Pay your council tax
Council services are currently significantly disrupted due to a serious cyberattack, and you may experience difficulty contacting us or using our services.
Disruption to our payment systems means that some council tax payments by direct debit may be delayed and a very small number cannot currently be processed.
The current instalments being processed are in line with the most recent direct debit payment on your account.
In a small number of cases where this varies slightly from the agreed amount for the next payment, this will be reflected in your council tax account so that any slight underpayment is added to future payments, and any slight overpayment deducted from future payments.
If you don’t pay your council tax by direct debit, the following options are unaffected and are safe and secure to use:
- online payments through our multiple payments system
- over the phone payments using the 24/7 automated telephone system by calling 020 8356 5050
- online bank transfer
- at a bank, post office or Paypoint location
We are currently not able to accept certain forms of payment for repaying overpayments of housing benefit or council tax, including:
- by cash or card at the Hackney Service Centre
- over the phone through a member of staff
- by setting up new direct debits
However, if all your payment options are unavailable and you are unable to make a payment as a result of this, you will not be penalised if you bring your account up to date as soon as the system becomes available.
Payments are due on the first day of each month for people who have not arranged to pay by direct debit.
By law, everyone has the right to pay their council tax by monthly instalments unless that right has been lost. Find out what happens if you don’t pay your council tax.
Coronavirus update
The Hackney Service Centre is currently closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.
If you normally pay your council tax bill by cash, cheque or card at the centre, you will need to pay by another method.
By direct debit
Direct debit is the easiest way to pay your council tax. You just pick a payment date that suits you (1st, 14th, 21st or 28th of the month) and your payment is automatically debited from your account each month.
You can also call us on 020 8356 3154 and we will set it up for you.
Pay online
By phone
You can pay your council tax using your debit or credit card by calling 020 8356 5050.
We accept payment from: Switch, Visa, Maestro, Visa Electron, Mastercard and Solo cards.
By PayM
PayM is a simple, secure way to send and receive payments using your mobile banking app and Hackney’s dedicated PayM mobile phone number.
To pay by PayM, just follow these three easy steps:
- Enable PayM on your mobile banking app. Visit PayM for more detailed instructions for your own bank and to check that they offer PayM
- Save the London Borough of Hackney’s mobile payment number, 07535 844 354, to your mobile phone contacts
- Using your mobile banking app set up a PayM payment:
-
- select the account you want to debit
- choose the London Borough of Hackney from your contacts list
- enter the amount you want to pay
- enter you council tax reference number and submit the payment
When the payment has been made, you will receive a confirmation message on your mobile device.
By post
You can send a cheque to the Hackney self-service centre, 2 Hillman Street, E8 1FB. You should write clearly your reference number on the reverse of the cheque. Please do not send cash through the post.
At a bank or post office
Current advice from the Government is to stay at home wherever possible, so we would recommend paying your council tax bill by direct debit.
However, if this is not possible you can pay your council tax bill by cash or cheque at some bank branches and post offices using the payment slips provided with your payment booklet. Please check your local branch or post office for opening hours, which may be different to normal opening hours.
There should be no charge for this facility. However, some banks may charge if you are making a payment at a bank other than your own.
Important: you must make sure that we receive your instalments on or before the dates shown on your bill. This means that you should allow:
- 6 extra days if you pay by cheque at the post office
- 3 extra working days if you pay by cash at the post office or through your bank
Even if we receive your payments later that same month, we may still send you reminders or final notices.
By PayPoint
You can pay your council tax in person at any PayPoint outlet.
Council Tax Contact Line
Telephone
Opening times
- Mon to Fri 9am to 5pm
Notes
Due to technical issues and we are currently unable to receive emails. To report a change of address or apply for discounts or exemptions, please complete the form on those pages and your request will be dealt with once normal service resumes. For general enquiries only, please use this form.