If you miss a Council Tax instalment you will need to make a payment as soon as possible to avoid further action.
You can make a one off payment via make an online payment.
The easiest way to pay your Council Tax is to set up a Direct Debit.
If you are struggling to keep up with payments
You can ask us to consider a payment plan if you are struggling to keep up with Council Tax payments or have fallen behind. We may be able to recalculate or extend instalments. We will do our best to work with you where possible.
To ask for a payment plan, use our online form. You cannot use this form if you have been issued with a summons for non-payment or if court action has already taken place.
Complete our payment plan form
If you have had a court summons or we have obtained a Liability Order against you
Use our special payment arrangement request form to make a payment proposal if you cannot pay in full by the date given on the summons or pay the instalments by the date set out.
Do not complete this form if your case is with an enforcement agent (Bristow and Sutor or Jacobs). Contact them direct to arrange payment.
Complete our special payment arrangement request form
Previous years arrears
You may have to complete both forms if you have previous years arrears.
Financial welfare team
If you want help to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to contact the Financial Welfare Team who will be happy to assist.
Request financial welfare supportIf someone else is helping you sort out your Council Tax
Use our Authority to disclose form to give us permission to talk to someone who is helping you with your Council Tax.
Authorise disclosure of council tax informationCouncil Tax and ‘Freeman of Land’
Council Tax legality and 'Freeman of the land' withholding payment of Council Tax and the legality.
What you should do if:
You have had an Attachment of Earnings Order
Under Council Tax legislation the Council can ask your employer to make deductions from your net salary (after your tax and national insurance deductions) to collect your Council Tax debt.
The amount deducted from your salary is calculated using the percentages set in Council Tax legislation:
Weekly Pay
| Net Weekly Pay | Percentage Deduction | Approx. Deduction Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less than £75.00 | 0% | 0 |
| £75.01 - £135.00 | 3% | £2.25 - £4.05 |
| £135.01 - £185.00 | 5% | £6.75 to £9.25 |
| £185.01 - £225.00 | 7% | £12.95 to £15.75 |
| £225.01 - £355.00 | 12% | £27.00 to £42.60 |
| £355.01 - £505.00 | 17% | £60.35 to £85.85 |
| More than £505.01 | 17% in respect of the first £505.00 then 50% of the remainder | Minimum £85.85 |
Monthly Pay
| Net Monthly Pay | Percentage Deduction | Approx. Deduction Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Less than £300.00 | 0% | £.0.00 |
| £300.01 - £550.00 | 3% | £9.00 - £16.50 |
| £550.01 - £740.00 | 5% | £27.50 to £37.00 |
| £740.01 - £900.00 | 7% | £51.80 to £63.00 |
| £900.01 - £1420.00 | 12% | £108.00 to £170.40 |
| £1420.01 - £2020.00 | 17% | £241.40 to £343.40 |
| More than £2020.01 | 17% in respect of the first £505.00 then 50% of the remainder | Minimum £343.40 |
The Council can send your employer a maximum of two Attachments of Earnings Orders if you owe more than one Council Tax debt. The second Attachment of Earnings Order may be deducted at a lower rate than the first.
If your wage includes overtime, commission, unsociable hours, or bonus payments the amount deducted from you is likely to increase.
Your employer has a legal responsibility to make the deductions from your salary. Unless you pay the debt in full, you cannot ask your employer to stop or reduce the deductions or make an alternate arrangement to pay the debt.
Debt Recovery and Vulnerability pilot scheme
Cheshire East Council is taking part in a 'Debt Recovery and Vulnerability' pilot scheme under the Digital Economy Act 2017. In line with this legislation, if you have Council Tax debt, your details may be shared with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to help us identify financial vulnerability and recover Council Tax debts more effectively (for example deducting money from your wages).
Governance documents
- Business case (PDF, 265KB)
- Data Protection Impact Assessment (PDF, 420KB)
- Personal data flow diagram (PDF, 135KB)
Free debt advice
You can get free advice on managing debt from the following places:
| Organisation | Contact details |
|---|---|
| StepChange Debt Charity | StepChange Phone: 0800 138 1111 Monday-Friday: 8am - 8pm Saturday-8am: 4pm |
| Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau | Cheshire East Citizens Advice Bureau Email: advice@cecab.org.uk Phone: 0808 812 6186 Monday-Thursday: 9.30am - 4pm Friday: 9:30am to 1pm |
| Debt help | CAP UK | CAP UK Debt help Phone: 0800 328 0006 |
| National Debtline | National Debtline Phone: 0808 808 4000 Monday-Friday: 9am - 8pm Saturday: 9:30am - 1pm Webchat |
| PayPlan | PayPlan offers phone and webchat services Telephone: 0800 280 2816 Monday-Friday: 8am - 8pm Saturday: 9am - 3pm |
| Community Money Advice | Community Money Advice offers phone, email and face to face services in England, Wales and Scotland. Find a Community Money Advice centre in your area. |
| MoneyPlus Advice | MoneyPlus Advice offers phone and email services. They also have an online debt advice service. Telephone: 0161 837 4754 Monday-Thursday: 8am - 8pm Friday: 8am - 4pm |
| Money Wellness | Money Wellness offers phone services. Telephone: 0161 518 8282 Monday-Friday: 9am - 8pm |
| Debt Advice Foundation | Debt Advice Foundation offers phone and webchat services. Telephone: 0800 043 40 50 Monday-Friday: 8am - 6pm |
Breathing space
If you are struggling with debt and financial management, you may be eligible for a period of respite where your creditors cannot take action to collect your debt known as ‘Breathing Space’. This is not something we can arrange for you. You should contact one of the organisations listed below for more information on the qualification criteria and details on how to apply:
If you enter a period of Breathing Space, most of your debts will be protected to allow you time to enter a debt solution such as a Debt Relief Order, Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) or repayment plan.
During Breathing Space, you may still receive Council Tax bills if:
- you move house
- your entitlement to a Council Tax reduction changes
- an additional charge is applied to an unoccupied property
- a new Financial Year begins
You will need to make payment as requested on the bill, but do not need to worry about any debt you have included in your Breathing Space application.
Once your Breathing Space ends, if you have not entered a formal debt solution, we will write to you. To avoid further recovery action you should Contact the Council Tax Team to discuss your case immediately.
Contact Council Tax
If you're unable to use our forms or have any questions about your bill you can call the Council Tax Customer Service Team on 0300 123 5013 between 8:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.