Attachment of earnings rules for employers

We issue Attachment of Earnings Orders to employers when someone hasn’t paid their council tax.

Our council tax department can only issue the order after the magistrates court has granted a liability order on the outstanding debt.

The Attachment to Earnings order is a legal document that obliges employers to take money from an employee’s pay. Then, it is forwarded to us until the outstanding amount is cleared.

Employers' duties

Employers must:

• execute the order in line with the guidance and regulations
• pay us the deductions no later than the 18th of the month following the month when we made the order
• inform us in writing within 14 days if they do not employ the debtor
• tell us in writing within 14 days of the debtor leaving if they stop employing them while they still owe us money

Employers may deduct £1 per order for administrative costs each time a deduction is taken from an employee’s wages. Only a total of two orders can run simultaneously.

Failure to:

• deduct may bring proceedings against the employer, which could lead to a fine
• tell us if a debtor is not or will no longer be working for them may result in a fine

Deductions are a percentage of net earnings. As central government sets the rate and not Bridgend County Borough Council, it cannot be altered.

Details for bank payments

Barclays Bank
36 Dunraven Place
Bridgend
CF31 1JB
Sort code: 20-12-58
Account number: 13415198
Account name: Bridgend County Borough Council

Ensure that you quote your employee’s council tax account number. Make cheques payable to ‘Bridgend County Borough Council’, and crossed. Please ensure that your employee’s council tax account number is written on the back of the cheque.