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Worried about council tax arrears?

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i This advice applies to people living in England, Wales and Scotland only.

Council tax arrears

Dealing with council tax arrears

When you miss council tax payments, you fall into arrears. Council tax arrears are a priority debt, which means there can be serious consequences if you don't pay. Your local council may agree to a payment plan if you are struggling to pay.

Households in Northern Ireland pay 'rates' rather than council tax. Read our guide to dealing with rates arrears.

Councils have legal powers to collect council tax.


Quickly find what you are looking for


  1. What happens when I miss a council tax payment?
  2. What should I do if I cannot pay my council tax?
  3. Can council tax arrears be written off?
  4. Can bailiffs force entry for council tax?
  5. What is a council tax liability order?
  6. What if my council will not help me?
  7. Get help with council tax debt

What happens when I miss a council tax payment?

1. Your local council sends the first reminder letter to you

Your local council will send you a reminder letter 14 days after you miss a payment.

2. Your local council sends a second reminder letter

This will be sent to you if you miss another payment, and you will have to pay the full amount within seven days.

You will only get two reminder letters in a financial year (April to March) before your local council sends a final notice.

3. Your local council sends a final notice

At this point you will be at risk of being taken to court if you don't pay. The council can issue a court summons for the full balance owed, and you will also have to pay the court costs.

You can avoid going to court if you pay the amount in full before the court deadline.


  • If you pay within seven days: You can keep paying your council tax in instalments
  • If you do not pay within seven days: Your local council can ask you to pay your council tax for the whole year

The court process is different depending on which country you live in. Find out more about what happens if you don't pay your council tax.

What should I do if I cannot pay my council tax?

1. Work out your monthly budget

Making a budget is an easy way to find out where your money is going. Look at your income and spending and see if there are any areas where you can cut down on spending to help you pay your council tax arrears.

We can help you with this with our free online debt advice tool. Or you can use our guide to making a budget.

2. Ask the council to agree to a payment arrangement

Your local council might accept lower payments if you can show them you are struggling to pay the full amount.

Use your budget to make an offer to them and prove you are offering what you can afford.

The council can refuse your offer. If this happens, pay them what you can afford anyway. You can also raise a complaint.

3. Check if you can pay less on council tax

In some situations, you may get a discount your council tax or be exempt from paying. You could apply if you are:


  • On certain benefits
  • Living alone
  • On a low income
  • In full time education
  • Under 18 years old
  • A student nurse
  • Severely mentally impaired

See full details about council tax discounts and exemptions on the GOV.UK website.

4. Let the council know if you are getting debt advice

The council may be more patient with you if they know you are getting help with your debt. They might even be more open to payment offers because of this.

Can council tax arrears be written off?

Councils do have the power to do this. It is called 'discretionary relief'. They may choose to write off your arrears if:


  • Your home cannot be lived in, due to fire or flood damage
  • You do not have any money left after paying your usual living costs (happening over a long period of time)
  • You have serious ill health, including mental health conditions

To apply for your council tax arrears to be written off, you need to:


  • Write to the council and ask for 'discretionary relief'
  • Quote Section 13A Local Government Finance Act 1992
  • Share your budget to prove you cannot afford to pay

Councils must consider all applications. They cannot ignore them.

What if the council refuses to write off my arrears?

You can make a complaint if the council turns you down.

You can escalate your complaint to the Valuation Tribunal if you are unhappy with the council's response. The Valuation Tribunal are an independent organisation who help to settle council tax disputes.

Are there any debt solutions that can write off council tax arrears?

Some debt solutions may be able to write off council tax arrears, including:


With an IVA or protected trust deed, you can include council tax arrears in your proposal. But your application must be approved by the people you owe, and your local council may not agree to write off these debts.

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Can bailiffs force entry for council tax?

A bailiff cannot force entry to your home for council tax debt unless there is a controlled goods agreement in place.

A bailiff can only force entry to:


  • Collect a criminal fine or taxes owed to HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
  • Take goods if there was a controlled goods agreement in place, but you did not pay what you had agreed to pay

Find out more about bailiff rights and powers.

What is a council tax liability order?

Local councils can ask for a liability order to be issued. This lets them:


  • Involve court-appointed debt collectors
  • Take further legal action

Liability orders are issued across the UK, with different rules for different legal systems.

Find out more about liability orders.

What if my council will not help me?

You can raise a complaint with the ombudsman services if you are not treated fairly by your local council.


Help with council tax debt

Struggling with council tax payments could be a sign you need debt advice.

Take two minutes to find out what help you need. We will find the best way to help you.

 

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