Ipswich council tax-payers have been given a pat on the back for the way they have been paying their bills.
Some 97.5% of the tax due by the end of the last financial year was paid on time (a record high) and if people keep on paying at the current rate it looks like this figure could be as high as 98% this year.
The Council is also maintaining its recovery of the tax still owing from previous years.
Over time, the Borough collects well over 99% of the tax due in any one year but the quicker it collects the tax the better its cash-flow.
Council Deputy Leader John Carnall said: "I want to thank all those people – the vast majority – who pay promptly, and also pay tribute to our revenues team for their hard work. This is a good record to have but we will not rest on our laurels and will do everything we can to improve still further and to chase those who don't pay. Prompt payment improves our cash-flow, minimises bad debts and keeps bills down."
While people who pay their tax on time should take comfort from these figures it is important that the minority who delay payment or try not to pay realise the Council means business when it sends bills and reminders. The best way to avoid getting behind with your tax is to pay by Direct Debit. If you pay over 10 months by this method you can have a choice of instalment dates: 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd. More information is available on the Direct Debit webpage.