Councils miss out on millions in unpaid tax

DEBT CHARITY SAYS ARREARS WILL KEEP CLIMBING AS PEOPLE STRUGGLE WITH 'UNMANAGEABLE BILLS'

- 

COUNCIL tax arrears owed to councils in east Kent now run into tens of millions, according to figures released last week by the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Arrears owed to Folkestone and Hythe District Council currently stand at £8.1 million, and arrears owed to Dover District Council stand at £15 million.

Across the nation, the total council tax arrears total £6.6 billion.

The figures are significant, indicating the impact that continuing cost-of-living pressures have had in escalating arrears levels.

Charity National Debtline has warned that more people are struggling with "unmanageable bills".

As council budgets have become more stretched, they are increasingly reliant on council tax revenue to fund essential services like social care, local schools, and rubbish collections. However, this has also led to higher bills overall, creating a vicious cycle for many people already struggling to pay.