If you’re struggling to pay Council Tax

If you're having problems paying your Council Tax bill, there are a number of ways we can help you.

Contact us

Don't wait for us to contact you. You can stop things escalating by contacting us as soon as you get into difficulties.

We may be able to change your monthly instalments, and we can check if you're entitled to a discount or exemption. We can also signpost you to support services. 

This page summarises some of your options - get in touch, and we can talk things through with you.

• Telephone: 020 8891 1411
• Email: counciltax@richmond.gov.uk
• Online: Make an enquiry

Council Tax Reduction

If you're on a low income, you may qualify for Council Tax Reduction. If you're eligible, you will pay less Council Tax.

Find out who can claim Council Tax Reduction.

Claiming other benefits

To help make sure you can afford Council Tax, we recommend that you check you're claiming all the benefits you're entitled to. 

Discounts and exemptions

Depending on your circumstances, you might be able to get a discount or exemption. This means you could pay less Council Tax, or none at all. 

There are many types of discounts, including discounts for:

• Sole occupiers
• Students
• Adaptations made for a disability
• People with a severe mental impairment

You don't have to pay Council Tax on some properties, as they are exempt. There are many different types of exemption.

Find out more about all discounts and exemptions and how to apply.

Spread your instalments until March

If you're currently paying your bill over a 10 month period, you can increase it to 12 months - from April to March. This will reduce the cost of your monthly payments.

If you choose this option later in the year, your instalments can still be extended, but only until March. In future financial years, your instalments will be spread over the full 12 months - from April to March. 

You can tell us you want to pay your Council Tax in 12 instalments.

Support services

We can signpost you to services that can help with budgeting and debt.

Citizens Advice Richmond

You can get free, independent, confidential and impartial advice about paying your Council Tax from Citizens Advice Richmond.

Debt advice

If you have debts and are struggling to prioritise your bills, Step Change Debt Charity can help you. They provide free and impartial advice and can make you a plan to deal with your debts.

We have also put together a list of other services that provide general debt and financial guidance.

If you don't pay

If you don't contact us and don't pay, we will send you reminders and a final notice. If you still don't pay, we will start legal proceedings - this will add extra costs to your bill.

Find out what happens when you don't pay your Council Tax.

Summons or liability order payment

If you’re already in debt with us, you can request a special payment arrangement if:

• You’ve received a summons but can’t pay it in full, or
• A liability order has been issued against you

You will need:

• Your Council Tax account reference
• Your National Insurance number and benefit office details, if you claim benefits
• Your employer address and payroll number, if you’re employed

Complete our special payment arrangement form to get started.

The form only calculates an estimated instalment plan. Once we’ve set up the instalments, we’ll send you full details.