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Council Tax FAQs - billing and discounts

How do I register for Council Tax?

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You can create a Council Tax account online and register for Council Tax.

A guides is available to help you register for Council Tax (as a property owner or as a tenant).

Please note, if your property is a new build, you'll need to contact us to register for Council Tax. You will not be able to do it online. Call us on 01642 726006 and an adviser will help you. Once your property is registered, you'll be able to use the online service to manage your account.

Our phone lines are open Monday and Wednesday (10am to 4:30pm), and Friday (10am to 4pm). They are closed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

How much Council Tax do I have to pay and when is the payment due?

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Your payments are shown on your most recent bill, which can be viewed on your Council Tax account.

You'll need your Council Tax account number and E-Service key to access your account. These can be found on your most recent bill.

Your Council Tax is payable in monthly or weekly instalments (depending on how you've chosen to pay).

The dates the instalments are due are shown on your bill. Payments should be made on or before the due date to avoid possible recovery action and further charges being added to your account.

You can make a payment now or see other ways to pay.

I want to change my payments from monthly to weekly or vice versa

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Please complete a Council Tax enquiry form with your request and we'll make the change for you.

I need to set up a Direct Debit or change my Direct Debit details

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You can set up or change a Direct Debit online using your Council Tax account.

You'll need your Council Tax account number, which is shown on your bill as 'Account No.'.

A guide is available to help you set up a Direct Debit.

Why have I been sent a bill?

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The reason for a bill being issued is shown on each bill.

These reasons could include: opening or closing an account, a change to your instalments, a change in your benefit award, or exemptions / discounts being applied or cancelled.

Read more about why you pay Council Tax.

I've lost my bill, please can you give me a copy?

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You can view your bill online using your Council Tax account. You'll need your Council Tax account number and E-Service key to access your account. These can be found on your most recent bill.

If you need a paper bill, please complete a Council Tax enquiry form.

I've reported a change of address, can you tell me how much Council Tax I owe on my old address?

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When you close your account, a closing bill is issued to you. You can check your bills online using your Council Tax account. You'll need your Council Tax account number and E-Service key to access your account. These can be found on your most recent bill.

If you don't have your bill, please contact us by completing a Council Tax enquiry form.

I've had tenants move in or out a property

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You can let us know about tenants moving in or out of a property online using your Council Tax account.

Guides are available to help you notify us that tenants have moved in or moved out.

I want to apply for a Single Person Discount

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You can apply for a Single Person Discount online using your Council Tax account. You'll need your Council Tax account number and E-Service key to access your account. These can be found on your most recent bill.

A guide is available to help you apply for a single person discount.

I've received a bill but I'm a full time student

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If you're a full time student, you'll be made exempt from Council Tax when you send us a valid Student Exemption Certificate.

You can send us a copy of your Student Exemption Certificate online.

Why do I have to pay full Council Tax on an empty or uninhabitable property?

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An amendment made to the Local Government Finance Act in 2012 gave local authorities the power to set their own discounts and exemptions on empty properties. On 9 January 2013, in a full meeting of council members, Middlesbrough Council set the Council Tax charge for an empty property to 100%.

Properties which are uninhabitable aren't exempt from Council Tax. A property can only be made exempt from Council Tax if the police, fire brigade, or an environmental health officer, has said that it's illegal for anyone to live in the property.

My account is in credit and I'd like a refund

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We issue refunds by bank transfer. Please complete a Council Tax enquiry form, giving the account name, sort code, and account number of the bank account you'd like the refund to be paid into.

How do I return paper forms which I've completed?

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You can scan or photograph your completed forms and upload them using the Council Tax enquiry form. If you don't have access to a scanner or digital camera/smartphone you can send to paper forms to:

Revenue Services
PO Box 2
Middlesbrough House
Corporation Road
Middlesbrough
TS1 2YL

Do I still have to pay Council Tax if I'm on benefits?

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Yes, all people of working age must pay a minimum of 20% of their Council Tax.

There are a small number of exceptions to this rule.

Why do I have to pay more Council Tax than my neighbour / friend / relative?

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The Data Protection Act 1998 means we can't discuss some else's bill with you.

However, there are a number of reasons why you may pay different amounts, including:

  • your property may be in a higher band
  • they may be receiving a discount or be subject to an exemption
  • they may be getting Council Tax Reduction
  • they may have moved in part way through the financial year so they're not paying for a full year

I've made a claim for Council Tax Reduction but I haven't heard anything yet

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A new claim can take up to three weeks to process.

If more than three weeks have passed since you provided all the information we need, please contact us by completing a Council Tax enquiry form.

Why has my Council Tax Reduction ended or changed?

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Any change to your circumstances can change the amount of Council Tax Reduction you get. You'll have received a Council Tax Reduction notification which explained how your Council Tax Reduction has been calculated.

The most common reasons for your Council Tax Reduction being cancelled are:

  • your state benefit entitlement has ended, and you've not provided us with enough information about, and evidence of, your new circumstances
  • you no longer qualify for Council Tax Reduction because your income and/or other circumstances have changed
  • we've sent you a review form and you've not sent it back
  • you've moved house and haven't let us know
  • you've not given us all the information that we've asked for