Problems paying council tax

If you're struggling to pay your Council Tax see the below options to see if we can help:

• If you're on a low income, check if you can get a Council Tax reduction
• Check if you qualify for a Council Tax discount
• You can choose to spread your Council Tax payments over 12 months instead of 10

For more support and advice about the cost of living read our cost of living page.

Contact us as soon as you can if you're struggling to pay your Council Tax.

• Email us: ctax@wokingham.gov.uk   
• Call us: 0118 974 6000

Find out if you can get any benefits

Use the Gov.uk benefits calculator to find out if you're entitled to any other benefits.

Help and advice

The below organisations offer financial help and advice:

• Citizens Advice - Visit the Wokingham Citizens Advice website  
• National Debtline - Call  0808 808 4000 or visit the National Debtline website
• StepChange Debt Charity - visit the StepChange website
• Age UK - Visit the Age UK Berkshire website

What happens if you don't pay

Council Tax is a priority debt. It's important that you get help as soon as you can if you're struggling to pay it.  

Reminder 

We'll send you a reminder notice giving you 7 days to pay if you miss a payment. If you don’t pay within 7 days, you’ll have to pay the whole year’s Council Tax instead. 

You’ll be sent a second reminder notice if you miss another Council Tax payment. 

You’ll only get a maximum of 2 reminder notices in a financial year - this runs from April 1 to March 31 of the next year. 

We'll send you a final notice saying you must pay the whole year’s Council Tax if you miss a payment for the third time. 

Summons

If you don’t pay following the issue of a reminder, we will issue a court summons. You will lose the right to pay by instalments and the whole year’s bill will become due. It will also result in additional recovery costs.  

Debt recovery

Following the issue of the summons, if the debt remains unpaid, we will ask the Magistrates Court to grant a Liability Order, which will enable us to take action to recover the debt, such as:

• Take payments directly from your wages or benefits  
• Send the debt to the Enforcement Agents to seize your possessions 
• Apply for a bankruptcy order  
• As a last resort, unpaid Council Tax may result in a prison sentence 

Visit the Gov.uk website to find out what more about Council Tax arrears and what happens if you don't pay your Council Tax.