Council Tax summons

If you don't pay the outstanding amount on a reminder letter or final notice, you will be sent a court summons. 

A summons is issued on behalf of the local magistrates court. It includes a date for your virtual court hearing. Court costs of £71.50 will be added to the amount you owe.

Any action taken by the magistrates court will not automatically affect your credit rating.

When you receive a summons you have five options.

1. Pay the amount in full

You should pay the amount demanded on your summons immediately. This will end the case against you.

See all the ways you can pay your Council Tax.

2. Tell us you can't pay

If you accept you owe the amount but can't afford to pay it in full, you should contact us before the hearing.

We can make an agreement to repay the debt, usually in instalments. 

If we agree a repayment plan, we will still ask the court for a liability order. This adds £26.50 to the amount you owe. You won't need to attend court for this to happen.

A liability order means that the court agrees that you owe the money and that we can take steps to collect it. This includes taking money directly from your salary or benefits, or using enforcement agents. 

If you stick to the repayment plan, we won't take any of these steps.

3. Challenge the summons

If you don't think you owe the Council Tax due, you should contact us before the hearing to explain why.

You're not likely to succeed in challenging the summons unless:

• We didn't follow the law when asking you to pay. For example, we didn't send you a bill and a reminder before the summons
• You don't owe any Council Tax for the period stated. For example, you have paid in full or are not liable for it

4. Attend virtual court

The magistrates can only consider whether or not you owe the amount on the summons. 

If you believe you have a good defence and want to argue your case, you can attend court virtually by video link. You should not attend in person.

You should read the guidance notes included with your summons to understand what we need to prove, and what defences are available to you.

You must email CouncilTaxSummons@richmond.gov.uk or call 020 8891 1411 to book a court time slot.

If your defence fails

If you do not make a successful defence, the court will issue a liability order against you. This adds £26.50 to the amount you owe. 

A liability order means that the court agrees that you owe the money and that we can take steps to collect it. This includes taking money directly from your salary or benefits, or using enforcement agents. 

5. Do nothing

If you don't take any action, we'll ask the court to make a liability order.

A liability order means that the court agrees that you owe the money and that we can take steps to collect it. This includes taking money directly from your salary or benefits, or using enforcement agents.

You will receive an order asking you to pay the balance within 14 days of the hearing.

An additional £26.50 will be added to your bill if a liability order is issued.

You can find out more about liability orders.