Council Tax payment options
Council Tax payment options
Choose direct debit, card, cheque, in-person payments, with support options for those struggling to pay.
Create a My Northumberland Account to stop receiving a paper bill through the post and view it online.
Direct Debit
A safe, secure and reliable way to pay automatically when the amount is due. Learn more about the Direct Debit Guarantee.
You can choose:
- 10 or 12 monthly instalments when paying for a full year
- payment on either the 1st, 15th or 28th of the month
You do not need to cancel your Direct Debit when you have paid your Council Tax in full. It will automatically begin again every April, adjusted to the correct amount.
Set up or change a Direct Debit
You'll need:
- Council Tax account number from your bill
- bank or building society name, address, account number and sort code
Set up or change Direct Debit online
Telephone: 0345 600 6400 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm and Friday, 8:30am to 4pm)
For Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then [0345 600 6400]
if you are unable to do this online, download and complete this Direct Debit mandate (PDF) and post it.
Address:
Revenues Section
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
Once completed you'll receive a new bill as confirmation that your direct debit application has been successful.
Online
Make a card payment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You'll need:
- Council Tax account number from your bill
- debit or credit card details
Telephone
Use our automated payment service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You'll need:
- Council Tax account number from your bill
- debit or credit card details
Telephone: 0345 600 6400
Post Office or PayPoint
Pay using cash, debit, or credit card at your local Post Office or PayPoint outlet.
Take your:
- Council Tax bill with its barcode
- instalment amount or the full amount due
Payments can take up to 3 working days to reach your council tax account.
Cheque or postal order
Allow time for the payment to reach us and for the cheque to clear.
You'll need:
- make payable to Northumberland County Council
- write your Council Tax account number from your bill on the back
- tell us in your letter if you want a receipt
Post your payment to us.
Address:
Cashier Section
Northumberland County Council
County Hall
Morpeth
NE61 2EF
Payment support
Contact us immediately if you are having financial difficulties paying your Council Tax bill.
Telephone: 0345 600 6400 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm and Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm)
For Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then [0345 600 6400]
You may be entitled to a:
If you do not pay
We will take action to recover money owed as detailed in our corporate debt policy (PDF).
A reminder notice will be issued and if payment is not made, we can apply to the magistrates’ court for the issue of a summons, which will incur costs.
Following this, if payment for the full balance due is still not made the court will issue a liability order, incurring further costs. This will then allow the council to enforce payment by either:
- deducting money from your earnings
- deducting money from universal credit, income support, jobseekers' allowance, employment support allowance and pension credit
- asking an enforcement agent to collect the money or remove goods to the value of the debt
- issuing a petition for bankruptcy
- asking the court to make a charging order if you own your property
Court Summons Special Payment Arrangement
If you can’t pay your Council Tax in full after getting a Court Summons for non-payment, you can come to an agreement with us, to pay what you owe in instalments.
You can pay:
- monthly by direct debit
- weekly, every 2 weeks, or monthly for other payment methods
Conditions of a Court Summons Special Payment Arrangement:
- first payment must be made within one month
- all arrangements must be cleared within the financial year
- arrangements set at summons stage will include future costs
- payment arrangements made when you have received a court summons will include further costs of £50
- for direct debit arrangements, first payment must be no sooner than 14 days from date arrangement set up
- if you default (do not pay on time), we may need to take further action to recover the debt
You'll need:
- Council Tax account reference from your summons
- employment details
Set up Special Payment Arrangement
We'll send a letter to confirm your arrangement.
Contact the Council if you cannot keep to your arrangement. This includes not paying on time.
Contact the Council Tax team
You must let us know when your circumstances change:
Report a change of circumstances
If you've any questions or concerns:
Telephone: 0345 600 6400 (Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 5pm and Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm)
For Relay UK, (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then [0345 600 6400]
Address:
Council Tax
Northumberland County Council
County Hall Morpeth
NE61 2EF
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