Pay your council tax and view your account for the Harrogate area

This service is delivered differently in each area of the county. This information relates to the former district of Harrogate. Looking for information in another area of the county? You can change the location here.

Access your council tax account, pay online and via other methods, request a refund or a copy of your bill.

Your account

You can see your council tax account online here

Pay council tax

The fastest way of paying council tax is online.

Pay council tax now

Other payment methods

Direct Debit

You can set up a council tax Direct Debit, change your existing bank details or your instalment plan. 

You will need to be a current registered liable party to be able to set up a Direct Debit. 

This is the most convenient way to pay your council tax. You just give us the details one and there is no need to remember to make the payments. If the amount you have to pay changes we will tell you in writing, and we will automatically change the amount we collect. 

Set up or change a Direct Debit online here.

Phone

Contact us to pay over the phone.

You will need your credit or debit card details and your council tax reference number.

Post Office and PayPoint

You can pay at any Post Office or PayPoint outlet using a council tax bill that has a barcode on it. Post Offices will accept cash, cheques and debit or credit cards up to a value of £999.

You can find your nearest Post Office branch on the Post Office branch finder

You can find your nearest PayPoint outlet here.

Request a copy bill

You can request a copy of your current council tax bill online. 

Request a copy bill here.

Council tax refunds

If your council tax account is in credit you can request a council tax refund here.

What is council tax for?

Council tax is used to pay for local services, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Authority. 

Council tax is linked to the value of your home and there is only one bill for each household. The basic bill assumes that there are at least two adults living in each property. If there are fewer than two adults living in the home, the bill may be reduced. 

You can see what we spend council tax on here

The liable person

The liable person (or liable party) is responsible for paying the council tax. In most cases that will be the owner-occupier or tenant living in the property. For every property the liable person is the person who appears highest in the following list:

  1. The person who owns and lives in the property. 
  2. The person who lives in the property with a leasehold interest.
  3. The statutory or secure tenant living in the property. 
  4. The person living in the property with a licence to occupy. 
  5. Any other resident including squatters.
  6. Owner.

If no one lives in the property, the owner is the liable person. The owner is also liable for the following properties:

  • residential care homes and nursing homes
  • certain hostels
  • properties where religious communities live
  • houses split into separate flats, or rooms that are rented out separately 
  • properties occupied by resident domestic staff
  • the home of ministers of religion
  • properties provided to asylum seekers

If the council knows that two or more people are jointly liable for the council tax bill, one bill in the name of those jointly liable will be issued. But the person receiving the bill must make sure that everyone concerned knows their responsibilities. If two or more people are jointly liable with others not shown on your bill, ask for their names to be included on future bills.