Pay your Council Tax

Paying your Council Tax

You will need to be registered with us first before you can set up payment. If you haven’t done so yet, you can register for Council Tax here.

There are several ways to pay your Council Tax such as setting up a Direct Debit, paying online or by phone. Simply choose the option that is best suited to your circumstances.

Remember: You will need your Council Tax account number to hand for any of these payment methods so we can allocate your payment correctly.

Direct Debit

Setting up a Direct Debit payment is the safest and most convenient way to pay your Council Tax.

All the normal Direct Debit safeguards and guarantees apply when you set up an instruction online and we offer the flexibility of payment dates - 1st, 8th, 15th, or the 23rd of each month.

You can also use this form to update the bank details of an existing Direct Debit.

Set up a Direct Debit

If you are moving within the Southampton (SO14-SO19) area, we can transfer your Direct Debit over to the new property.

You can cancel your Direct Debit at any time by contacting your bank or building society but you will also need to notify us as to why you are cancelling using the relevant online forms or by contacting the Council Tax team directly.

Other ways to pay your Council Tax

What if I can’t or don’t pay?

If you don’t pay your Council Tax by the dates shown on your bill you will receive a reminder and if you still do not pay you risk having a court summons and additional charges being added on top of the outstanding amount.

If you begin to struggle with the payments, please contact us immediately. We can offer options that could help your circumstances, such as:

• Spreading your payments over 12 months instead of 10
• Adding a discount or exemption on to your Council Tax account. Find out more about discounts and exemptions
• Setting up a payment plan to pay the outstanding amount
• If you have a low income or receive a benefit, you may be entitled to Council Tax Reduction

Remember: If you apply for a discount after receiving a bill, you will still have to pay the full amount until we make a decision. If a discount is awarded, you will receive an amended bill within 15 working days after applying.