How to pay your council tax or business rates bill

Your bill is payable in ten monthly instalments. If you prefer, you can opt to pay in two, half yearly instalments for the whole year. The amount of each instalment and the date it is due are shown on the front of your bill. Please remember that your payment should reach the Council by the due date.

Direct debit

This is one of the methods preferred by the council as it is easy, safe and convenient. If you would like to pay your council tax or business rates bill by direct debit, all you have to do is print out the relevant direct debit form and return to this office.

Direct debit mandate

Payment card

As part of our continued work to support post offices, North Devon Council has introduced plastic payment cards that can be taken along with a payment to the Post Office or Payzone outlet. The card will show the customers council tax or business rates reference number and will allow payment by cash, cheque or debit card at the Post Office and by cash or debit card at a Payzone outlet without the need to remember their bill or billing reference number. It will replace paper vouchers and can be used again and again. The Post Office or Payzone outlet will not charge the customer for this service and a payment receipt will be given.

The advantages of the payment card are that it can be used in most of the Post Offices or Payzone outlets in the country. There are more Post Office outlets than all the other UK banks combined – and around 95% of the population live within a mile of a Post Office.

If you would like a payment card you do not need to do anything else, it will be sent to you before you receive your new bill.

If you have any questions or would like more information about the payment card scheme please contact the customer helpline on 01271 388361 when we will be pleased to help.

Paying by debit or credit card

Girobank Billpay the service that allowed you to pay your bill over the Internet using your debit card has now been replaced.

North Devon Council now allows you to pay your council tax at any time of day by using your debit or credit card. Please note that we currently take all cards except for Diners Club, American Express, Electron and JCB.

The council is now able to accept payments by debit and credit card for all of its services. There will be no charge for debit card payments, but a 1.5% service charge will be placed on credit card transactions. It is now possible to pay by card using a number of methods. You will need to have the reference number from your bill when you pay.

By post

Cheques and postal orders should be made payable to North Devon District Council and crossed A/C payee. Please send your payment quoting your reference number, name and address to:

The Revenue and Benefits Office
Lynton House
Commercial Road
Barnstaple
EX31 1DG.

If you require a receipt please send a stamped addressed envelope with your payment. Please note that post-dated cheques are not accepted.

Through the Post Office and Payzone outlets

Take your payment with your payment card to any Post Office or Payzone outlet in the UK, this provides a great deal of flexibility and convenience where payments can be made. The payment can be made by cash, cheque or debit card at the Post Office and by cash or debit card at a Payzone outlet. A receipt is issued to the customer each time a payment is made to ensure security. You will not be charged for this service.

Further information about Payzone outlets may be obtained from the Payzone website.

What happens if I don’t pay?

If you do not make your payments in accordance with your bill you will be issued with a reminder telling you how much your account is in arrears. If you do not make a payment after receiving a reminder, a summons will be issued for the full amount due and you will incur court costs.

At this point we will withdraw your right to pay by instalments and ask for immediate payment on the full balance.

What happens if I receive a summons?

You should pay the amount in full including the court costs, to avoid the council applying for a Liability Order at the Magistrates’ Court. If you are unable to pay the summons in full or you have a query relating to the summons you should contact us on 01271 388361.