How we recover unpaid Council Tax
Council Tax Summons
Why you will have received it
You will receive a summons if:
- you didn't pay the correct amount as per the instalments shown on your bill
- you didn't pay as per the due date shown on your bill on more than one occasion
- your payments didn't reach your Council Tax account by the due date when the summons was issued
What you need to do
The summons will give details of the amount of unpaid Council Tax plus our costs (£80) and the date of the court hearing.
If you agree that you are responsible to pay the debt, you can either:
- pay the full balance including the summons costs before the Court date to avoid further costs being added
- contact the recovery team immediately to discuss a short-term payment arrangement. If you are unable to pay the debt over 6 months, or before the end of the financial year, complete an income and expenditure form with your offer of payment and email it to the recovery team (contact details can be found on the summons)
If you do not take action, we will apply to the Magistrates’ Court for a Liability Order.
The Liability Order will ask you to pay the full balance within 14 days.
If you don't take action
If you do not take action, we will apply to the Magistrates’ Court for a Liability Order.
The Liability Order will ask you to pay the full balance within 14 days.
Disputing a Summons
If you are disputing a Summons, then contact the recovery team immediately before the court hearing date so that we can resolve any issues you may have.
Contact details for the recovery team can be found on the Summons.