Pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit

Direct Debit is the easiest and most convenient way to pay your Council Tax.

Please have your Council Tax account number ready when making a payment or contacting us. If you have recently moved, you must tell us you have moved so we can create your new Council Tax Account and provide you with a new account.

Set up a Direct Debit online

You can set up a new Direct Debit or amend your bank details using our online form.

Before you start

You will need:

• Your Council Tax account number
• Your bank account number
• Your sort code

Choose your payment date

Monthly payments can be collected on the:

• 1 of the month
• 5 of the month
• 10 of the month
• 15 of the month
• 22 of the month
• 27 of the month

Set up a Direct Debit or change your bank account details

Change how you pay

Council Tax bills are normally issued in March each year. If your circumstances change during the year, you may receive a revised bill.

You can:

• Spread your payments over 12 months (April to March)
• Change your Direct Debit payment date
• Pay your annual bill in full

 

To pay your annual bill in one instalment, payment must be paid by 1 April.

Reasons to pay by Direct Debit

Direct Debit is:

• Safe and secure
• Convenient – payments are made automatically
• Flexible – choose a payment date that suits you
• Cost-effective – it is the most efficient payment method, helping more of your Council Tax contribute directly to local services

Direct Debit Guarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. 

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Cheshire East Council will tell you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you ask us to collect a payment, we will confirm the amount and date at the time of the request. 

If Cheshire East Council or your bank or building society make a mistake in taking a Direct Debit, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. 

If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when we ask you to. 

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. They might ask for confirmation in writing. If you do cancel a Direct Debit, please tell us.

The reason we offer a choice of payment dates for Direct Debit and not for any other method is to encourage more people to decide to pay by Direct Debit. This is because Direct Debits cost far less to process than any other type of payments – so when you pay by Direct Debit, more of your Council Tax goes directly to providing services.

Use our online services

Online enquiries are available 24 hours a day and are often the quickest way to receive updated bills and account information.

Using our online services, you can:

 

• View your latest bill
• Check your balance and payments
• Report changes in circumstances
• Submit enquiries securely at any time
• Receive updates without waiting to speak to an advisor

Contact Council Tax

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 between 8:30am to 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.