The change is designed to help families struggling financially
Finance minister Mark Drakeford(Image: Getty Images)
People who miss their council tax will now get longer to pay, after a change in the rules. Currently, people who miss a payment are liable for the full annual bill if they don’t pay within seven days of receiving a reminder.
However, the Welsh Government has announced a change which will mean people have 63 days to address missed council tax payments before enforcement action can be taken, when new rules come into force next April.
The change has been made to give families crucial extra time to get support but Welsh Government say those deliberately avoiding payment will still be tracked down.
A Welsh Government consultation asked people their opinions, and 250 replied. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
Welsh Government say a “significant majority” of those who took part in the consultation supported extending the minimum period to 62 days from one missed instalment.
Wales’ finance secretary Mark Drakeford said: “We’re supporting councils to prevent rapid escalation of council tax debt, by giving more time for households to recover from unexpected setbacks, check eligibility for support, and get back on track.
(Image: PA)
“Anyone struggling to pay council tax should contact their council as soon as possible, or use the free advice services available through the Welsh Government’s Claim What’s Yours service.”
Council tax payments are set in Wales by each of the 22 councils, see how much they went up by this year.
Council tax arrears in Wales have more than tripled over the last decade and now exceed £160 million.
When householders miss council tax payments they are in arrears. As well as the stress this can cause, it’s money owed to 22 local authorities for a range of services like adult social care, kerbside waste collection and maintaining parks.
At the close of 2014-15, arrears stood at £47.9 million in Wales. At the end of the 2024-25 financial year they had shot up to £160.2 million, according to Welsh Government data.
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