Can you pay council tax with a credit card?

There's no single rule for the UK. Each council decides which payment methods it accepts. Many take debit cards online or by phone, but a lot of them don't accept credit cards at all, and some that used to have stopped.

Accepting credit cards costs a council more than collecting by Direct Debit, and UK rules stop them passing that cost on to you as a surcharge. So many simply don't offer it.

• Your council's website. Search for your council's name and "pay council tax". The payment page usually lists which cards it takes.
• Your council tax bill. The payment options, and the bank details for bank transfer, are usually printed on it.
• Ask the council tax team. If it isn't clear, they can tell you by phone or email.

Almost every council lets you pay by bank transfer and gives you the account details and the reference to use, usually your council tax account number. That's all Omrello needs:

1. Add your council as a payee using the bank details on your bill.
2. Enter your council tax account number as the reference, exactly as shown, so the payment is matched to your account.
3. Pay with your Visa, Mastercard or American Express.
4. Your council receives a normal bank transfer.

Omrello is launching soon. Join the waitlist to be told the day it opens.

Councils usually split council tax into 10 monthly payments, and you have the right to ask for 12 instead. Some let you pay the whole year in one go.

Paying monthly keeps each card payment smaller. Paying the year at once is a single large payment, which can help if you're working towards a card's sign-up bonus. Check with your council before changing how you pay.

• Pay your credit card off in full, or interest will cancel out any rewards.
• Pay a few working days before your instalment is due.
• If you currently pay by Direct Debit, tell your council before you switch so you don't pay twice.
• Check your card's terms on what earns points.