OPTION 1: Pay your Council Tax online

 

Debit or credit card instant online payment:

Benefits to you:

• Payment can be made now; or at any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• Secure payment provided by Capita Software Services’ who are certified by Visa and MasterCard as a (PCI DSS) Level 1 payment processor

You will need:

• Council Tax account number
• Debit/credit card details

 

Pay your Council Tax using a debit or credit card online here

 

Set up an online Direct Debit agreement:

Benefits to you:

• Choose to pay over 12 instalments instead of 10; reducing your monthly payment amount
• Choose to pay on either 1st, 15th or 28th day of the month; whichever is most convenient for you
• Set this agreement up now; or at any time 24 hours a day, seven days a week
• No queues at the bank or post office
• No cheques to write
• No postage
• Efficient, meaning lower collection costs and lower council tax rises
• No need to remember to pay
• 10 working days notice of any changes

You will need:

• Bank or Building Society Name
• Bank Account Number
• Sort Code
• Branch Address
• Council Tax account number

Your cheque book or debit card contains all the bank details that you will need.

 

Set up a direct debit online here

 

OPTION 2: Pay your Council Tax over the phone

 

Automated service

By using a debit or credit card.  Payments can be made via our automated service 24 hours per day, seven days a week by calling 0845 600 6400.

you will need your:

• Council Tax account number
• Debit/credit card details

 

By Direct Debit

By Direct Debit where payments are automatically collected from your bank or building society on either the 1st, 15th or the 28th of the month. 

Just telephone our Council Tax Team on 01670 624884 (Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm)

In order to set up your Direct Debit instruction you will need to provide the following information through the setting up procedure (your cheque book or debit card contains all the bank details that you will need):

• Bank or Building Society Name
• Bank Account Number
• Sort Code
• Branch Address.
• Council Tax account number

 

If you choose to pay by Direct Debit you are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

 

The Direct Debit Guarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all Banks and Building Societies that take part in the Direct Debit Scheme.
The efficiency and security of the Scheme is monitored and protected by your own Bank or Building Society. If the amounts to be paid or the payment dates change Northumberland County Council will notify you ten working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.
If an error is made by Northumberland County Council or your Bank or Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid.
You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by writing to your Bank or Building Society.

 

The benefits of Direct Debit are

• Choice of payment date, 1st, 15th or 28th of the month
• No queues at the bank or post office
• No cheques to write
• No postage
• Efficient, meaning lower collection costs and lower Council Tax rises
• No need to remember to pay
• 10 working days notice of any changes
• The option to pay over 12 instalments instead of 10

 

Direct payment over the phone

Just telephone our Contact Centre on 0845 600 6400 (Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm)

you will need your:

• Council Tax account number
• debit/credit card details

 

OPTION 3: Pay your Council Tax at any Post Office or Paypoint outlet 

At any Post Office or paypoint outlet by taking the bill so that your payment can be processed. The Post Office or paypoint outlet will scan the barcode on your Council Tax bill. 

You can either pay the amount of your monthly instalments or the full amount due.

There is no fee for this service.

Details of your nearest Paypoint outlet.

Payments can take up to 3 working days to show on your Council Tax account.

 

OPTION 4: Pay your Council Tax by post

 

Direct Debit mandate

If you prefer you can download a Council Tax Direct Debit Mandate by clicking here. 

You may then either hand your completed mandate to any one of our Information Centres, or post the mandate to:

Revenues Section,
Northumberland County Council,
Wansbeck Square,
Ashington,
Northumberland,
NE63 9XL

 

Payment by post:

Cheques and postal orders made payable to ‘Northumberland County Council’ can be sent to the

Council Tax Section,
Northumberland County Council,
Wansbeck Square,
Ashington,
Northumberland,
NE63 9XL.

Receipts will only be issued on request.

When paying by post please take into account the time it will take for the payment to reach us and for the cheque to clear.

 

OPTION 5: Pay your Council Tax at one of our Customer Information Centres

At customer information centres you may pay by cash or cheque. Please take your Council Tax bill as the barcode on the bill is used to process the payment. 

 

General Council Tax payment advice

 

Option to pay by 12 monthly instalments

The option to pay over 12 months for council tax and business rates is now available. For Direct Debit you can opt to pay on 1^st, 15^th or 28^th of the month.  For CASH payers we can now offer 12 months but only with an instalment date of 1^st of the month. I f you wish to opt to pay by 12 instalments please contact us or you can set up an on-line Direct Debit.

Please pay promptly

Please pay your Council Tax promptly to avoid legal action.

Unless payment is made by direct debit instalments are due on the 1st of the month.  Sufficient time should always be allowed for the post or banking system if payments are made that way.

 

If you fail to pay

Northumberland County Council uses the Council Tax it collects to fund essential services across Northumberland.

We will take action to recover money owed where people do not pay their Council Tax on time.

If payment is not made after a reminder notice has been issued the council can apply to the magistrates court for the issue of a summons.  If payment is still not made, the court can issue a liability order, which allows the council to enforce payment by either:

• Deducting money from your earnings;
• Deducting money from Income Support; Jobseekers Allowance and Employment Support Allowance;
• Asking a bailiff to collect the money or remove goods to the value of the debt; or
• Issuing a petition for bankruptcy

 

If you are in financial difficulty

If you are having difficulty meeting your Council Tax payments please contact us immediately.
Do not wait for recovery action to begin.

You may be entitled to Council Tax benefit; even if you are working or have savings you may be entitled to help with your Council Tax.

For further advice and to find out if you are eligible to apply for Council Tax benefit you can contact our Benefit Section on 0845 600 6400.

 

• Request online billing

Council Tax payers have the option to receive and view their Council Tax bills on line.

An email will be sent every time a bill is issued on the account. This  will save the authority time and money on printing and postage costs while enabling customers to receive the bill as soon as it is available.

For further information relating to online billing click here

New to the area - what to do

If you have just moved into the area and require information on how to register to pay your Council Tax please click here.

 

How can I contact the Council Tax Section?

If you require any further information regarding the above or need to inform us of any other change of circumstances please contact us by:

• Email: counciltax@northumberland.gov.uk
• eForm: View council tax enquiry form here
• Telephone: 0845 600 6400        
• Write to: Council Tax Section, Wansbeck Square, Ashington, NE63 9XL
• Visit: View our customer information centre locations here