Paying your Council Tax

Direct Debit is Bath & North East Somerset council’s preferred method of Council Tax payment. Once you set it up, the payments will come out of your account automatically, and you will have nothing further to do. If you would prefer to use another payment method, you can also pay your bill with a credit or debit card online, by phone, by bank transfer, in person at a Post Office, or by post.

WarningTo make any new payment, you will need your Council Tax account number. This is a seven or nine digit number, and you can find it in the top left corner of your Council Tax bill. If you are unsure, please view this example bill.

Pay by Direct Debit

This is a simple, safe and speedy way to pay your Council Tax. If you are already paying this way, instalments for this year's Council Tax will be paid automatically on the dates shown on your bill, and you do not need to do anything. If you currently pay by any other method, and want to change to Direct Debit, select the link below to get started.

To start paying your Council Tax by Direct Debit, you will need:

your bank account details and branch address
the date you would like to pay your bill each month (the 1st or the 15th)
the number of payment instalments you would prefer (10 or 12) - for operational reasons, we prefer to collect your Council Tax over 10 payments, if you are happy for us to do this

You can set up a Direct Debit online. To set up your payment plan, you will need:

Your Council Tax account number (This is a seven or nine digit number, and you can find it in the top left corner of your latest Council Tax bill. Please see our example bill)
Your bank account details

Set up a new Direct Debit

Pay online

To pay online, you will need a debit or credit card and your Council Tax account number. During the process, you will manually enter the amount you wish to pay. Please note that some banks and building societies may take a few days to deduct your payment from your account balance.

Payment can be made using most credit and debit cards. Unfortunately we are not able to accept American Express.

Pay Council Tax online

Pay by phone

You can pay your Council Tax bill by debit or credit card by automated payments line on 0300 456 0632, available Monday to Sunday, 24 hours. We don't accept American Express.

Calls to this number cost 3p per minute plus your telephone providers access charge.

Pay by bank transfer

Use your online banking website or mobile phone banking app

You can use a bank transfer to send us a single payment for any amount, or to set up a regular standing order to pay your bill by instalments. To do this, you will need our bank details below:

Account Name: Bath & North East Somerset Council
Bank: National Westminster Bank, Old Bank Branch
Sort Code: 56 00 34
Account Number: 57134510

!  WarningYou must quote your Council Tax account number as the payment reference, or we may not be able to process your payment.

If you are making payments to multiple Council Tax accounts, to ensure we allocate payments correctly, please send a remittance advice to cashiering@bathnes.gov.uk

Pay in person

Pay at your local Post Office

If you already have a Post Office payment card, you can pay your Council Tax at your local Post Office.

Please note:

You must allow at least seven days for the payments to reach your Council Tax account.
Please make any cheques payable to “Post Office Ltd”.

! WarningAfter paying, please keep the receipt that the Post Office provide you with, as this is your only proof of payment. 

To request a new Post Office payment card,you can use our online form to contact us. Payment cards usually arrive within three weeks of the date we receive your request.

Find out more about Council Tax and benefits by following the links in the panel: More on Council Tax and Benefits.