I've received a council tax summons

The council will send you a summons if:

• you had a first or second reminder during the financial year and your account is still in arrears
• you were in arrears, brought your account up-to-date but have fallen into arrears again

Receiving a summons means you have lost your right to pay by instalments. If you pay the total amount shown on the summons in full before the hearing date we'll not take your case to court. You'll also need to pay the costs incurred by the council for the summons of £80.50.

Tell us if you have financial difficulties and cannot pay your outstanding bill in full.

Special payment arrangement

If your council tax account is in arrears you can set up a special payment arrangement. The arrangement will clear your debt by the end of the current financial year. It ends in March.

Your council tax account must be in arrears to apply.

You'll need to:

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links.
    
   • if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
   • if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'
6. In the list of quick links find 'set up a special payment arrangement'
7. fill in the form

Start managing your council tax online

To manage your council tax online you'll need to:

• register for council tax (if you're a new resident)
• sign up or log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)

Once you have a council tax account number you'll need to:

• link your council tax account with your MyGuildford account

To link both accounts you'll need:

• your council tax account number - found on your latest bill
• your name exactly as it appears on your council tax bill
• postcode of your property
• national insurance number if you:
  • have applied for Local Council Tax Support
  • are named on a council tax support application

Watch our video to find out more about linking your council tax account and your MyGuildford account.

When your account is linked to MyGuildford follow the steps above to setup a special payment arrangement.

If we can accept your offer of payment, we will confirm this when you complete the form. You'll be able to view details of the arrangement you make on your online council tax account.

You must make the payments as per the arrangement.

If we cannot accept your offer of payment online, a team member will review your offer. We'll send you a letter to tell you the outcome of your request.

Special payment arrangements mean you will not have paid your account in full. Your case will still proceed to court. If you make the payments as part of your arrangement, nothing more will happen.

You do not need to attend court.

At court the magistrate can only consider:

• if the bill and reminder have been issued correctly, and
• if the amount remains unpaid

The magistrate cannot:

• say if you are the correct person to be paying
• say the amount billed is wrong
• make any consideration for you to pay the debt by instalments

The magistrate will issue a liability order which allows the council to:

• contact your employer to take money direct from your wages
• make a deduction from your state benefits
• send the debt to an enforcement agent to collect the money

Enforcement agents used to be known as bailiffs. You will get extra charges if your account is passed to our enforcement agency. Our enforcement agent is Rundles enforcement agency (opens new window).

For more information and guidance visit our enforcement agent page