Late and non-payment of Council Tax
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.
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.
Previous years arrears
You may have to complete both forms if you have previous years arrears.
If 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.
Authority to disclose
Council 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:
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You believe your Council Tax bill is incorrect
You have moved house
*You must continue to make payment in line with your current Council Tax bill until you receive a new one*
You believe you are eligible to a reduction from your Council Tax
*When applying for a reduction you must continue to make payment in line with your current Council Tax bill until you receive a new one*
You are awaiting a new bill following a change in circumstances
- Continue to make payments in line with your current Council Tax bill until you receive a new one
You have had a reminder
You have had a final notice
You have had a Summons for a Court Hearing
Why have you had the Summons?
A Summons Notice has been served as you have failed to make full payment of the preceding Reminder, Second Reminder or Final Notice. If you believe you have paid the previous notice in full, contact the Council Tax team via our form and select the option ‘Reminder/final notice paid in full before summons issued’.
From May 2025 summons costs will be increasing to £90.00, with liability order costs remaining at £20.00.
What to do now
- Make Payment of the full amount of the notice before the Court Hearing to avoid further action and additional costs
- If you are unable to pay in full, make payment of the first instalment at the bottom of the Summons by the specified date, this will trigger the remaining instalments on your account. See our Paying your Council Tax page for ways to make payment
- If you are unable to make payment in full or comply with the instalment plan on the Summons by the specified date, submit your payment proposal using the special payment arrangement request form.
You do not need to attend the Court Hearing. The Council will obtain the Liability Order in your absence.
For further information please visit our Court Hearing page.
You want to make an offer towards your arrears
If you are unable to pay your arrears in full we may be able to consider a payment arrangement. Submit your proposal using the special payment arrangement request form. We will not be able to consider this if your case is with an enforcement agent, you will need to contact them direct.
If you don’t make payment
- The Council may pass your debt to an Enforcement Agent for collection
- The Council may deduct money from your wages
- The Council may deduct money from your Benefit entitlement
- The Council may make you Bankrupt or apply for a Charge against your Property
Enforcement agents were previously called bailiffs. Enforcement agents are certificated by the County Court.
The enforcement sector employs close supervision and constant monitoring to ensure that standards of conduct are without reproach.
The enforcement agent will carry an electronic copy of the warrant, their enforcement agent certificate and photographic ID.
Agents wear body-worn cameras to record their visits on film. Film footage is constantly reviewed to monitor agents’ conduct and performance. This includes checking that agents are adhering to standards of privacy. More information on the Enforcement process.
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
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
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.
We can apply to the Department for Work and Pensions to make deductions from the following benefits:
• Jobseekers' Allowance
• Income Support
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
The deduction rate for Attachment of Benefits is set by Central Government and is reviewed annually. Deductions are generally 5% of the basic standard allowance. The current rate is £3.60 per week.
The deduction will be paid over to us until the debt is cleared.
If you or anyone within your household consider yourself to be vulnerable, we may be able to give you more time to pay your Council Tax.
You will need to complete our vulnerability assessment and submit your payment proposal. Not all questions may be relevant to your circumstances, and some might seem intrusive, but it is important that we gain a full understanding of your circumstances. This is to ensure we can offer you the appropriate level of support and allow us to explore any potential reductions you may be eligible for.
When completing the vulnerability assessment, you will need your Council Tax account number.
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
Free debt advice
You can get free advice on managing debt from the following places:
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.
Council Tax enquiry form
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 during normal office hours, 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.
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Page last reviewed: 02 January 2025
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