If you have a bank or building society account, Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay your council tax bill. All you have to do is phone us or download a council tax Direct Debit form (PDF 128KB) to arrange it and we take care of the rest.

Your Direct Debit will then be collected each month (as detailed on a schedule we will send you) and you’re fully protected against mistakes under the terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee.

You can pay on either the 5th, 9th, 19th or the last day of each month.

Download a council tax Direct Debit form (PDF 128KB) or call our Direct Debit line now on 0300 300 8012 – please have your bank details to hand. Please note - this number is for setting up Direct Debits only. We cannot register you for council tax or give advice about discounts. For all other council tax services, please call 0300 300 8306.

You can pay council tax online at any time, day or night. Our payment site offers 24-hour secure online payments for lots of Central Bedfordshire Council services. Click on the link below to access our online payment site.

Pay council tax online - secure online payments

You need to have the following information ready:

• The amount you want to pay
• Your council tax account reference number (this is on the front of your bill)
• Your credit or debit card
• A pen (to record your transaction number)

Please note that if you pay by credit card, a 1.8% surcharge will apply. There is no surcharge for debit card payments.

You can use the Council’s 24 hour automated telephone payment line to make credit or debit card council tax payments if you have a touch tone telephone with a “star” button and a “hash” key.
 
Please make sure you have ready your credit or debit card, your council tax account reference number, the amount you wish to pay and a pen to record the transaction number. Please note that a 1.8% surcharge applies to credit card payments.

Call us now on 0300 300 8030 to make your payment.

Allpay payment card

If you have an Allpay payment card, you can use it free of charge at any Post Office or PayPoint in the UK. To find a payment outlet near you, visit the Allpay website to search for outlets across the UK. If you would like a payment card sent to you, please contact us.

Telephone banking, internet banking or standing order

You can set up a payment directly with your bank, using telephone banking, internet banking or standing order. If you make payments from your bank account, please make sure that you quote your Council Tax reference number. The details you will need are:

National Westminster Bank plc
Sort code:  60-01-16
Account number: 45062811
Account name: Central Bedfordshire Council income account

If you choose to pay by bank transfer, you will need to update your payment amounts each year, and if you receive a new bill. The council cannot change the terms of a direct payment arrangement for you. Alternatively, you can set up a Direct Debit, and we will automatically update your payments for you when your bill changes.

By post

You can pay by post, using cheques or postal orders. Please do not send cash through the post.  Please make your cheque or postal order payable to “Central Bedfordshire Council”, and write your address and reference number on the back. Send your payments to:

Income Team
Central Bedfordshire Council
Technology House
239 Ampthill Road
Bedford
MK42 9BD

We will normally ask you to pay your council tax over 10 monthly instalments, due on the 5th of each month from April to January. The dates and amounts you have to pay are listed on the front of your council tax bill.

If you would find it easier to pay on a different instalment plan, you can ask us to change your payment dates or number of instalments. We offer the following options:

Paying by Direct Debit

• Pay over 12 months instead of 10
• Choose from 4 different payment dates - the 5th, 9th, 19th or last day of each month

Paying by cash, cheque, or telephone or online payments

• Pay over 12 months instead of 10
• Pay on the last day of each month
• Switch to weekly or fortnightly instalments

If you are finding it difficult to pay your council tax, please contact us straight away. We will do our best to help and advise you. We will try and help you by:

• Adjusting your instalments and agreeing a different payment timetable
• Setting up a Direct Debit
• Checking if you could qualify for a discount or council tax benefit

You can contact our council tax recovery team by phone on 0300 300 8011 or by emailing revenue.team@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.

You can also get free, independent debt advice from many organisations in Central Bedfordshire. Visit our Managing debt page for more information about this.

If you do not pay your council tax on time, we will send you a reminder letter. After we have sent you two reminders, if you continue not to pay on time, we will send you a final notice. You will lose the right to pay by instalments, and will have to pay all of your year's council tax straight away.

If you still do not pay your council tax, we will send you a summons for a liability order hearing at the Magistrates Court. You will be charged for the court costs involved in this process. You do not need to attend the hearing unless you disagree with your liability.

To find out more about the recovery process, download our leaflet - Difficulty paying your council tax (PDF 57KB).