If you don't pay your council tax in the UK, the following process and consequences typically occur:
- You will receive reminder notices from the council asking you to pay the overdue amount within 7 days. You will get a maximum of two reminders in a financial year.
- If you continue not to pay, the council will send a final notice demanding payment of the entire year's council tax within 7 days.
- If you still don't pay, the council can take legal action by applying to the magistrates' court for a "liability order," which is a legal demand for payment. Court costs and legal fees may be added to your debt.
- After a liability order, the council has enforcement options such as:
- Taking money directly from your wages (attachment of earnings).
- Taking money from certain benefits you receive.
- Employing bailiffs (enforcement agents) to seize your belongings to recover the debt. Bailiffs can add further fees.
- If enforcement actions fail and you refuse to pay without a good reason, you may have to appear in court and face the risk of imprisonment for up to 3 months. Imprisonment is a last resort and only occurs if the court believes you deliberately refuse to pay and have no valid reason.
- You should not ignore council communications as dealing early can help avoid increased costs and enforcement measures.
In sum, not paying council tax can lead from reminders to legal action, enforcement like wage deductions or bailiffs, and potentially imprisonment if non-payment is deliberate and unresolved through other channels.
