For 2024/2025 the Council tax Bill has been redesigned this year, this brings the bill in line with other Local authorities Bill formats. This years charge has been brought to the top section of the Bill.

The bottom of the page has a section if you are Struggling to pay and need advice and assistance Useful information has been added to the second page. The payment section has been moved to the top of the page. Advice on how to claim Council Tax Support, reporting a change in circumstances, what to do if move address and other useful information is detailed.

Your Bill explained

The council tax bill is in four sections:

1. Personnel Detail section

  • Date of the Bill.
  • The Council Tax Account Number.
  • The liable person and the address the charge is for.
  • Property address (if different) this will include the liable address if the main address billed is a contact address.
  • Your Property Band – The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is responsible for allocating a Council Tax band for each domestic property.

2. Breakdown of Charges section

  • This will show the Property Band and the charge period as well as the charge for the year.
  • Any Council Tax Support awarded will show as well as any additional Council Tax Support that may have been awarded.
  • Single Person deductions of 25% will show if awarded.
  • Empty Property premiums – if a property has been empty.
  • You may be eligible for an exemption or discount on your council tax bill.

3. Payments section

  • This will detail the current method of payment, which will either be Direct Debit, Cash or Cheque.
  • The first instalment due date and amount. i.e First instalment due on 08/04/2024  1 x 153.01 (one instalment of £153.01 due on 08/04/2024.)
  • The subsequent instalment amount and period. i.e Other instalments due on 08/05/24 to  08/01/24 9 x 153.00 (9 instalments of £153.00 are due monthly on 8th May, 8th June, 8th July, 8th August, 8th September, 8th October, 8th November, 8th December and 8th January).
  • This section will also advise if there are debits or credits brought forward from the previous year, if there are then this will show what the total balance outstanding is including this years amount due.
  • If the following statement shows. This has reduced your 2024/2025 account to leave a balance of -22.34. It means you are in credit and can request a refund.
  • If the following statement shows. This has increased your 2024/2025 account to leave a balance of 1550.00. It means this is the total council tax debt owed including this years.
  • Advice to set up a Direct Debit if this is not already the current method of payment.

4. Spending Plans section

  • This details the charge for the council, adult social care, police and fire charges as well as the percentage increase of these charges this year. How your Council Tax is spent.
  • There is also a section dedicated to advice if struggling to pay.

Example scenarios

Scenario One - Cash / Cheque Payer

This person lives in a Band A property, their Council tax charge this year is £1530.01. They have a payment profile of Cash/Cheque. The Payment section shows their first payment for the 2024/2025 Council Tax Bill is due on 8th April 2024 and the amount due is £153.01. Their next payments are due on the 8th of each month. They then have 9 instalments to pay each month from 8th May 2024 to 8th January 2025.

View Scenario 1 sample bill

 

Scenario Two - Direct Debit Payer

This person lives in a Band B property, their Council tax charge this year is £1785.02. They have a payment profile of Direct Debit. The payment section shows their first payment for the 2024/2025 Council Tax Bill is due on 1st April 2024 and the amount due is £178.52. Their next payments are due on the 1st of each month. They then have 9 instalments to pay each month from 1st May 2024 to 1st January 2025.

View Scenario 2 sample bill

 

Scenario Three - Account in Credit

This person lives in a Band C property, their Council tax charge for the year is £2040.01. As they receive Council tax support, this has been deducted from the amount outstanding. An additional Council Tax Support payment has also been awarded. This reduces this years outstanding amount to £597.66, which is £2040.01 - £1414.35 - £28.00 = £ 597.66 The payment section has detailed a credit that their account has brought forward from the previous year. They were in credit to the value £620.00. As this value is greater than this years bill, their account is in credit (£597.34 + by £22.34) they have nothing to pay and request a refund.

View Scenario 3 sample bill

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