Wiltshire residents can apply for council tax and business rates deferral

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, though they'll have to make up the deficit in February and March 2021.

Similarly, businesses who wish to can defer business rates payments, and not pay in April and May.

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 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 at http://www.wiltshire.gov.uk/benefits-council-tax. 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.