Paying council tax
Summary
Paying by direct debit
Direct debit is a safe, convenient and inexpensive way to pay your council tax. Paying by direct debit takes away worries about remembering to pay at the right time, does not involve queuing at a bank, building society or post office counter and does not involve the writing out and posting of cheques.
Downloads
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Further information
Other ways of paying your council tax
- Pay your council tax online
- Pay your council tax by standing order
- Pay your council tax by phone, by post or in person
We are now able to issue council tax bill notifications by e-mail. To find out more about this see the 'Downloads' section above.
What happens if you don’t pay on time
Regulations for council tax payments require 10 monthly instalments from April to January. The number of instalments will be reduced where bills are produced later in the year.
You are required to make your payments by the due dates shown on your bills. It is essential that payments are actually received by us on or before that due date.
Where payments are not received on time recovery action will begin without delay.
The maximum number of reminder notices you will receive will be two. If you continue to pay late after two reminders, you will receive a final notice and you will lose your right to pay by instalments. If the full amount on the final notice is not paid a summons will be issued and you will be charged legal costs of £35.
If you receive a summons
If you receive a summons and are unable to pay the full amount shown, you should contact us immediately to discuss your account. We will be able to advise you of the best course of action and discuss a payment arrangement.
If the amount remains unpaid we will obtain a liability order and further legal costs of £15.00 will be charged. You will have the opportunity to attend the court, although the hearing will only determine your liability not your ability to pay.
Where payment has not been made, or a payment arrangement has not been agreed, a 14 day notice will be sent to you. Failure to respond to this will result in further recovery action being taken. This may include attachment to your earnings, attachment of benefit, the use of bailiffs, bankruptcy, or ultimately committal to prison.
Requests for financial information
We can legally request certain financial information from your debtors, including employment details. Where this information is not supplied we may take further action in the magistrates court to get these details, which may result in a fine and additional costs.
If you have made an arrangement to pay, the liability order will be held until payment has been made in full.
If you are unable to pay your council tax please contact us and we will do our best to help.
Related pages on this website
Contact us
| contact officer/team: | Billing Assistant |
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| web: | online enquiry form |
| email: | counciltax@s-norfolk.gov.uk |
| freephone: | 0808 178 7141 |
| telephone: | 01508 533633 |
| minicom/textphone: | 01508 533622 |
| address: | South Norfolk Council South Norfolk House Swan Lane Long Stratton Norwich NR15 2XE |
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If you need information in large print, audio cassette, braille, translation (written or verbal) or signed interpretation, let us know when you contact us.
