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Difficulty paying your Council Tax bill?
How to get help if you're struggling to pay your bill.
Struggling to pay your Council Tax?
If you're having trouble paying your bill, don’t wait. Get in touch with us:
- Email: revenues@norwich.gov.uk
- Call: 0344 980 3333 (Mon–Fri, 9am–4pm)
You may be able to:
- Get Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income
- Apply for extra help if you're facing financial hardship
- Spread your payments over 12 months
- Switch to Direct Debit for easier payments.
What happens if you don’t pay?
If you miss a payment, we’ll send a reminder. You’ll have 7 days to catch up.
If you fall behind again, we’ll send a second reminder.
If you still don’t pay, you’ll lose the right to pay in instalments and the full year’s bill becomes due.
Court summons
If you don’t pay, we may send a court summons. This means you’ll owe the full amount plus £70 in court costs.
You don’t have to attend court, but you can if you have a valid reason (e.g. you’ve already paid or you’re not the person named).
You can avoid court by following the repayment plan on the back of the summons or by making a new payment offer.
Make a summons repayment offer
What happens after a court order?
If the court grants a liability order and you still don’t pay, we may:
- take money from your wages or benefits
- send your debt to enforcement agents (bailiffs)
- start bankruptcy or charging order proceedings.
Deductions from wages
We can tell your employer to take money from your wages. The amount depends on how much you earn.
If you are paid weekly:
| Net earnings | Deduction rate |
|---|---|
| below £75 | no deduction can be made |
| £75 to £135 | 3% |
| £135 to £185 | 5% |
| £185 to £225 | 7% |
| £225 to £355 | 12% |
| £355 to £505 | 17% |
| above £505 | 17% for the first £505 and 50% for the remainder |
If you are paid monthly:
| Net earnings | Deduction rate |
|---|---|
| below £300 | no deduction can be made |
| £300 to £550 | 3% |
| £550 to £740 | 5% |
| £740 to £900 | 7% |
| £900 to £1,420 | 12% |
| £1,420 to £2,020 | 17% |
| above £2,020 | 17% for the first £2,020 and 50% for the remainder |
Deductions from benefits
We can take money from:
- Universal Credit
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit
- Employment and Support Allowance.
Manage deductions from your benefits to pay debts and bills
Enforcement agents (bailiffs)
When a debt is handed to an enforcement agent (also known as bailiffs), you will receive a Notice of Enforcement from them. This is the first step in the enforcement process.
The letter explains that the bailiff is now responsible for collecting the debt and asks you to pay. At this point, a fixed fee is added to your debt.
If you don’t pay, an enforcement agent may visit your home, and another fixed fee will be added, even if no one answers the door.
Read more about your rights when bailiffs visit your home
The level of fees that can be charged is set out in legislation.
Learn more about the different fees bailiffs can charge
Vulnerability
If you're struggling with debt and you're in a vulnerable situation due to illness, disability, or financial hardship, you may be eligible to extra time and support.
Most enforcement companies have their own welfare or support teams. They may ask you to provide evidence of your situation.
Further legal action
If you still don’t pay, we may:
Start bankruptcy proceedings:
- you’ll get a statutory demand giving you 21 days to pay
- if unpaid, we may apply for a bankruptcy order
- you’ll lose control of your finances and face legal fees.
Apply for a charging order:
- this puts a charge on your property
- it could lead to a forced sale to recover the debt.
Apply for committal to prison:
- if all else fails, we may ask the court to send you to prison
- the court will hold a means enquiry
- you could be jailed if you’ve refused to pay or shown culpable neglect.
Contact revenues
