alone so that his will is established on the Earth ... you are asking us to bow down to a false god which is something we cannot do."

Unknown saviour applauded by local business owner

Information centre operator and local cafe owner Kim Rye said her business would suffer if the Melita Honey Farm business closed.

"It actually put Chudleigh pretty much on the map, and so you're getting a lot of people come through here," she said.

"They come off the ferry, they come off the plane, and one of the first destinations is the honey farm.

Kim Rye says the honey business is attracting customers to Chudleigh. ( ABC News: Carla Howarth )

"There [are] days where they've had upwards of 1,000 people through their honey farm. So it's extremely important for the rest of us out here."

Ms Rye said she was not surprised an anonymous donor had paid the rates bill.

"Without that business down there, there's going to be a lot less people coming through," she said.

The owners are a Dutch family who migrated to Australia in the early 1980s.

Prior to moving to Tasmania they had spent 15 years in Western Australia.

The family developed a themed business in Tasmania that manufactured and sold honey, honey bee products like propolis, royal jelly, and pollen, and a large selection of gifts and books.

Included in the Chudleigh shop property is a showcase of old beekeeping implements, as well as an interactive beehive and a live bee exhibition hive.