Residents of the District are being reminded that if you do not keep up with your Council Tax payments it could cost you more than you think!

In the past six months Sevenoaks District Council, which is responsible for collecting the Council Tax charge, has issued 83 committal summonses against individuals across the District for non-payment of Council Tax.

Committal summonses are issued as a final measure when Council Tax has not been paid, requiring you to attend a Committal hearing in the Magistrates Court, when the court will look at why you have not paid, and what they should do.

There are many opportunities to pay before this final step is taken.

Cllr Brian Ramsay, the Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for finance, says: "As a Council we don’t like to take anyone to court, and applying for such a committal summons is only used as a last resort after we have explored every available avenue in an attempt to get payment. We understand that on occassions individuals may, for one reason or another, experience difficulties in paying their Council Tax, and I would urge anyone in such a situation to contact our Council Tax team to see what help is available to them."

Steps that could lead to committal

Initially if you do not pay an instalment on time the Council will give you a few more days to pay, then a reminder will be sent to you. If you pay the arrears within seven days of the reminder your instalment arrangement will continue. If you ignore this reminder a withdrawal notice will be issued. A withdrawal notice means you have lost the right to pay by instalments, and asks you to pay your Council Tax for the year in one lump sum.

If you are sent two reminders in one year, no further reminders will be sent. If you receive two reminders, and pay the balance on each one with seven days, but fail to pay a subsequent instalment on time you will receive a withdrawal notice.

If you fail to pay the full amount on the withdrawal notice a court summons will be issued.

A court summons means you will be required to pay additional costs of £43, and a hearing will be held at the Magistrates Court. Before the hearing the Council will consider making a payment arrangement with you. However if this is not possible, at the court hearing the Council will apply for a liability order at a further cost of £40. You cannot make a payment arrangement at the actual court hearing.

A liability order enables the Council to recover the money in a variety of ways, including:

• Deduction from Income Support/Job Seekers Allowance – if applicable the Council will ask the Department of Work and Pensions to deduct a certain sum by instalments to pay off the debt
• Attachment of earnings – if you are in work the Council can require your employer to deduct a certain regular amount from your wages or salary to pay off the debt
• Use of bailiffs – Bailiffs employed by the Council will initially try to agree payment arrangements, but can, and will, remove goods in certain cases. Should bailiffs be instructed then you will then incur further costs which average around £105
• Bankruptcy – In some cases the Council can take insolvency proceedings to recover debts through the County Courts, which can result in you losing your home.
• Charging order – this type of order can legally be placed on your property which means that when the property is eventually sold the Council’s bill must be settled from any proceeds of the sale.

If all of the above options fail, then the Council will, as a final resort, apply to the court for your committal to prison. You will be required to attend a hearing in the Magistrates Court, when the Magistrates will investigate the case. If they consider the money should have been paid, they may issue a warrant of Committal placing you in prison for up to three months for each liability order. Failure to attend could result in your arrest, plus further costs added to the bill.

The Council Tax bill is made up five components and each authority sets its own charge. Sevenoaks District Council collects its share of the Council Tax and the other authorities’ charge on their behalf.

The Council’s share of the Council Tax bill for 2006/2007, based on an average Band D property, is £153.

For help and advice about paying your Council Tax, and to find out what discounts and exemptions may be available to you, contact the Council Tax section by calling 01732 227000, or by e-mailing revenues@sevenoaks.gov.uk.

If you think you might be entitled to benefit to help with your Council Tax bill then please contact the Council’s benefit section on 01732 227000.

Alternatively you can visit the Council Offices between 8.30pm and 5pm, Monday to Thursday, and between 8.30am to 4.45pm on a Friday.

For further information please contact: Steve Mandaluff on 01732 227162 or e-mail steven.mandaluff@sevenoaks.gov.uk