Summary
Households in the UK owe over £8 billion in unpaid council tax. This debt includes £6.6 billion owed to local authorities in England alone, with tax bills expected to keep rising in the future.
Key Facts
- Households in England, Scotland, and Wales owe a total of more than £8 billion in council tax.
- In England, £6.6 billion is currently owed to local authorities.
- An additional £642 million was added to the arrears in the year leading up to April.
- The UK government is considering changing how unpaid council tax bills are collected.
- The Treasury expects that council tax may rise by 5% each year.
- Local councils can increase council tax by up to 5% without a vote but need approval to go higher.
- Campaigners are suggesting a kinder approach to collecting council tax debts, instead of using bailiffs.
