How to pay your council tax
There are many different ways to pay your council tax - online, by telephone or in person at your local pay point or post office, by using the bar code on your bill.
Direct Debit is the easiest way for you to pay your council tax. You can set up direct debit payments online or you can call our Customer Services team on 01229 404242 with your bank account details. Choose the date most convenient for you to pay, either the 1st, 16th or 28th of the month and we will do the rest. You will receive written confirmation and your payments are covered by the Direct Debit guarantee scheme offered by all banks and building societies in the scheme.
You can also pay council tax, non domestic rates, housing rent and parking fines using our online payments system or by using our operator assisted telephone line on 01229 876543 or the automated telephone service on 0845 603 1510 with a debit/credit card. Please note if using the 0845 number, calls cost up to a maximum of 7 pence per minute plus your telephone company's network access charge.
Problems paying your council tax
If you’re struggling to pay your council tax, contact us as soon as possible. We may be able to spread your payments over a longer period or you may qualify for council tax support.
We are duty bound to collect council tax in line with current regulations. If a payment is missed you will receive a reminder and will have a further seven days to pay before the whole balance becomes due. If payment of the first reminder is made you can continue to pay monthly. If it is not paid, you will be issued with a summons and incur costs of £63.
The law only allows a maximum of two reminders in any financial year. If after making payment for a second reminder your payment is late again, you will receive a Final Notice. This has to be paid in full within 7 days or you will be issued with a summons and incur costs of £63.
If you still don’t pay
A leaflet, containing contact details for getting help in dealing with council tax and other types of debt, is available as a downloadable PDF file:
Items covered in this leaflet are:
- Attachments to Income
- Enforcement Agents and your rights
- Bankruptcy and Liquidation
- Committal Proceedings