Questions
- I have moved. What do I need to do?
- My bill shows that I have an amount outstanding from previous years; do I have to pay it immediately?
- My bill shows that I have an amount outstanding from previous years but I am sure I have paid it
- I am on a low income or not working. Am I entitled to any benefit to help pay my Council Tax bill?
- I have applied for Council Tax Benefit but this is not showing on my bill
- I can’t pay on the first of the month.What can I do?
- Can I see my bills online?
- I live in the property on my own; do I have to pay the full Council Tax?
Answers
Q: I have moved. What do I need to do?
- If you have moved, please let us know:
- The date of your move
- The address you have moved to
- The address you have moved from
- Who you sold the property to or purchased it from, or the name and address of your landlord
- There are several ways you can let us know:
- The easiest way to do this is to fill in and return a Council Tax Change of Address form (doc)
- You can use the I Am Moving service where you can tell lots of organisations about your move in one go
- You can find details of both on the Moving Home page of the website
- You can also phone Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000 or contact the Revenues and Benefits Service
Q: My bill shows that I have an amount outstanding from previous years; do I have to pay this immediately?
- If your bill for 2007-2008 tells you that you have an amount of Council Tax outstanding for previous financial years, this means that we have not received all of your payments
- The amount is not included in your 2007-2008 monthly instalments and must be paid immediately
- If you do not know what financial year(s) this amount is for, please contact us and we will provide you with further details
- It is important that you either pay the amount immediately or contact us to discuss the matter
- If you pay by Direct Debit for 2007-2008, we will consider spreading the amount you owe for previous years over the year. Please contact us if you want to see if this is possible
- You can set up a Direct Debit online, or call How to contact us and we’ll set up your Direct Debit over the phone
Q: My bill shows that I have an amount outstanding from previous years but I am sure I have paid it
- If you are paying by Direct Debit or standing order or you have paid the amount after the 22 February 2007, then you can ignore the amount shown on your bill
- You may want to check the on line balance facility to be sure, or register for our e-billing service so you can log in and check your account online
Q: I am on a low income or not working. Am I entitled to any benefit to help pay my Council Tax bill?
- You will need to complete a Council Tax Benefit (and Housing Benefit) Application form or call us and we will post one out to you
- You can also visit one of our Waltham Forest Direct Shops where our staff will help you complete the form
- If you think you might be entitled to benefit, please make a claim as soon as possible. If you delay, you may receive less benefit
Q: I have applied for Council Tax Benefit but this is not showing on my bill
- If you are currently getting Council Tax Benefit for a period that includes 31 March 2007, you will not have to make a new claim. Your benefit will be worked out automatically and will be shown on your new Council Tax bill
- If it is not shown on the new Council Tax bill, please contact the Benefit Section at Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000
- If your Council Tax Benefit is processed after the new Council Tax bill has been issued, you will be sent a revised bill
Q: I can't pay on the first of the month. What can I do?
- Council Tax instalments are payable from April to January on the first of each month
- If you can’t pay on the first, you should change your payment method to Direct Debit
- You will have a choice of 6 dates to pay your Council Tax instalments
- Setting up a Direct Debit Online is the easiest way to pay Council Tax - it's automatic, and you're covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee
Q: How do I set up a Direct Debit to pay my Council Tax?
- You can set up a Direct Debit online, or phone 020 8496 3000 to set one up over the phone
- If your first instalment is already due, you will need to pay this first. You can easily do this using our online payments service
For more information about Direct Debit, please visit the About Direct Debit page
Q: Can I see my bills online?
- Yes, you can now register to see your Council Tax or Business Rates account online, including bills and recent payments
- Frequently Asked Questions about e-billing
Q: I live in the property on my own; do I have to pay the full Council Tax?
- No. If you are the only person over 18 who lives in the property, you will be entitled to a 25% Council Tax discount
- You will only get this discount if you apply for it so please complete the Council Tax discount application form and send it back to us, or contact Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000
More information
- There is more information about Council Tax on the website
- You can contact us at Waltham Forest Direct on 020 8496 3000
- You can visit one of our Waltham Forest Direct Shops
- Or you can contact us online
