Paying your Council Tax

• How can I make a balance enquiry?
• How can I pay my Council Tax bill?
• What happens if I can not pay my Council Tax?
• Can I get help to pay my Council Tax?
• I'm over 65, will I be entitled to receive £200.00 towards my bill?
• Do I still have to pay anything if my property is empty?
• Can I have my bill reduced?
• There is a disabled person living in the dwelling, is there any other reduction available?
• I do not need all the services provided by the City/County Council, can I have a reduction?
• Why has my bill changed?
• Why have I had a review form?
• What happens if I no longer own or rent the property?

 

How Can I Pay My Council Tax Bill?

There a variety of ways to pay your council tax bill, and you can now pay council tax online 

There a number of other ways to pay including:

• Direct Debit is the only method that guarantees an immediate refund in the event of an error.  You can choose to  pay on either the 2nd, 9th, 18th or 25th of the month. You can set up a Direct Debit over the telephone on 01244 402471,  please have your bank account details with you when you call. You can download a form from the Council Tax Forms Page
•  Allpay Outlets (External Link)
  The Allpay system allows bills to be paid in more than 40,000 post offices, shops, garages and similar outlets displaying the following symbols 
  To use this system you must have a payment card. Please contact us at the address at the bottom of this page to apply for a card.
• Automated telephone payments
  This service is available 24 hours a day 365 days of the year. You will need your Council Tax account reference to hand, as well as your card details.
  
  We accept payments via Maestro, Visa Delta, Solo, Visa Credit/Visa Debit or Master Card. We do not accept Visa Electron as you need to be present when making payments on this card. To make a payment using this method please ring 01244 345226 and follow the recorded instructions.
  
  You can telephone the Council Tax Section 01244 402471 between 8.30am - 5.00pm, Monday to Friday. 
  
• Bank (standing order)
  Please make sure you quote your account number.
  
• Telephone banking.
  If your bank or building society allows you to pay over the telephone, you can also make payment to us.
  Our sort code is 08-92-74
  Our account number is 61136227
  You will also need to quote the reference number from your Council Tax bill.
  
  Please note this method will take longer to reach your account and suggest you send payment 5 working days prior to the due date to avoid any recovery action. 
  
• Post Office (girobank)
  Please make sure they quote your account number.
  
• Post
  Send your cheque/Postal Order, made payable to Chester City Council, to the address below.
  
  Please remember to put your reference number on the back.
  

 

What Happens If I Cannot Pay My Council Tax?

If you have problems paying your Council Tax bill, please let us know immediately.

We will look into your case and where possible, offer you another payment arrangement. Sometimes this may be subject to costs depending on the situation with your account.

It is vital that you contact us as soon as possible, as the longer you leave it and the bigger the debt becomes, the harder it will be to make an acceptable arrangement to clear the debt.

Can I get help to pay my Council Tax?

Depending on your income and family circumstances, you may be entitled to help with your Council Tax, this help is called Council Tax Benefit. When awarded this benefit will be paid direct to your Council Tax bill.  You must still pay your bill until your claim has been assessed, if you have overpaid, it will be refunded to you.  If you don't pay we may take recovery action

 

I Am Over 65, Will I Be Entitled To Receive £200.00 Towards My Bill?

• If you are 65 or over and you don't get the guarantee element of Pension Credit during the qualifying week 19-25 September 2005, you will receive a payment of £200 per household.
• If you are aged 70 or over and do receive the guarantee element of Pension Credit during the qualifying week 19-25 September 2005, you will receive a payment of £50 to help with living expenses.

The Age-related Payments will be paid automatically with the Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2005/06. Both payments are tax-free and will not affect your state pension or any benefits you may be entitled to.

For further information please visit the Winter Fuel Payment Helpline Website (external link)

Telephone 0845 9 15 15 15 You should have your National Insurance Number ready when you call.

 

My Property is Empty Or Will Be Empty; Do I Still Have to Pay Anything?

Reduced charges can be claimed in certain cases:

• When a property is completely vacated and all furniture and effects removed, a charge free period of up to six months is available.  This will end before the six months are up if the property is occupied or furnished.  After the six months, a charge of 50% will become payable even if the property remains unfurnished.
• If the property is furnished but no one is resident then 75% charge will apply.
• If the property is empty and unfurnished and undergoing major repairs or structural alteration, you may get up to 12 month's free, followed by 50% charge after the 12 months has run out.
• If a property is empty because someone has died, there is a charge free period until probate has been granted.  Further information is needed after probate to decide the liability and charge.

If you are leaving a property empty and unfurnished, please contact us, and we will be able to tell you if any other exemption can be given.

Please note: All exemptions must be applied for in writing.

 

Can I Have My Bill Reduced?

There are various ways that you may get a reduction on the account:-

A reduction will be awarded if all residents except one fulfil the conditions.  This equals 25% off the bill from the effective date.

*An exemption will be awarded for those marked by a star (*)  if all residents fulfil the conditions. This usually equals 100% off the bill from the effective date.

• If you are the only person over the age of 18
• Severely mentally impaired (and the liable person)*
• A person over 18 who you get child benefit for
• Students*
• Student nurses*
• Apprentices
• Youth training trainees
• Hospital patients*
• Patients in homes in England or Wales*
• Care workers
• School/College leavers
• Members and dependants of visiting forces*
• Members of international headquarters and defence organisations
• Members of religious communities
• Diplomats*

 

Downloadable forms are available on the Council Tax Forms Page

The qualifying criteria is given on each form.  All discounts and disregards must be applied for in writing and must include the proof we need.

 

 

There Is A Disabled Person Living in the Home.  Is There Any Other Reduction Available?

There is further reduction available if:

You have had your home adapted for wheelchair use. 
OR
You have a room that is not a bathroom, kitchen or toilet, and is used for meeting the needs of the disabled person
OR
There is another kitchen or bathroom which is not the only kitchen or bathroom within the home and is needed to meet the needs of the disabled person.

You can either download a form from our Council Tax Forms page or contact us to request one.

Once we have your form, we will send an inspector to the property to verify the claim. If you are successful, you pay the equivalent to one band lower than the property you are in, e.g. property is band D you will pay band C.

 

I Do Not Need All The Services Provided By The City/County Council, Can I Have A Reduction?

There is no reduction available if you do not use or receive a service that is provided, for example, if you do not have your bins collected.

If you have a complaint to make about not receiving a service, you should contact the service provider immediately.

For more information please see the Your Council Tax page

 

Why Has My Bill Changed?

You will be issued with a green bill if it is an opening bill and a purple bill if it is an adjustment bill.

If you have had a purple adjusted bill, check the top left hand corner of the bill.  There will be a 'Reason for Bill' comment here e.g. Council Tax Benefit, Single Person Discount, changed payment method etc.

Why have I had a review form?

If you are claiming a discount or exemption we have to check that you are still entitled to it.

We do an annual review of all discounts and exemptions, to keep your discount/exemption, you must sign and return the form as soon as you get it. 

If you do not return your form within the time limit stated on the form the discount will be cancelled.

 

What Happens If I No Longer Own Or Rent The Property?

If your liability to pay the Council Tax for a property changes, you must contact us immediately.  We need to know:

• The date you left the premises
• The date the premises was sold or the tenancy ended
• If there is a difference between the date you left and the completion/tenancy end date
• If the property will be furnished/unfurnished (you may be able to claim an exemption for this period, and will be asked to confirm unfurnished status in writing)
• Your forwarding address for correspondence
• Details of the new owner/landlord or agents details if you were renting

 

Should you need further information about anything on this page please contact us at:

Council Tax Section
Chester City Council
The Forum
Chester
CH1 2HS
Telephone  01244 402471
email: counciltax@chester.gov.uk.