The way you pay council tax could change - here's how
Households could soon see an easier way to manage council tax bills after the average payment hits more than £200.
Through a consultation, the government has proposed four ways to make paying the instalments easier on those who are struggling to pay.
This includes through differing payment schedules, easier signposting, and more lax enforcement rules.
Here are the four ways we could soon see changes:
The number of default instalments you make could be set to change.
Council tax is usually paid in 10 instalments from April to January, but the consultation outlines plans to increase it to 12.
This could then make it easier to manage monthly budgets.
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If you are part of the band D council tax bill, you pay on average £2,171, working out at £217 in 10 instalments.
But paying in 12 instalments will bring the monthly bill down to £181.
Households are still able to pay in 10 instalments if they wish.
The government is considering 'a more appropriate and proportionate timeframe' before councils can demand a full bill from households.
If a monthly payment is missed, you are given a reminder to pay, but if you miss this after seven days, they ask you to pay the full year's bill instead.
The new consultation document says taxpayers are 'highly unlikely' to afford the full bill when they have missed a monthly payment.
If it goes unpaid, the council can send bailiffs and can even pursue a prison sentence.
The document goes on to say these types of 'aggressive recovery action' have sometimes been applied 'too quickly and too intensely'.
The government is now proposing to increase the time before councils can take someone to court.
Taxpayers can currently ask the Valuation Office Agency to review their band to try and reduce their council tax bill.
But from April 2026, this will be scrapped and duties will be taken over by HMRC.
It will be up to the taxpayer to prove they are in the wrong band, including checking what band your neighbours are in and working out what your home would have been worth in 1991. More Trending
But the government has said there is no straightforward way to challenge your council tax band through the VOA, and they are asking the public to come forward to suggest how to make the process easier.
The government is also asking taxpayers' opinions on whether council tax bills are clear enough.
The consultation found that many of the details on the bills are too technical, and clearer information would help people understand what they are paying for.
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It also recommends better signposting for people to know where to turn for help if they are struggling to pay their bills.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
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