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Wed, 24 Jun 2026

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 Council tax debt rises to £9bn but here's how you can get help

New figures show billions of pounds is owed to councils but the government has plans to reform the system.

* Unpaid council tax in England: £7.4bn
* Total amount owed to councils across UK: over £9bn
* Number of people behind on council tax payments: 1/3 of those who come to StepChange, a debt charity
* Collection rate for council tax in England: 95.6% (£43bn collected out of £45bn levied)
* Types of discounts and support available: + 25% discount for adults living alone + Exemption from council tax for full-time students + People with disabilities can apply to move to a lower council tax band + Council Tax Support for those on low incomes (requires application)
* Number of people struggling to pay council tax: unknown, but charities are urging those in need to check if they're eligible for support.