What happens if I don't pay?

If you do not pay your Council Tax on time, you will be issued the following:

Reminder

Council Tax must be paid in accordance with the instructions on the bill to avoid recovery. When one instalment is missed, a Reminder will be issued.If this is not brought up to date, a Summons is issued. If it is brought up to date -and kept up to date - no further action will be taken.

Second reminder

If Council Tax is brought up to date but subsequent instalments are defaulted upon, a Second Reminder is issued. If this is not brought up to date, a Summons is issued. If it is brought up to date - and kept up to date - no further action will be taken.

Final notice

If Council Tax is brought up to date but subsequent instalments are defaulted upon, a Final Notice is issued. The Final Notice allows 7 days to pay the balance due for the year in full (it is not enough once a Final Notice has been issued just to bring the instalments up to date).

If this is not paid in full within 7 days, a Summons is issued.

Any summons issued will incur costs of £50.00.

If payment in full is not received before the Liability Order hearing date then an additional £50.00 costs will be charged.

Please note that paying within the month will not always avoid recovery, it is important to make payment on the date shown on the bill.

The easiest way to remember to pay your Council Tax on time is to pay by Direct Debit, whereby the Council remembers for you.

You can sign up for Direct Debit over the phone by calling Local Taxation on 01723 232378.

Direct Debit gives you the opportunity to pay on the 1st, 15th or 25th of the month, and to spread your payments over 10 or even 12 months.

Council Tax Summons

If you have received a Reminder, but your Council Tax remains unpaid, the Council will take further recovery action to obtain the monies due. This is done through the Magistrates Court and you will be sent a Summons which will tell you how much money you owe and when the hearing will be.

You will be charged costs for the issue of the Summons.

If you can't pay the amount in full, please contact Local Taxation by telephone on 01723 232378 or by email local.taxation@scarborough.gov.uk. It is unlikely that the Summons will be withdrawn but the Council can agree a payment plan with you that means you will not need to attend the Magistrates Court hearing.

You can attend Magistrates Court on the date given on the Summons, and you can speak to the Magistrates but Council Officers will be at Court if you want to discuss payment of the money you owe. You do not have to go into Court if you don't want to.

At the Court Hearing the Council will ask the Magistrates to issue a Liability Order against you. This can be done even if you are not present. You will be charged costs for the issue of a Liability Order.

The Liability Order gives the Council legal powers to recover the money you owe.

These powers are:

To request information: The person subject to the Liability Order must supply information regarding their employment and income details. It is a criminal offence not to supply this information once requested, or to give false information;

To attach earnings: The Council can order your employer to take money from your wages or salary. This is then sent to the Council to pay your debt. Your employer can charge you £1.00 each time a deduction is made. Your employer must inform you each time an amount is deducted. It is an offence for your employer not to comply with the order;

To make deductions from your Income Support: The Council can ask the Benefit Agency to take money from your Income Support. This is then sent to the Council to pay your debt;

Charging Order: The Council can apply to the County Court for a legal charge to be put on your property for the amount due. The Council will automatically receive the money plus costs when the property is sold;