Write Off Council Tax Debts

Write off council tax debts and check all of your debt options, from £80 per month

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Is it possible to write off council tax arrears?

Yes, is it entirely possible to write off your council tax arrears. But this depends on a few different factors.

  1. Your council needs to be on our list of approved councils. Some councils will allow you to pay back a small percentage of your council tax debts, others will insist on the full amount. It is important to speak to us to find out how your council vote.
  2. You will need to have a total debt level of £5000 or over. This must consist of 2 or more creditors (people you owe money to).
  3. You must have a regular income of £800 or above.
  4. You must be willing to enter into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement – IVA.

An IVA is the only legitimate way (except for bankruptcy) to write off your council tax debts. With an IVA you will have to pay back a percentage of your total debts for a period of 5 years. At the end of the 5 years, the remainder of your debt will be completely written off – leaving you debt free.

Can I stop council tax bailiffs?

Council tax bailiffs have higher powers than debt collectors.

They have the rights to:

  • Visit your home.
  • Enter your home (peaceful entry) with a days notice. This means if you have left a door open, window open or if you open the front door; the bailiffs can push their way into your property.
  • Remove goods from your house.
  • Clamp vehicles at your property.
  • Issue CCJ’s to your credit file.

How can I stop this from happening?

First things first. Ignore every website you have read which says you can avoid these through misleading letters and technical jargon. It doesn’t work. The only way to stop a bailiff in his tracks is to enter into an IVA. Once you have entered into an IVA, the bailiff can not legally visit your property. You have to enter into your IVA before they seize goods, so act quickly.

What debts can be included in an IVA?

Unsecured debts can usually go into an IVA. Some examples of unsecured debts are:

  • Credit card debts
  • Unsecured loan debts
  • Payday loan debt
  • Council tax debts
  • Catalogue debts
  • Overdraft debts
  • HMRC debt

What debts can’t be included in an IVA?

Secured debts can’t go into an IVA. Examples of secured debts are:

  • Mortgage payments
  • Hire purchase
  • Child maintenance
  • Court fines
  • Secured loans

Council Tax Debt FAQ

Here are some of the most common questions we are asked surrounding council tax arrears

CAN COUNCIL TAX DEBT BE WRITTEN OFF?

When you include council tax arrears in to an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (or IVA), then it is completely possible to write off a section of the council tax debt.

This will depend on if your council supports IVA’s as not all of them do.

HOW LONG CAN COUNCIL TAX DEBTS BE CHASED IN ENGLAND?

The council will need to issue a claim within 6 years of the debt occurring. This usually isn’t an issue for the council, as their systems automatically refers debts to magistrates court 7 days after non payment.

The debt will not be written off after this period.

CAN YOU GO TO JAIL FOR NOT PAYING YOUR COUNCIL TAX?

In theory, your council can ask for you to be sent to jail if you refuse to pay council tax arrears which you owe.

In reality, this rarely occurs although you would be wise to seek immediate independent financial advice if you can not keep up with repayments to the council.