Direct Debit is the easiest and most convenient way to pay your Council Tax and Business Rates (National Non-Domestic Rates), ensuring you never have to worry about missing a payment in the future.  A Direct Debit mandate should be included with your bill if you wish to pay by this method, alternatively you can download a copy of the Direct Debit Mandate here to print, complete, and send to us.  Please ensure that you write your Council Tax account number on the form before you return it to us.  Alternatively you can sign up for Direct Debits over the phone - see below.

With Direct Debit you can choose one of three dates for the payment to be made, the 1st, 15th or 28th of each month.  You will be given at least 14 days advance notice of your account being debited (or as otherwise agreed).  You are always in control, the Council will notify you of the amounts it will take on the dates you have chosen.  If at any stage you wish to cancel the instruction you need only contact your bank to stop it, and then also let the Council know.

Sign up for Direct Debit over the phone ...
South Hams District Council has taken all the hassle out of signing-up to pay instalments by Direct Debit.  As part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to improving service to customers, you can now arrange to pay by Direct Debit over the phone by contacting the Customer Services Team on 01803 861275.  As long as the bank account to be debited is in your name, only one person is required to authorise debits to the account, and you are the person responsible for paying the bill, there will be no forms to fill in.

The Council will confirm that the arrangement has been set up, and details of payments to be taken, in plenty of time for you to cancel it if you change your mind.

Direct Debit is the easiest and most cost effective way to pay Council Tax and Business Rates.  One low cost electronic transaction can collect the instalments due for thousands of accounts, whereas the Council has to bear the cost of each payment made by cash or cheque.  It all adds up.