Council Tax Billing

Frequently asked questions about Council Tax Billing

Council Tax is a property tax with a personal element. The property element is based on the property's valuation band. The personal element takes into account the number of people aged over 18 living in a property, and allows for a discount to be granted in some circumstances.

• Why is there a ‘previous account balance’ on my bill, and what does it mean?
  This is the amount you still owed on your account as of 9 March 2026. If you’ve made a payment after this date, it won’t be included in the balance shown on your bill. 
• My balance from last year is higher than I expected.  
  The ‘previous account balance’ on your bill includes all outstanding balances as of 9 March 2026. If you owe money from more than one financial year (for example,  2024-25 and 2025-26), these amounts will be combined into one figure. 
• The balance for my previous year is lower than what the Enforcement Agents have.  
  The balance on your bill only shows your Council Tax amount. It does not include any extra fees that the Enforcement Agents may have added. 
• Do I need to complete a new Direct Debit form if I paid by Direct Debit last year?  
  Look at the bottom of your bill to see how your instalments are set up for 2025-26: 

   

  • If your payment method is shown as ‘Direct Debit’, you don’t need to do anything. Your payments will continue. 

  • If your payment method is listed as ‘Instalment’ or anything else, you’re not paying by Direct Debit. You’ll need to either continue paying manually, or set up a new Direct Debit using the form included with your bill or complete the form online. 

   

  Direct Debit online form

• I want to pay my Council Tax over 12 months instead of 10.  

  You can spread your payments over 12 months instead of the standard 10.

   

  To request this, complete the online form to have your account updated. 

   

  Request to Pay Council Tax over 12 months

• Can I change the date my Direct Debit is taken?  

  Yes, you can request a change by completing a Direct Debit enquiry form on the Vale of Glamorgan Council website.

   

  We offer four payment dates each month: 1st, 9th, 18th, or 27th. 

   

  Request to change date Direct Debit is taken

• I want to set up a Direct Debit for this year.  
  You can: 

   

  • Complete the Direct Debit form included with your bill (if applicable). 

  • Set up a Direct Debit online via the Vale of Glamorgan Council website. 

   

  Set up a Direct Debit online

   

  If you didn’t receive a Direct Debit form but prefer a paper version, you can: 

  • Complete an online form and select ‘Miscellaneous’ to request a paper version. 

  • Download a copy 

  • Collect a form from the Council Tax enquiries desk (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 10am-2pm) 

• My bill doesn’t include the discount or exemption I applied for.  

  Your bill is based on your account as it was on 9 March 2026. If you applied for a discount, exemption, or reduction but haven’t had a response yet, your application is likely still in our queue. 

   

  Once processed, we’ll send you an adjusted bill or a decision letter.

   

  We’re currently receiving a high number of requests, so it may take up to 8 weeks to process your enquiry. We’re working hard to reduce wait times, and we appreciate your patience.

   

  You don’t need to contact us again - we’ll be in touch as soon as we have an update or if we need more information.