If you do not pay your Council Tax

We will apply to the magistrates’ court for a court summons if you: 

• do not make your regular Council Tax instalments and on time
• do not pay the full amount shown in the final notice

The summons letter includes:

• the amount you owe
• the court costs you must pay
• the court hearing date

If more than one person is named on the Council Tax bill, the summons is sent to each person. Only one set of court costs is charged

How to stop a court summons

Before the court hearing date, you must pay both the: 

• full unpaid amount
• court costs of £93.22

Full payment will stop your case being taken to court.

Pay now

If you do not pay the full amount

We will apply for a liability order at the magistrates’ court.

Court costs are applied in 2 stages: 

• a summons cost when the summons is issued
• a liability order cost if the order is granted at the court hearing

If your case proceeds to a court hearing and a liability order is granted, an extra £17.77 will be added. This will increase the total court costs to £110.99.

If you pay the full outstanding balance, including the summons cost before the hearing, the liability order charge will not be added.

If you cannot afford to pay the full amount

At this stage, you can still ask for a repayment arrangement.

This will not stop our recovery process and we will apply for a liability order.