Council Tax payments frequently asked questions

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Who has to pay

There is only one bill for each property and this is usually paid by the owner-occupier or tenant of the home. Look down the following list to find out who has to pay for your home. As soon as you reach a description which applies to the person living in your home, he or she is liable. This means that he or she is responsible for paying the bill:

a person who owns and lives in the property
a secure tenant living in the property
a person who has a contract to live in the property
other people who live in the property
the owner if nobody lives in the property, or,
if the property is:
- a residential home for elderly or ill people
- a nursing home
- a hostel
- the home of a religious community
- properties divided into bedsitting rooms
- a home in which staff live and which is occasionally used by an employer
- the home of a minister of religion who receives a stipend.

The owner must pay the bill if nobody lives in the property as their main home. A tenant will not have to pay the Council Tax if the landlord lives in the property.

Is Council Tax charged on all properties?

Council tax is not charged where:

all the people living there are fulltime students
empty and substantially unfurnished properties (exempt for a period of six months).

If you have changed your home to meet the needs of someone with a disability you may be eligible to have the banding on your home lowered. You need to complete the Reduction for Disabilities Scheme in the list of Council Tax forms and leaflets.

How can I get a bill?

At the moment we send all bills by post.

if you are moving go to Moving home
otherwise request a bill from Key contacts

How can I pay?

The Council Tax bill is usually paid for the year in ten monthly installments. You can make payments free of charge at any Post Office or PayZone outlet using a payment card which can be ordered by telephone from the Council Tax Section on 01284 757275. You can also pay over the phone using our 24 hour automated payment line 01284 757000 or online using our online payments system. The easiest way to pay is by direct debit and you can download the direct debit mandate form from our online payments page or set it up over the phone by calling 01284 757275 during office hours.

You can quickly see if you could get help by filling in the online QuickCalc for Council Tax Benefit. You can then download the claim form if you wish to make a claim. If you have further queries you can contact the Benefits Service direct on 01284 757269 or 01440 765109 or look at the Benefits Service frequently asked questions or forms and leaflets list.

If you do not qualify but you have another adult in the household who is not your partner and who is on a low income, you may be able to claim second adult rebate by completing part of the Housing and Council Benefit claim form as shown on page three of that application form.

Council Tax - when is it due?

It is normally paid in ten installments from 1 April to 1 January. You will receive 14 days notice before the installments begin.

What if I do not pay on time?

You will have a few more days to pay but you may be sent a reminder after 10 days. If you pay this within seven days the installment arrangement will continue. You should try to pay before a reminder is sent to you as each one sent counts against you under the Council Tax rules.

If you ignore the reminder a summons will be issued.

What happens if I receive two reminders?

No further reminders will be sent in that year and you will need to pay the balance within seven days. If you do not do this a final notice is sent.

What is a final notice?

No installment arrangement is allowed and you will be asked to pay the full amount for the whole year. If you contact us we may allow you to bring the account up to date and then you may continue to pay your installments on time and a summons will not be issued; but if you do not pay in full or do not contact us and agree an arrangement, a summons will be issued without further notice.

What happens if I am sent a summons?

An additional court cost of at least £50 will be added to the amount owed.

If you do not pay the balance plus the court costs before the court date a Liability Order will be sought from the Magistrates Court, which allows the council powers to recover the amount owed in a number of ways.
An attachment of benefit may be made if you are not working, The Dept of Work and Pensions may be asked to deduct for example a regular sum from your weekly benefit payments.
If you are working an attachment of earnings may be sought from your wages or salary.
Your account may be sent to a firm of registered bailiffs who may make an arrangement with you. If this cannot be done they may remove your goods. They will add their costs to the amount owed.
The council may apply to the court for bankruptcy, or place a charging order on your property.
If all other options have failed then a summons may be issued for you to attend the Magistrates Court where a warrant of committal to prison may be made.

If you fall into arrears it is important to contact the Recovery Team on 01284 757295. The sooner you contact us the sooner the opportunity we will have to make an arrangement to pay.

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