Council Tax
Frequently Asked Questions
Due to backlogs of changes to be applied to accounts following the cyber-attack on 7 November 2023, correct billing may be delayed delayed. The Following FAQ document answers some common questions around council tax.
Why is council tax impacted?
The system the Comhairle uses to administer council tax had been inaccessible since the cyber-attack on 7 November but we are now starting the recovery process.
What has happened to money I owed prior to this date?
The system the Comhairle uses to administer council tax had been inaccessible for a time but we now have running systems. Due to the downtime, we are experiencing backlogs that are impacting on the time it takes to amend accounts.
What has happened to money I owed prior to the cyber -attack?
The Comhairle holds the records of all monies owed up to the date of the attack. Although the system is inaccessible at the moment, this is being rebuilt with data the Comhairle hold related to monies owed at the point of the attack. All outstanding monies will continue to be collected.
What has happened to payments made since this date?
All sums paid since the attack have been logged and allocated to accounts.
Can I make council tax payments online?
Yes, anyone wishing to make payments before the bill arrives can do so by paying online using the reference on their most recent bill and this will be credited to their account.
Will changes to my council tax be applied?
All changes to accounts that have been notified will be actioned in the coming months. This is taking longer than normal due to the backlog of changes waiting since the attack. We appreciate your patience with this.
I have applied for Council Tax Reduction but have not received notification of the outcome and my bill is not reduced?
Your application may be waiting to be processed. As with other correspondence, we are experiencing backlogs and hope to have this processed over the coming months.
Can I still pay using my payment card?
If you have a payment card that you previously used to pay your Council Tax for the same property then you can continue to make payments using this card. The amount you need to pay and the date you need to pay it by is detailed on your bill.