Our Council Tax team is extremely busy at the moment and although we understand that delays in processing customer enquiries can be frustrating, we are asking that customers please bear with us during this busy time.
If you have contacted the team and are awaiting a reply, please be patient, we will be in touch as soon as we can. If possible, please avoid contacting the team to ask for a progress update as this generates additional work and may delay your enquiry.
Council Tax recovery process
- A reminder notice is issued if your Council Tax payments are not paid in accordance with the latest bill issued to you. Only 2 reminder notices will be issued to you in any financial year - these are known as a first reminder and a second reminder.
- If you do not bring your account up-to-date within 7 days following receipt of a reminder notice, you will receive a final notice. This means that you will lose the right to pay by instalments and will have to pay the full balance due on your account.
- If you do not bring your account up-to-date within 14 days following receipt of a final notice, you will receive a summary warrant notice and a 10% statutory surcharge will be added to the outstanding balance on your account.
- If the balance remains outstanding, the debt will be passed to a sheriff officer for collection.
We will try to assist you wherever possible if you are having difficulty paying your Council Tax. We also want to make sure that you are receiving any discount, exemption or Council Tax reduction award you may be entitled to.
If you have submitted an application for Council Tax reduction you must try to pay any Council Tax due while waiting for your application to be assessed.
Important information - cost of living
With the cost of living increasing, many people are finding it difficult to cover essential daily living costs.
A range of measures are available to help people boost their income. Don't assume you're receiving everything you're entitled to, always check, and if you're still struggling or in doubt, get in touch.
Find out more: www.eastlothian.gov.uk/cost-of-living-support