If you’re struggling to pay your Council Tax bill

If you’re finding it hard to pay your Council Tax, please contact us as soon as you can. We may be able to help.

There are plenty of ways we can help reduce your Council Tax bill.

• If you are in financial difficulty, our money advice pages provides information and assistance.
• If you live alone, are a student or have certain disabilities, then you may be eligible for a discount or exemption.
• If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for our Council Tax Support Scheme.
• There are a variety of free independent financial advice from local organisations.

Alternatively, you may be able to set up a special payment arrangement that takes your financial circumstances into consideration. We are happy to talk about the situation and discuss a short-term payment plan with you:

• contact us to explore which option will be best for you
• contact us using our online form
• call us on 023 9268 8588

We will recover unpaid Council Tax.

We’ll write to remind you that it needs to be paid and, if the money is not forthcoming, will issue a summons for you to attend a hearing at the Magistrates Court.

If the amount summonsed is not paid in full, with costs, after the hearing, or if you do not keep to the payment plan you have arranged with us, there are several other actions we can take.

There is a discount available if you live alone, also called the single person discount. If there is more than one adult living in your household, they may not be counted for Council Tax purposes depending on their circumstances, such as if they are a full-time student.

Find out if you qualify for Council Tax discounts in Portsmouth and follow simple steps to apply for reductions.

You must continue to pay your bill during any appeal process, including appeals to the Valuation Tribunal Service.

We realise that Council Tax can sometimes be a struggle to pay each month, and we want to help you.

If you can’t update your account, please contact us online, and tell us your financial situation and any repayment ideas you have.

Examples of an alternative plan could be:

• If you are on a ten-month plan, you can ask to switch to a twelve-month plan. This means you would keep paying in February and March.
• Switch the date you pay.
• Ask us to consider an alternative payment plan which would bring your account up to date. For example, you may be experiencing temporary financial difficulties.
• If you are experiencing exceptional financial hardship and are still unable to pay your Council Tax after all discounts, exemptions and Council Tax Support have been considered, the Council may be able to consider a discretionary reduction under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is not an automatic entitlement. Each request is considered individually and only in exceptional circumstances.

Advice and help is available from local organisations. Those providing free independent debt and financial advice are listed here:

• Advice Portsmouth
  • Help with a range of money matters, including debt, benefit entitlements and applications, household bills and budgeting, consumer issues and employment rights.
  • Phone: 023 9279 4340 text 07789 550593
  • Email: portsmouth@theyoutrust.org.uk
• Portsmouth Citizen’s Advice Bureau
  • Specialist money advisers can advise and support you with all of your bills, budgeting and debt queries and help you maximise your income.
  • Phone: 023 9400 6600
  • Email: contactus@caportsmouth.org.uk
• Your local housing office
  • Portsmouth Homes tenants can get debt advice and help to maximise your income from your housing officer, who has access to specialist money advice.
• Switched on Portsmouth
  • Helping residents to save energy, money and carbon with FREE schemes and initiatives:
  • Freephone: 0800 260 5907
• Our money advice pages
  • Information, guidance and tools to help you with money matters
• Cost of Living hub
  • A guide to the help available for Portsmouth residents