Do You Have To Pay Council Tax In February And March?

If you want to know whether or not you have to pay Council Tax in February and March, you will find guidance in the following blog post. While we will mainly explore the council tax bill and how its payments can be spread out over a year, we will also explore how to get a reduction on your council tax bill; should you qualify for meeting the eligibility criteria.

Do You Have To Pay Council Tax In February And March?

No, you don’t have to pay Council Tax in February in March; given that you have opted for the regular payment plan for Council Tax. Council Tax is an annual bill; usually paid via 10 monthly instalments that are spread across April to January. This leaves February and March as Council Tax-free months for residents during which they can choose to budget other expenses while the council authorities use these months to chase any Council Tax arrears from residents.

However, if you are on a low income or would simply choose to reduce your monthly expenses, you can request your local council office to spread your Council Tax bill over 12 monthly instalments; rather than the usual 10 instalments. In this way you will be paying reduced instalments each month (which reduces your monthly expense); but you will need to keep in mind that you will be paying Council Tax throughout the year, including February and March.

On the other hand, if you wish to avail a discount on your annual Council Tax bill, you can pay the full amount in a lump sum when you receive the bill which is due for payment in April for the new financial term.

For individuals who may find it difficult to make their payments every month, council authorities can also make arrangements for Council Tax to be paid on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

Council Tax payments can be made in the following ways:

  • Direct debit through a bank account
  • Credit card or debit card
  • Cash payments through “Paypoint”, “Payzone” or “Quickcards”
  • Cheque or postal order
  • Online through the post office

What Date Of The Month Do You Have To Pay Council Tax?

Council Tax is due for payment on the 1st day of each month. However, if you prefer, you can request your local council authorities can set your payment date as the 15th or 25th date of the month.

If you pay your Council Tax via the direct debit facility of your bank, you can opt for payments to be routed either on the 1st, 10th or 21st of each month.

If you want to make a lump sum payment of your Council Tax to avail of a discount on the annual bill, you can make pay the entire sum at the beginning of the financial year in April. You can also choose to make two semi-annual payments for Council Tax so that you don’t have to pay it each month.

You will need to inform your local council office beforehand of (a) your chosen date of payment if you are not able to pay your Council Tax on the 1st day of each month and (b) if you would like to choose a different payment plan than the usual 10 monthly instalment plan.

How Can You Pay Less Council Tax?

If you want to reduce your Council Tax bill, there are three ways to do this:

  • You can pay your annual bill upfront at the start of the financial year in April and get a discount from the council. This will reduce the total amount that you pay for Council Tax in a year.
  • You can ask your council office to change your payment plan from 10 monthly instalments to 12 periodic payments spread throughout the year. In this way, you will pay less Council Tax each month. (this is the preferred option if you aim to reduce your monthly expenses)
  • You can check if you qualify for a Council Tax discount and get your total bill reduced; irrespective of whether you make monthly or annual payments.

If you want to know if you are eligible for a Council Tax discount, you can refer to the below criteria:

  • Living alone, with a full-time student or a carer
  • On a low income (whether you are full-time, part-time or self-employed)
  • Claiming welfare benefits such as Universal Credit
  • If your property is empty due to alterations or repair work
  • If the property is your second home and you live somewhere else as your “main residence”
  • If you or someone you live with is disabled and you have had to modify your home to meet their disability needs

Conclusion:

From the discussion in the above article, it has become quite clear that you don’t have to pay council tax in February and March if you follow the generic payment plan for Council Tax; which is based on 10 monthly instalments each year. If you need a reduced instalment plan which is spread over 12 monthly instalments, you will have to pay Council Tax in February and March as well.

References:

Council Tax-Free Months 2022: Why don’t you pay Council Tax in February? | Marca

How Council Tax works: Paying your bill – GOV.UK