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Mon, 23 Mar 2026

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 Call to cancel threat of prison for council tax non-payment

Debt charity StepChange says there are clear differences between councils when chasing unpaid tax.

* Some local authorities in England include the threat of prison in their first letter to people who have missed a council tax payment, according to debt charity StepChange.
* However, only four people have gone to prison for failing to pay council tax since 2020, and StepChange argues that mentioning this sanction is counterproductive.
* The charity is calling for an end to imprisonment as a penalty for non-payment of council tax and more sympathetic messaging from councils.
* A report by StepChange found that the way councils handle non-payment varies widely, with some being more understanding than others.
* One person who missed payments told the charity that receiving a liability order made him feel vulnerable and treated unfairly.
* The charity is urging councils to focus on helping people pay their council tax arrears rather than just pursuing debt recovery.
* StepChange argues that the threat of prison should only be used in cases of "wilful refusal" or "culpable neglect".
* The Local Government Association (LGA) says councils strive to recover unpaid tax sympathetically, but have a duty to collect it to fund local services.