Council Tax Account Enquiries
The Revenues Services provides householders with
information relating to their council tax payments. This may
include information on payments, arrears, discount eligibility etc,
and copies of bills.
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Please use the following links to navigate to the section(s)
of the page which you may be interested in.
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Who should pay the Council Tax?
The basic Council Tax bill is made up of two elements: 50%
property and 50% personal. The 50% personal element is applied on
the basis that two or more people reside in the property. The
person liable to pay the Council Tax is the person who first fits
one of the descriptions listed below. More than one person can be
held liable if they are on the same level. Husbands and wives, or
unmarried partners may also be jointly and severally liable. Only
persons aged 18 years or over can be made liable.
- Resident Owner
- Resident Tenant
- Resident Secure Tenant
- Resident with contractual licence to occupy (ie tied
accommodation)
- Resident (ie squatter)
In some instances the owner of a property will always be held
liable rather than the residents. The classes of property to which
fall into this category are listed below.
CLASS A: A Residential Care Home, Nursing Home,
Mental Nursing Home or Hostel.
CLASS B: A dwelling inhabited solely by a relevant
Religious Community.
CLASS C: A dwelling which is in
multiple-occupation where each separate part does not constitute a
self contained dwelling for banding purposes.
CLASS D: A dwelling inhabited by persons employed
in domestic service where the employer occupies the dwelling on
occasions.
CLASS E: A dwelling inhabited solely by a Minister
of any Religious denomination from where he/she performs the duties
of his/her office.
CLASS F: Dwellings provided for asylum
seekers.
How can I pay my Council Tax?
Direct Debit - Should you wish to pay by Direct
Debit please use the Direct Debit Mandate available from the
Online
Forms page or on the reverse of your Council Tax bill. Should
you need help or other advice with the Mandate, please contact
Ryedale District Council in writing at Ryedale House, Old Malton
Road, Malton, YO17 7HH, or by telephone or email using the
information on the Contact Us page.
Telephone with Debit and Credit Card Payment -
Payment of accounts can now be made by debit/credit cards on
the Council's 24 hour freephone payment service 08000351566.
Please ensure you have your account reference number to hand.
Internet Payments - You can pay money to the
Council by debit/credit card using our website
Online Payments screen where most major credit and
debit Cards can be accepted.
Post - Cheques should be crossed "a/c payee"
and made payable to Ryedale District Council. If
you require a receipt please enclose a stamped addressed envelope
when making a payment. Please ensure you quote your account
reference number and your name and address on the reverse of the
cheque.
Please note: Please do not send cash by post.
It is the policy of Ryedale District Council not to accept
post-dated cheques.
Payment should be sent to:
Ryedale District Council
Cashiers
Ryedale House
Malton
North Yorkshire
YO17 7HH.
In Person at Council Offices - Information
about the Council's Main and Area Offices, opening times,
directions and parking can be found on the Contact Us page. You can pay by cash,
cheque, or by debit or credit card,
Steps taken to
recover unpaid Council Tax
This explains the steps involved in the recovery of unpaid
Council Tax. If you are having difficulty making payments we
urge you to contact Revenues Services as soon as
possible. Many problems can be avoided by contacting the Revenues
Services when you receive your annual demand. Ryedale District
Council has a duty to collect Council Tax from people who owe
it.
Missed Instalment - If payment is not made
within seven days of the instalment date, the Council can
start recovery proceedings.
Reminder - If a payment is overdue, a
reminder is issued for the arrears amount. If payment is then made
within seven days, the instalments continue.
If you cannot bring your payments up to date
within seven days, you you will be issued
with a Final Notice where the right to pay by instalments is lost
and the full amount becomes payable.
Final Notice - If the amount shown on a
Reminder Notice is not paid in full or if an instalment is missed
after a Second Reminder has been sent, a Final
Notice is issued for the Full amount of Council
Tax still outstanding for the year. The right to pay by monthly
instalments is lost and unless the whole amount due is paid
within seven days a Summons will be issued
and additional costs incurred.
Summons - If the amount shown on a Final Notice
is not paid within seven days a Court Summons
will be sent for the balance outstanding for the year, plus
additional costs. If full payment is made to the Council before the
Court Date, including the costs, then no further action is taken.
If full payment is not made the case is presented to the
Magistrates' Court and additional costs incurred. Although the
Summonses request attendance at Court, if an arrangement is made
before the hearing it is not necessary to appear but Court action
will continue and additional costs will be added.
Liability Order - The Court normally grants
the Council a Liability Order, which gives the Council several
options for recovery. Initially questionnaires are sent requesting
employment details. A Liability Order enables the Council to
recover the outstanding balance by Attachment of Earnings or Income
Support/Jobseekers Allowance or through bailiff action. It is also
possible, in some cases, to start insolvency proceedings (leading
to bankruptcy), apply for a charge on a property or to start
proceedings for committal to prison. The withholding of information
or failure to notify the Council of any change of Employment may
result in further court action being taken against you.
Attachment of Earnings - A letter is sent to
the employer along with a copy of The Council Tax (Administration
and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 ordering deductions to be made
from wages/salary in accordance with a scale, which is fixed by
law. Copies are also sent to the debtor concerned. Employers
can deduct a further £1.00 administration cost per order for each
deduction they make. The council can request a maximum of two
attachments at any time.
Attachment of Benefit - Deductions for Income
Support, Jobseekers Allowance, Guaranteed Pension Credit or
Employment & Support Allowance. A letter is sent to the
Department of Works and Pensions requesting weekly deductions and a
copy of the letter is also sent to the debtor.
Bailiffs - The Council uses an external bailiff
company to recover unpaid Council Tax. Once it has been passed
over to the bailiff the Council will not enter into any further
arrangement for payment, instead the bailiff will administer the
case. The bailiff will attempt to contact the debtor directly
and extra costs will be incurred. If the debtor cannot pay the
debt in full the bailiff will normally be willing to make an
arrangement.
Committal to Prison - If the bailiff is
unable to obtain payment, the debt will be returned to the Council.
In order for an inquiry to be made, to establish the debtor's means
and whether non-payment is due to refusal or neglect, a Summons may
be issued requesting the debtor's attendance at Court which will
incur additional costs. Depending on the circumstances the Court
may tell the debtor how much to pay each week or issue a warrant
for commitment to prison. If a debtor does not pay as ordered by
the Court they may have to appear before the Court again and could
be sent to prison.
Insolvency - A debt due under a Liability
Order is a debt for the purposes of Insolvency and so, depending on
the outstanding balance, the Council could petition for the debtor
to be declared bankrupt which could lead to the assets of an
individual or company being seized and sold to clear the debt and
all costs incurred.
Charging Orders - Depending on the amount
outstanding the Council can apply to the County Court for a charge
to be registered against a property so that the debt is paid out of
the proceeds of sale.
Who to
contact for help
If you cannot pay your Council Tax and want to discuss your
arrears, then please contact:
Revenues Services
PO Box 70
Ryedale House
Old Malton Road
Malton
YO17 7ZN
Alternatively, you can telephone 01653 600666 and ask
for Revenues Services or email us at
ctax@ryedale.gov.uk.
Revenues Services at Ryedale House Malton will be
closed each Tuesday until 10.30 a.m. for staff training.
We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
If you have a query regarding a letter or visit
from Rossendales Ltd, who provide bailiff services on behalf
of the council, you should contact the bailiffs direct
at:
Rossendales Ltd, Wavell House, Holcombe Road, Helmshore,
Rossendale, Lancashire BB4 4NB
Telephone 0844 701 3980 Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5.30pm and
Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm or Email info@rossendales.com.
If you are on a low income you may be eligible for help with
your Council Tax and or Rent and should contact the:
Benefits Services
PO Box 69
Ryedale House
Old Malton Road
Malton
YO17 7ZL
Telephone 01653 600666 and ask for Benefits Services
or