Pay your bill, manage your account and find out about discounts
All Council Tax requests, changes and payments can be made online.
Payments
Direct Debit: Over 100,000 South Lanarkshire residents pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit – it’s safe, secure and the easiest way to pay.
All you need to do is set up your Direct Debit online or call us on 0303 123 1011 and we will set this up for you.
Council Tax prize draw: Win a year free from Council Tax payments.
All customers who are signed up to pay by Direct Debit at 1 April each year are entered into our prize draw to win a year free from Council Tax payments.
Payment online or by phone: You can pay online or by phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You will need your debit or credit card and Council Tax account number. To pay by phone please call our automated payment line on 0303 123 1005.
If you can’t pay by Direct Debit, online or by phone, you can pay by cash at any Post Office or at any shop displaying the PayPoint sign, using the barcode on your posted bill. Alternatively, you can use our make an account enquiry form to request one.
Instalments and recovery
If payment is not received by the due date, you will lose the right to pay by instalments and the full balance for the year will be payable immediately. The council works with a Sheriff Officer firm and will take legal action to recover Council Tax arrears. See information on the council’s collection performance.
Money off your bill
Council Tax Reduction can reduce your Council Tax bill if you are on a low income. You can check if you are entitled to Council Tax Reduction and apply online.
Council Tax Reduction is available to both homeowners and tenants in all Council Tax bands. The amount of Council Tax Reduction you may get depends on the amount of Council Tax you have to pay, the amount of money you have coming in and the number of people in your household.
If your savings and investments are more than £16,000, you will not be entitled to Council Tax Reduction, unless you are in receipt of Guarantee Credit.
If you have been awarded Council Tax Reduction it will be detailed on your bill. If you want to know more about this decision or think it may be incorrect, you can ask us for an explanation or to look again at the decision. If you want to request a review of our decision, you must contact us in writing within two months of the date of this bill.
If you do not qualify for Council Tax Reduction but have a second adult aged 18 or over living with you who is not your partner and is on a low income, you can apply for Second Adult Reduction. Second Adult Reduction can only be awarded if the other adult is aged 18 or over and:
- Does not pay commercial rent for living in your home
- Is not your spouse or partner
- Has a low income and they are not counted as a disregarded person for Council Tax purposes, for example, a student
Information and applications for Council Tax discounts, exemptions and disabled relief are available online or you can call us on 0303 123 1011.
Changes in circumstances: you must tell us immediately about any change in your household circumstances which may affect your entitlement to any reduction, discount, exemption or disabled relief. If you fail to do so, you may have to pay a penalty and backdated charges.
Citizens Advice Scotland: you can also check your eligibility for exemptions, discounts and reduction by using Citizens Advice Scotland’s Council Tax savings tool at www.checkmycounciltax.scot
Disputes and appeals
You can dispute or appeal against your council tax bill if you think we are sending bills to the wrong person, or the amount we are charging you is wrong. Further information can be found on our website under Your council tax bill - disputes and appeals.
Council Tax banding and charges
Your Council Tax charges are determined by the valuation of your property which is set by the Lanarkshire Valuation Joint Board (the Assessor). Further information is available at www.saa.gov.uk
Water and waste water services
Your Council Tax bill includes the charges for your water supply and waste water collection services from Scottish Water. These charges allow Scottish Water to operate and improve services in communities across Scotland. For more details visit: www.scottishwater.co.uk/unmeteredcharges
To find out more about Scottish Water, their customer charter and keep up to date with what they are doing in your area, visit: www.scottishwater.co.uk.
Email help@scottishwater.co.uk or call the Scottish Water customer helpline free 24/7 on 0800 0778778.
Unoccupied properties
For qualifying unoccupied properties, the council can currently reduce your Council Tax bill by awarding a 10% discount. However, if a property remains unoccupied after 12 months, this discount will end, and a 200% Council Tax charge will apply.
Where the property is being actively marketed for sale or let, the 10% discount can be awarded for a further 12 months. However, if the property still remains unoccupied after 24 months, the discount will end, and a 200% Council Tax charge will apply.
For more information, see our Council Tax – exemptions, discounts and increases (unoccupied properties) page.
Water and waste water charges on your property will remain unaffected by the increased Council Tax charge.
Additional information
Information on the council’s budget and funding is available on our How we spend your Council Tax page.
Information on how we handle your personal data is available at www.southlanarkshire.gov.uk/privacy.