Council Tax Awareness Week 2026 - Dos and Don'ts

Share This:

09 March 2026

This week is ‘Council Tax Awareness’ week, when we try to make you aware of your Council Tax liabilities, but also what exemptions and discounts you might be able to access.

At about this time of year, having just emerged from the annual Xmas ‘debt hangover’, we will all start to receive our annual Council Tax bills.

For some, it may be the first such bill. For others, it will trigger an annual ritual of either paying it in one lump sum and getting it out of the way, or looking around to see how you can pay what is owed through instalments.

Below are some tips on how you might be able to limit your liability, apply for discounts, or set up payments by instalments.

Exemptions and limits to your liabilities.

Not every residence counts as a “dwelling” for Council Tax purposes. Some dwellings are exempt. Similarly, not everyone living in a property is liable for Council Tax. Some people are not counted (“disregarded”) when assessing liability. Go to https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/council-tax/paying-council-tax/ to find out more.

Do check to see if your property is exempt from Council Tax and/or whether your liability is less than you thought. Don’t assume the liability stated on your bill is automatically correct. Read it and check it.

Applying for Discounts.

Not every liable person has to pay full Council Tax. In exceptional circumstances, the entire liability can be ‘written off’. More realistically, those on low incomes may be entitled to financial help. For more on Council Tax discounts and other reductions go to https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/housing/council-tax/check-if-you-can-pay-less-council-tax/ .

Do check whether you are entitled to Council Tax Support, or other discounts, either by seeking expert advice or reading up yourself on what is available to those on low incomes or with disabilities. Don’t assume these discounts can’t apply to you.

Setting up Payments by Instalments.

Local Councils have a lot of flexibility over how to recover Council Tax, including setting up monthly affordable instalments. For more on what to do if you are struggling to pay your Council Tax go to https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/help-with-debt/dealing-with-urgent-debts/dealing-with-council-tax-arrears/ .

Do ask your local authority about instalments as soon as you can if you feel you can’t make the whole payment when first asked. Don’t bury your head in the sand and hope the issue will go away.

A Word about Council Tax debt recovery.

Council Tax is a ‘priority debt’ which means that local councils have a variety of legal options open to them to recover debts from non-payers. These can include taking money directly from your wages or benefits, confiscating goods from your house using Enforcement Agents (‘bailiffs’), putting a ‘charge’ on your house if you are a homeowner, making you bankrupt to recover the debts or even, in exceptional cases, seeking to put you in prison for wilful non-payment.

None of these can be done without the permission of the court and most Councils will take every opportunity to help you find a repayment method you can afford, if you contact them as soon as you realise you are struggling to pay. It is always in your best interests to talk to your local Council Tax team if you are struggling. They will try to help you.

Other sources of advice on Council Tax debt issues are available. They include:

Moneyhelper - https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en (call 0800 138 7777),

National Debtline - https://nationaldebtline.org/ (call 0808 808 4000) and,

StepChange - https://www.stepchange.org/ (call 0800 138 1111).

Remember, with all these issues and more, you can contact your local Citizens Advice office on 0808 250 5715 to receive free, independent, impartial and confidential information, advice and guidance.

End.

Read other news articles