Letter Sorted

Council Tax reminder notice explained

You've missed a payment. Act within 7 days and nothing else happens. Ignore it and the whole year's bill becomes due.

Last checked: 18 October 2026 · Written by Ivan S., council finance professional

What it is A warning that an instalment wasn't paid on time
Deadline 7 days from the date on the notice
Can't pay? Call the council before the 7 days run out

What happens if you don't pay

In England and Wales, councils follow the same ladder. Each step adds pressure and, from the summons on, extra costs.

  1. Reminder notice (this letter). Pay the overdue amount within 7 days and your instalments carry on as normal.
  2. Final notice. Miss the 7 days and you lose the right to pay monthly. The rest of the year's bill becomes due in one go.
  3. Court summons. If the full balance isn't paid, the council takes you to the magistrates' court. Court costs are added; the amount varies by council.
  4. Liability order. The court lets the council recover the debt directly, for example by taking it from your wages or benefits, or by using enforcement agents.

What to do now

  1. Pay the overdue amount shown on the notice, not the whole bill, before the 7 days are up. Your account number is printed at the top of the letter.
  2. If you can't pay it all, contact the council now and ask for a payment arrangement. Councils would much rather agree a plan than go to court.
  3. Check you're not paying too much. Ask about a single person discount or Council Tax Reduction if you live alone or are on a low income.
  4. If you think the notice is wrong, for example you'd already paid, contact the council and dispute it in writing.

Living in Scotland?

The process is different. Scottish councils recover unpaid Council Tax through a summary warrant from the sheriff court rather than a magistrates' summons. See the final notice page for what happens next in Scotland.

Need a payment plan request?

Upload your notice and we'll explain it and draft a payment arrangement request to your council.

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This is general information, not legal or debt advice. Free debt advice is available from Citizens Advice and MoneyHelper. Letter Sorted is independent and not affiliated with any council.