Instalments and Arrears
Council Tax is set
by Allerdale Borough Council and annual bills are sent in March
each year. It must be paid monthly (instalments due in
April must be paid within April, May within May, etc) to avoid
receiving a reminder or a summons. Block payments can be made, but
must be paid in advance.
The Council is 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 it is not paid you will receive a summons
which will cost you £60.00.
If payment of the first reminder is made you can continue to pay
monthly. However, 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 - which
has to be paid in full within 14 days to avoid a summons being
issued.
A summons currently costs £60.00 to issue. The summons details
how much you owe and tells you when the hearing is to be held. At
the hearing we will ask the Magistrates to grant a Liability Order.
Once this has been granted we are able to implement recovery action
to clear the debt.
Recovery action can take the form of:
- An agreed payment arrangement with you (see
request for payment arrangement forms below)
- Attachment of earnings,
- Deductions from Income Support, Jobseekers
Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance
- Instruct bailiffs
You can go to prison for up to 90 days for not paying your
Council Tax!
Anyone having difficulty paying their Council Tax should always
contact Allerdale Borough Council as soon as possible (see contacts
below). We are always available to offer help and advice.
Don't wait until it's too late!
Contacts:
1. How to pay an instalment or advice if you are unable to
pay an instalment: 01900 702530
2. If you have had a summons and want to discuss payment
options: 01900 702670
3. Or contact us by e-mail on revenues@allerdale.gov.uk