Oxford City Council
Council TaxCouncil Tax is a property-based tax which is payable on most domestic properties. A domestic property is usually a house or a flat, but it also means other types of property where people can live, such as a houseboat, a caravan, or a 'granny flat' for instance. Some of the Council Tax which the we collect is kept to help to pay for the services which we provide. The remainder is collected on behalf of Oxfordshire County Council, the Police, and in some cases the parishes. You can now pay your Council Tax online using a credit or debit card on our payments page. For individual account enquiries, please contact us using the details on the right of this page. Our phone service is now available until 6pm from Monday to Friday.
Payment
Oxford City Council decides who is liable to pay the Council Tax at each property in the City.
Discounts and Exemptions
There are discounts and exemptions for council tax possible under certain conditions.
Moving house
Find out more about Council Tax and moving.
Appeals
There may be circumstances where you feel that you wish to appeal against your Council Tax.
How much will you pay?
The amount of Council Tax which you will pay depends on the banding of your home.
How to pay
There are a variety of ways to pay your council tax, this page covers all of them.
Changing your method of payment
We are trying to reduce costs as much as possible. You can help us to do this by paying your Council Tax on time and by choosing Direct Debit as your payment method.
Difficulty in paying
If you find that you are having difficulty in paying your Council Tax, the first thing you should do is contact the Council.
Reminders
If you receive a Reminder, you must bring your account up to date within seven days.
Summons
If your Council Tax remains unpaid, the Council will take further recovery action to obtain the money due.
Apply for a discount
Apply here online for a Council Tax discount.
Disabled reduction
If you are, or you live with someone who is disabled and the property you live in is adapted to cope with their needs, you may get a reduction in your Council Tax bill.
Empty properties
New legislation allows local councils to vary the discount on council tax given to empty properties.
Students
Council tax discounts and exemptions available for students and landlords of students.
Exemptions
There are certain groups of property which will be completely exempt of Council Tax.
Sharing property
If you are sharing a property with other people, your tenancy agreement will determine who is liable to pay the Council Tax.
Grounds for appeal
A person can appeal to Oxford City Council if they disagree with any decision relating to liability,discounts,reductions for disabilities, or exemptions.
Process
There are 3 stages to the Council Tax appeal process.
Valuation Tribunals
The Valuation Tribunals are independent bodies set up to hear Council Tax, Community Charge and Ratings appeals.
Time limits
We have two months to respond to your appeal, if you disagree with our response you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Page last reviewed 28 Apr 2008 Copyright © Oxford City Council 2008 
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