Launch Recite Me assistive technology

Accessibility tool

What happens if you do not pay your Council Tax (before a summons)

What happens if you do not pay your Council Tax (before a summons)

You must pay your Council Tax on or before the dates shown on your bill.

If you do not pay, we will begin our recovery process. This may lead to extra costs and legal action.

We will usually contact you first by text or email where possible to reduce paper and postage.

How to pay

You should pay your outstanding balance immediately.

You cannot make late or partial payments using Direct Debit.

Pay Council Tax

If you cannot pay in full:

If we are able to agree an arrangement, we will ask the magistrate to grant a liability order. If the liability order is granted, £30.00 costs will be added to your bill, but no further action will be taken as long as the payments are made as agreed. 

If you contact us after the court date, we may make a suitable payment arrangement with you unless we have started any recovery action against you. 

Everyone named on the bill is responsible for the full amount.

This is called joint and several liability, which means:

  • each person can be asked to pay the full balance
  • we do not split the bill between people

If you want to divide the cost, you must arrange this yourselves.

If payment is not made, we can take action against anyone named on the bill, even if partial payments have been made.

Reminder Notices

If you miss a payment, pay late, or pay less than required, we will send you a reminder.

  • You can receive up to two reminders in a financial year
  • You must bring your account up to date immediately

You cannot make a late or partial payment by Direct Debit.

Pay Council Tax

If you recently paid, your reminder may have been issued before we received your payment. You can check your balance using MyCouncil Tax Online.

If your payment is missing and should have reached us, contact us 

You must continue to pay your instalments even if:

  • you have applied for Council Tax Reduction, or
  • you have appealed your Council Tax charge or band

 

Final notice

If you miss payments three times, we will send you a final notice.

This means:

  • you lose the right to pay by instalments
  • the full remaining balance for the year becomes due

If you cannot pay in full, you should:

If you do not pay or agree a payment plan, we will issue a summons.

Magistrates’ court summons

If your account remains unpaid, we will issue a court summons.

Once this happens:

  • the full balance becomes due immediately
  • court costs are added to your account
  • you can no longer pay by instalments

If you pay the full amount (including costs) before the hearing, no further action will be taken.

For more information, see: Court summons and enforcement