All payments are due on or before the first day of each month whether you decide to pay by cash or cheque or Direct Debit.  You can pay by monthly instalments (1st April to 1st January), half yearly (1st May and 1st September) or in a lump sum (1st May).

Ways to pay - details are printed on the back of your bill:

Direct Debit
For convenience you can now set up a direct debit over the telephone by calling 01376 557722 during office hours.

Please ensure you have your account reference number (from your bill) to hand. You will also need your bank account and sort code numbers ready. Due to the rules of the Paperless Direct Debit scheme, in order to set up a direct debit you must be the Council Tax payer (or a joint Council Tax payer) and you must be the bank account holder or joint bank account holder. We regret we cannot set up a direct debit if you are not the account holder. If you wish you can download a paper Direct Debit Instruction. 

All direct debits set up over the phone will be confirmed in writing.

If you already pay by direct debit you do not have to set up a new instruction each year. Your instruction will continue unless you have cancelled the instruction at your bank.  Please note however if you have a change in circumstances which results in you being allocated a new account reference number you will have to re-submit your bank details to us.
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The Direct Debit Guarantee

This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Braintree District Council will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Braintree District Council to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Braintree District Council or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society - If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Braintree District Council asks you to

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us.

For further information on Direct Debits click here: The Smarter Way to Pay

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24 Hour automated payment line
 
You can pay by credit or debit card by telephoning the automated 24-hour card line - 01376 557894. You will need to have your account reference number (from your bill).  Please note for credit card payments a charge of 1.9% is levied for balances over £10.  Please note we are unable to accept American Express charge cards.

E-Pay on-line

 - You can pay via our secure internet payment service.

Standing Order

If you wish to set up a standing order you will need to complete a form available from your bank or building society. You will need to quote your account reference number (from your bill).

Our bank details are:
account name: Braintree District Council
Sort code: 08-90-04
account number: 61021251
bank name: Co-operative Bank, Chelmsford
Please note payments made by Standing Order can take 3 days to reach us, therefore you must take this delay into account when setting up an instruction to your bank or building society. Late payment may result in recovery action being taken.

By Post
 
You can send a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘Braintree District Council’ to:

Braintree District Council,
PO Box 207,
Causeway House,
Bocking End,
Braintree,
CM7 9HB.

Please write your account reference number (from your bill) on the reverse of the cheque.
Receipts will only be issued of you send a stamped addressed envelope.

Click here to check your Council Tax balance on-line
You will need to enter your account reference number (from your bill) and post code.