If you're liable to pay council tax, you'll get a new or revised bill when:
- the new financial year is approaching
- you move to a different property
- there's a change to who's responsible for paying
- you or someone living with you has a change of circumstances
- you get Council Tax Support or your benefits change
Other changes in circumstances may also lead to a revised bill being issued.
Council tax bills will be issued by post, either to the property address or to a nominated contact address if the liable party lives elsewhere.
If you have any queries about your council tax bill, make an appointment to talk about your bill in person.
See further information about council tax billing online services:
Annual council tax bills for the financial year
The financial year begins on 1 April - if you're responsible for paying council tax (liable) and have not moved, your 'liability' runs from 1 April to 31 March.
We'll send a new annual bill during March to set out your council tax charges for the coming year. If you get help with council tax for your household, or Council Tax Support, this will be detailed on your bill.
Checking your council tax bill
Whenever a council tax bill arrives check:
- the names of people who are 'liable'
- that the address is correct
- discounts or benefits are shown
- the total amount you owe
- instalment dates
- your payment method
If you haven't already, you can set up a Direct Debit payment online. Alternatively, there are other ways to pay your bill.
Council tax bills when moving house
When you move (if you're liable to pay council tax) you'll be issued with council tax bills showing what you owe at each address:
- if you're moving into a property in York you'll get a new bill at your new address
- if you're moving out of a property in York you'll a final bill for your previous address (sent to your forwarding address)
- if you're moving between 2 properties you'll get a bill for each address (sent to your forwarding address)
Your council tax bills at a new address
When you move to a new property we'll send a new bill with details of your payments for the remainder of the financial year (until 31 March). In addition to the usual council tax bill checks, you should ensure the date you became liable for paying, matches the date you became responsible for the property (not always your move-in date).
If you've moved between properties in York and you're responsible for council tax at both addresses, a credit may have been applied to your new bill.
Your council tax bill for a previous address
When you move out of a property we'll send a bill to your forwarding address to:
- confirm the 'liability end date'
- show the amount due since 1 April and the end date
- show the amount paid towards between 1 April and the end date
- show the final balance due (which may be a credit amount)
If more than one person is liable and they move to different addresses, each person will get their own bill. In addition to the usual council tax bill checks, you should ensure the date your liability ended matches the date you stopped being responsible for the property (not always your move-out date).
Council tax bills when liability changes
If there's a change to who's responsible for paying council tax at your address we'll send a new bill - you'll also get a 'closing bill' which covers the previous period of liability (including any payments due). Remember to do the usual council tax bill checks to ensure the details are correct.
Changes of 'liable parties' include:
- somebody moving in who wants to be included on the bill
- somebody moving out who was previously included on the bill
- one of the current occupants who was liable becoming disregarded, for example becoming a full time student
If there's a change to who's liable to pay council tax a new account is created, with a separate account reference.
Council tax bills when circumstances change
If the people living at your address have a change in circumstance it could affect their liability to pay council tax, so we may send a new bill if:
- someone becomes eligible for Council Tax Support
- a benefit claim comes to an end
- you need help with council tax for your household
- the property becomes eligible for property discounts or exemptions
- any discount or exemption is removed
A change in circumstance won't normally require a new/separate account, though in some cases it may be necessary to create one.
Remember to do the usual council tax bill checks to ensure the details are correct following a change in circumstances.
Also see
Council Tax appointments
To get council tax advice in person at West Offices, you need to make an appointment.
