[Skip to content]

.

What happens if you don't pay your Council Tax

 You must pay your council tax in instalments and your council tax bill tells you when your payments are due.

 

  • If you have problems paying your instalment on time, you should contact us immediately.

 

  • If you do not pay your instalment when it is due, we will send you a reminder which says you must pay all the instalments you owe within seven days.

 

  • If you do not, you will lose the right to pay by instalments and you will have to pay the full amount on your account immediately.

 

We will only send you two reminders a year

 

  • If you do not pay the amount on the reminder, we will start legal proceedings to get back the money you owe us.

 

  • If we do this, you will have to pay extra costs. We will apply to the Magistrates' Court for a summons to be issued against you for the full amount of council tax you owe. This costs us £60.00 which we will add to the amount you owe.

 

  • If we still don't receive a payment, a liability order will be granted against you. 

 

   Once the Liability Order is made by the Court, the Council can choose any of the following methods to enforce payment:

 

 

  • Instruct a bailiff to seize and sell your belongings.  The bailiff will add fees to the amount you owe.

 

  • Ask the Department of Work & Pensions to make deductions from your Jobseekers Allowance, Income Support or Employment Support Allowance. (Currently £3.40 per week)  

 

 

  • Apply to the County Court to make you bankrupt

 

You can also be asked to provide information about your employment and income. Failure to supply this information is a criminal offence and the Council may prosecute you in the Magistrates Court. The penalty if you are convicted is a fine of up to £500.00 plus an order to pay the Council’s court costs.

  

If you have financial difficulties, please contact the Revenues Team where staff are ready to help you.

 

Please click to make a payment on-line 

 

Contact us