Council tax and business rates payments deferred until June for those who need it

To support people as much as possible during the ongoing COVID-19 situation, Wiltshire Council has confirmed that no resident or business in Wiltshire will have to pay council tax or business rates until June 2020 if they are struggling.

Any resident wishing to defer paying their council tax in April and May 2020, instead of the normal scheduled payment break in February and March 2021, can contact the council and this will be arranged. 

Similarly, businesses who also wish to defer business rates payments for two months, and not pay in April and May, can also arrange that by contacting the council.

For anyone wishing to do this, the council will freeze direct debit payments, so people do not need to contact their bank to arrange. 

People should call 0300 456 0109 or email counciltax@wiltshire.gov.uk (opens new window) to request the deferral these will be taken at face value and there will be no vetting of anyone wishing to defer payments for April and May 2020.

For those who choose to defer, payments will resume in June 2020 and will be taken over the 10 months from June 2020 to March 2021. For those that pay annually, they can still do so online, via our Council tax pages. Those that make manual payments can also continue to do this if they wish, but they will need to contact the council if they want the April and May payment break.

Working age residents who benefit from the current Council Tax Support Scheme will receive an additional reduction to their bill in line with the government's hardship fund criteria. Those households eligible for this reduction will automatically be re-billed.

Cllr Philip Whitehead, Leader of Wiltshire Council said: We hope during this uncertain and difficult time this will help people and ease the pressure.

We're all in this together and I've been so impressed by the response of our communities, and we'll continue to do what we can to provide support and reassurance.

These changes are for the Wiltshire Council local authority area.