Rebate announcement
The Government is providing a £150 one-off Energy Bills Rebate for most households in council tax bands A to D.
How to pay your bill
The back of your council tax bill contains important information that you need to read including the following information outlined below.
1. Payment methods
Please note that payments are due on or before the date indicated overleaf on your bill. Any late payments may result in recovery action and additional charges being incurred.
Direct Debit: You have the choice to pay on either the 1st or the 15th day of each month. Go to our Revenues Online service, or ring (01748) 829100 to arrange your Direct Debit over the phone. You will, however, need to download a Direct Debit form if payment is to come from a business account.
Online: Payment can be made by debit or credit card by visiting our council tax payment page.
By phone: Payment can be made using a debit or credit card at any of the council offices, or by telephone on 0845 078 1191 - open 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Calls to this number will cost you 3 pence per minute plus your phone company’s access charge.
By post: Send to Mercury House, Station Road, Richmond, North Yorkshire, DL10 4JX
At any of the council's offices: Opening times can be found via our contact us page.
Discounts and exemptions
2. Time limited reliefs
Some discounts and exemptions are time limited, which means that they will expire after a certain period, following which full council tax will become payable. If your bill shows one of these, when it is due to expire (see below for more detail) a replacement bill will be issued.
A) Empty properties
The discount for properties that are substantially unfurnished is no longer available.
The discount available to properties that are substantially unfurnished and require, or are undergoing major repair or structural alterations is currently 0%.
B) Unoccupied properties
Properties that are owned by a body established for charitable purposes only, which was last occupied in the furtherance of the objectives of that charity, may be entitled to a full Class B exemption for a maximum period of 6 months.
Properties that are unoccupied following the death of the owner may be entitled to a full Class F exemption for the period up to the grant of probate and a further 6 months thereafter. More information can be found on our page about exemptions.
Empty properties
3. Empty properties (upto 24 months)
A substantially unfurnished property will be subject to a full charge for the first 2 years and a premium thereafter. It is therefore very important that you notify us should you bring the property back into use.
4. Long term empty properties (premium)
With effect from 1 April 2021 long term empty properties will become subject to the following premiums:
- an additional 100% for properties that have been empty for longer than two years but less than five years
- an additional 200% for properties that have been empty for longer than five years but less than ten years
- an additional 300% for those that have been empty for over ten years.
Offences
5. Penalties
A penalty of £70 for a first offence (£280 for subsequent offences) may be added to a council tax account where the taxpayer fails to respond to a request for information, or fails to inform the council of a change in their circumstances.
Adult social care precept
6. Adult social care
The adult social care precept is a means by which North Yorkshire County Council can raise additional income to fund the growing pressures on the provision of adult social care. Any enquires regarding this precept should be directed to North Yorkshire County Council. More information can be found on their website.