Today the government has announced important changes to make council tax debt collection less rapid and aggressive.

That’s a big win for our Council Tax Trap campaign!

As things stand, if you miss one council tax payment in England, after just three weeks your council can demand that you pay your full annual bill – up to 12 times more than the original debt. 

Some councils are also adding on extra charges of over £150 if people can’t pay their full bill. 

This horrendous process causes huge distress and financial misery, and it disproportionately affects people with mental health problems.

We’re delighted to share the good news with you that the government has listened!

Today ministers announced that, from April 2027, people will be given two months between missing a payment and having to pay their full bill, and extra charges will be capped at £100.

This is a huge step towards ending the Council Tax Trap!

Thank you for supporting our campaign to change these harmful rules.

From our Chair and Founder Martin Lewis: “We’ve spent the last 18 months campaigning hard to change this hideous system, and having seen so much pain caused by it, I’m genuinely moved by this huge first step towards making things better.”

Read more about the details of these changes here or see our Chair and Founder Martin Lewis’ full reaction on our website.