Council Tax Arrears

If you are in arrears with your Council Tax payments you need to address the situation quickly. We can help.

• What to do if you have arrears
• What to do if your offer of repayment is refused

What to do if you have arrears

Step 1 is to establish how much you can afford on top of your normal council tax payments in order to repay the arrears. Draw up a detailed income and expenditure form including repayments to your credit cards and loans.

If you have any money left after your other costs, step 2 is to contact your local authority and make an offer. Explain that the amount you are offering will prevent any further arrears and court costs. If your local authority will not negotiate with you continue making the payments to the authority (for further details on what to do if your offer is refused see below).

If you feel you need to speak to a professional advisor or need urgent help call our advice line on 0800 015 3135.

What to do if your offer of repayment is refused:

If your offer is refused contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau for help.

Some local authorities insist arrears are paid before you resume normal payments. If they refuse to accept payments towards the current year until the arrears are paid, then you should consider making a complaint. Ask your local councillor to help.

If this is unsatisfactory, try the Local Government Ombudsman on 020 79153210, and argue that not allowing you to make payments for the current year is allowing further arrears to accumulate and further court costs to be incurred.

Speak to a Direct Debt Solutions advisor free on 0800 015 3135 and we'll advise which debt solution would best suit your debt problems or take the Express Debt Test now and find out which solution is best for you.

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