Pay your Council Tax

Pay Your Council Tax online or set up a Direct Debit

When you set up your Council Tax account and, at the start of each financial year, you will be sent the dates that your instalments are to be paid and the amounts you have to pay.

Usually the monthly instalments will start from 1st April until 1st January to clear your charges for the year. But you can ask to have your instalments spread over 12 months from 1st April to 1st March.

If you are struggling to pay your instalments on time, we suggest that you call us on 01702 215001.

This is because early contact could stop us having to take action because you havent paid.

There are many ways to pay your Council Tax, please choose from one of the following methods.

Online or on the phone

You can pay online or on the phone using a credit or debit card.

We accept:

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

To pay online please use our online payment system.

To pay over the phone call the 24 hour automated payment line on 08702 406650. Calls to this number are charged at 1 pence per minute, plus any additional network charges from your telephone provider.

Alternatively, you can contact a member of the team on 01702 215001 during office hours (8:45am to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, 8:45am to 4:45pm Friday).

Direct Debit

If you pay by direct debit, each month we will automatically claim the instalment from your bank account.

Paying this way you can if you prefer choose to spread your payments from April until March and you can pick one of either the 1st, 10th, 20th or 25th as your monthly payment date.

You can set up a direct debit by:

• using the online direct debit form or
• printing a Direct Debit form and completing and returning it to the Council

If the payment amount or date changes we will tell you 14 working days before your payment is meant to come out of your account.

If an error is made by us or your Bank/Building Society, you are guaranteed a full and immediate refund from your branch of the amount paid.

You can cancel a direct debit at any time by writing to your Bank or Building Society. Please also send a copy of the letter to us.

At the bank

You are likely to be charged an extra fee for paying at the bank, however Barclays will process your Council Tax payment free of charge.

To pay at the bank you need to quote your Council Tax account number, putting the letter T in front of it. E.g. T1234568.

You will also need the Councils bank details.

• Sort Code: 20-79-81
• Account No: 20145904
• Account Name: Southend-on-Sea City Council

You will also need to tell the bank the instalment amount.

All of this information is on your Council Tax bill; take it with you to make things easier.

AllPay payment card

If you dont have a bank account and cannot pay by any of the previous methods, you can ask for an AllPay card.

With the AllPay card you can pay at anywhere that has a PAYPOINT sign and at all Post Offices.

To find your nearest outlet visit the AllPay website.

This card remains valid unless you move address or you get a new Council Tax account number.

If you need an AllPay card, or you have lost your card, please email ctax@southend.gov.uk or complete the General Enquiry form.

Cheque

Send a cheque (made payable to Southend Council) along with a letter quoting your full name, address and account number to:

Standing orders

You can also pay by setting up a standing order. To set up a standing order, with every payment you need to quote your Council Tax account number putting the letter T in front of it. E.g. T1234568.

You also need the Councils bank details.

• Sort Code: 20-79-81
• Account No: 20145904
• Account Name: Southend-on-Sea City Council

With a standing order it is your responsibility to make sure that the correct amount is paid and that you pay your instalments on time, on the 1st of each month.

Standing order payments can take up to 7 days to reach us after leaving your bank account.