I have received a Council Tax reminder

If you have not paid your Council Tax instalments by the due date shown on the Council Tax bill, a reminder will be sent. All Council Tax bills provide details of when and how payment should be made. This may include an instalment plan, and a single payment.

The purpose of the reminder is to inform you that your account is in arrears, and must be brought up to date.

Information on the reminder will also tell you about the actions which can be taken if the outstanding balance is not paid. If you do not pay the amount stated on your reminder, your full balance will become payable. You will also be sent a Magistrate Court Summons, and costs of £48.00 being added to your account. At the Court hearing the Council will ask the Court to grant a Liability Order against you for the dull balance outstanding. At that time, a further £26.00 will be added to your account. 

If you have paid the outstanding amount since the date of issue shown on the reminder you need take no further action.

• You may be able to set up a direct debit, this is the most convenient way to pay your Council Tax and you can choose to pay over 10 or 12 months on the 1st, 7th, 15th or 25th. You can arrange to do this over the telephone.
• If you think you have already paid the amount by debit card, cheque, by Direct Debit or Standing Order, please check that the amount has been taken out of your bank account. If your payment has been sent please contact us on 01302 734454 with the details of how and when you made your payment and the account information. If you have paid by cash you will need to provide a receipt as proof of payment.

• By debit card over the phone or internet, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week on 0333 2000 324 or at www.doncaster.gov.uk, simply look for, Pay for it, then select Council Tax and follow the instructions
• You can pay by cash or Debit card at any Post Office at no additional cost using the bar code on the correspondence. The bar code on any correspondence sent to you allows you to pay cash at any outlet where you see the paypoint sign. To find your nearest paypoint locations visit the Paypoint website. There is no cost for using this service.

Please note, a payment shows on your Council Tax account when the Council receives it. You should take this into account especially if you have paid by cheque, by Standing Order, at the Post Office or via paypoint.

You still need to pay your current instalments while your claim is being considered. This is because your claim may not be successful.

If you would like to check the progress of your claim please contact the Benefits office in the first instance on 01302 735336.

Contact us at the earliest opportunity. Don`t wait until you receive a Summons to court, as this will add additional costs to your account. You may be able to pay over a longer period and at different intervals without the need for further action.

• If specific payment terms can`t be agreed then recovery action will continue. This means that a Summons and Liability Order will be obtained. This allows the council to take further action in the future if payments are not made or if you default on any agreement to pay including costs. If further action is necessary, as long as you keep in contact, Council Tax staff will work with you to find a solution and will treat you with courtesy and respect at all times.
• Please provide information about your income and expenditure. This helps Council Tax staff to make a payment arrangement that takes into account your ability to pay. Have you considered claiming Local Council Tax Support if you are on a low income? If you would like an estimate of how much housing benefit you might qualify for, please use one of the government`s recommended benefit calculators.
• It is in your best interests to keep in contact and adhere to any arrangement you have been given.

You should be aware that once a summons and Liability order have been obtained, if it then becomes necessary to pass your account to an Enforcement Agent for further action, the following costs would be added to your account. It is therefore in your interests to make contact as early as possible:

a) Notice of Enforcement (instruction to take action) £75.00 per Liability Order

b) First visit by an Enforcement Agent – fixed fee of £235.00 plus 7.5% of any balance owed over £1,500.00

c) Sale and removal of goods – fixed fee of £110.00 plus 7.5% of any balance owed over £1,500.00 plus reasonable storage and auctioneers fees.

If you do not pay your reminder as instructed on your letter, a summons letter will be sent to you, to attend a Liability Order hearing at Doncaster Magistrates Court. Your full balance will become due and costs of £48.00 will be added to your account.

City of Doncaster Council is committed to helping Taxpayers in genuine financial difficulty but will pursue those who refuse to pay.

Following the the Court granting of a Liability Order against you, further action can include deducting amounts from your earnings or a visit from an Enforcement Agent. Don’t let this happen to you, contact Council Tax now on 01302 734454