Council tax arrears

If you fall into arrears with your council tax, it is important for you to contact your local council office and offer to make regular repayments that you can afford.

Before you contact your local council, you will need to work out your financial statement so that you can show your current income and expenditure. This will then back up any reduced repayment proposal you will make.

It is important that you do not ignore the problem otherwise your local council office may issue you with a Liability Order which will request you to repay the full amount that you owe and any costs incurred.

If you have had a Liability Order issued and you have not made any steps to remedy the arrears, your council can take enforcement action against you in order to recover monies owed.

The council may be either permitted to take payments from your wages in the form of an Attachment of Earnings, or they could send bailiffs to your home. They could also force bankruptcy or place a Charging order on your property.

Deductions from benefits you receive could also be a way to enforcement if the council choses. Benefits such as Jobseekers allowance, Income support or pension credit could be included.

This is why it is important to class council tax as a priority debt. If you do fall into arrears or anticipate that you will be unable to keep up with the required payments, there are steps you can take to prevent action being taken against you but you will need to contact your local council to explain your situation and come to a payment agreement.

Call our specialist debt team on 08000 915 004 to find out how we could help you.