Council Tax Payment Information

Once your Council Tax account has been set up, or at the start of each financial year, you will be sent a demand detailing the dates your instalments are due and the amounts you have to pay. On a standard Council Tax demand monthly instalments will be due from 1st April until 1st January to clear your years charge.

You can request (via telephone, letter or email) to pay either:

• Quarterly (1st June, 1st August, 1st October and 1st December)
• Biannually  (1st June and 1st December)
• Annually (1st April)

Please choose from the following list the payment method that best suits you.

Online

Payments can be made by credit card and debit card online. We accept the following cards:

• Mastercard
• Visa (not Visa Electron)
• Switch/Maestro

The service is secure and is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Please note that credit card payments incur a 1.5% surcharge. 

Make a payment on line here

Direct Debit 

Direct Debit is the most convenient way to pay Council Tax. If you opt to pay by Direct Debit Southend-on-Sea Borough Council will automatically claim the monthly instalment due from your bank account. On a direct debit you have all the payment options offered under the standard instalment scheme. For Council Tax you also have the ability to pay from April until March and to pay on the 1st, 10th, 20th and 25th of the month.

You can set up a direct debit by

• using the online Direct Debit form
• completing and returning the direct debit form (see Related Downloads - Payment Information) 

Your Direct Debit is protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Credit or Debit Card payments over the phone

Payments can be made by credit card and debit card over the telephone during normal office hours. We accept the following cards:

• Mastercard
• Visa (not Visa Electron)
• Switch/Maestro

To pay your Council Tax by debit/credit card over the telephone call the 24 hour automated payment line on 08702 406650 (national rate) or to make the payment through one of our officers please call 01702 215001 during office hours.

Please note that credit card payments incur a 1.5% surcharge.

At Post Office/Bank

You are likely to be charged an additional fee for paying at the Post Office or at the bank.

If you wish to pay at the Post Office you will need to complete a Transcash slip quoting the Council's transcash account number of 6255868. Please note that payment can take seven days for us to receive these payments so you would need to pay earlier than the instalment date to ensure payment is received on time.

With every payment you make at a bank you will need to quote your council tax account number prefixed with a 'T'. You will also need the Council's bank details: Sort Code: 20-79-73 Account No: 20145904 Account Name: General and instalment amount. At the bank counter, they will take details, your payment. Note: the bank is likely to add a fee for providing this service.

AllPay Payment Card

For those who do not have the facility of a bank account to pay by direct debit or debit card, an AllPay card can be requested. With the AllPay card you can pay at any outlet displaying the PAYPOINT sign. To find your nearest outlet visit the AllPay website. If you fall into this category and would like an AllPay card or you have lost your card, please contact us using the details on the right.

Cheque

Cheques can be made payable to Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and sent with a letter quoting your full name, address and account number. This should be sent to:

Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
PO Box 21
Civic Centre
Southend-on-Sea
Essex SS2 6AN

Receipts will not be issued for payments made by cheque. Please do not send post-dated cheques.

Standing Orders

A standing Order is different from a Direct Debit as you control how much money leaves your account and when the bank sends the payment.

You can set up a standing order at your bank to cover the instalments set out on your latest Council Tax bill. Note with a Standing order it is your responsibility to ensure the correct amount is paid and you must ensure payments are received by the Council on the due dates.

Standing order payments can take up to seven days to reach their destination after leaving your bank account. To set up a standing order you will need to quote your council tax account number prefixed with a 'T' with each payment. You will also need the Council's bank details: Sort Code: 20-79-73 Account No: 20145904 Account Name: General

Cash payments are no longer accepted at the Civic Centre due to the closure of the cashiers department