You can choose to pay your full bill in a lump sum, or through instalments throughout the year. This guide outlines how you can start paying council tax on a property for the first time, what happens if you miss a payment, and what happens when you move home.
Can you go to jail for not paying Council Tax UK?
You can be sent to prison for up to 3 months if the court decides you don’t have a good reason to not pay your Council Tax and you refuse to do so. If the court decides you have something to pay back you may be able to make an arrangement to pay your debt over time.
What happens if you get caught not paying Council Tax?
If you’ve missed a Council Tax payment, you’re in ‘arrears’ – this means you owe money to your council. You’ll have to pay court costs and possibly bailiff fees as well as your debt, which can add hundreds of pounds to your bill. Council Tax arrears is a ‘priority debt’.
Do you have to pay Council Tax all at once?
Paying council tax You’re usually asked to pay in 10 instalments. You have the right to ask to pay in 12 instalments instead. Local councils might accept weekly or fortnightly payments. Some might also offer a reduction in the total bill if it is paid all at once, at the beginning of the year.
How can I legally not pay council tax?
A property may be exempt from council tax if:
- it is owned by a charity.
- It is empty because someone has died.
- it is now unoccupied because the person who lived there now lives elsewhere in order to be cared for.
- all residents are full-time students.
- all residents are under 18 years old.
Is not paying council tax a crime?
Non-payment of council tax is a civil matter, not a crime. Under a law dating back to the scrapping of the Poll Tax in 1993, councils can apply for a “commitment order” where a debtor can be imprisoned. Unlike for criminal tax fraud, defendants do not have the right to a jury trial or to legal aid.
Should landlords pay council tax?
As a landlord you are responsible for paying council tax if the property is designated as a house in multiple occupation (HMO). An HMO is a house or flat that is lived in by one or more people who are not part of a single household. You are also liable for the council tax if you own: Residential care homes.
