Council Tax - Payment
There is only one Council Tax bill for each property.
A property is a house, flat, maisonette, or other domestic property that someone can live in. The person living in the property with the greatest legal right to it is responsible for paying the Council Tax bill. Normally this would be the owner who lives there or the tenant.
To work out who is responsible for paying the Council Tax for your home, look down the list below. The person nearest to the top of the list pays the Council Tax.
The resident owner of the property (who owns the 'freehold')
A resident leaseholder
A resident tenant (including a council tenant)
Someone who is resident and has a license to live in the property
Someone who just lives there. If no adults live in the property as their main home, the owner or leaseholder of the property, is responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.
Where more than one person is responsible for paying the Council Tax.
If you are a joint owner or a joint tenant you will all be equally liable to pay the Council Tax bill. This means that if payment is not made we can seek payment of the whole debt from anyone of the joint liable people.
Married couples who live together, and couples living as husband and wife, are also jointly responsible for the bill.
The Owner
If the owner of the property does not live there, he or she will be responsible for paying the bill if:
no adults live in the property as their main home; or
the property is let to more than one household, for example hostels,
or houses where the occupants only rent a bedroom and share all other facilities with the rest of the household
the property is a residential care home, nursing home or mental nursing home;
the property is occupied by Asylum Seekers; or
the property is occupied by a religious community or ministers of religion; or if domestic service staff live in the property.
If you are named on the Council Tax bill but you think that is wrong, please contact us
Payment can be made by various methods see below:
Direct Debit
This is the Council's preferred payment method as we believe it is simple, safe and convenient. It enables you to give your bank a written instruction to meet your payments as they fall due. Direct Debiting (unlike Standing Orders) can be used where the amount of the payment is subject to change. This will save you time and we will notify you 14 days in advance of the revised amount. Also, remember that paying by Direct Debit helps the Council to keep our costs down and therefore your bill down.
If you would like to pay by Direct Debit please phone (023) 8083 2349. There are four payment dates to choose from each month - 1st, 8th, 15th and 23rd.
Set up a Direct Debit to pay your Council Tax online.
Credit or Debit Card:
You can use your credit or debit card when you visit the Civic Centre or by telephoning (023) 8083 2990.
Opening hours are:
- Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 8.30am - 5.00pm
- Wednesday 9.30am to 5.00pm
- Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm.
Please have your card ready when you phone.
On-line Payment
Using the Council's secure on-line payment service you can pay a variety of council bills/invoices. Have your Council Tax bill and your credit or debit card to hand and the instructions on screen will guide you through the process. Confirmation of your payment and a transaction reference number will be given and a receipt can be emailed to you if you need one.
Post:
Cheques and postal orders can be sent to:
Local Taxation Services
Civic Centre
Southampton
SO40 7LD
Please write your Account Number on the reverse of your cheque or postal order. (Do not send cash through the post). Cheques should be made payable to Southampton City Council.
Bank Giro:
Take or send your cheque to any branch of your own bank quoting your Council Tax account number (no counter charge will be made) OR
Pay in cash at any branch of the (5) main banks (a counter charge will be payable).
Please allow 4 to 5 working days for your payment to be credited to your account.
Personal Call:
Payments can be made at the Cash Office, Directorate of Resources, Civic Centre, Southampton.
Monday -Thursday 9.00 am to 4.30 pm,
Friday 9.00am to 4.00 pm
Last updated: 7 November 2008
