Huge rise in unpaid council tax as many are brought to court

COUNCIL tax arrears in Wales have more than tripled over the last decade and now exceed £160 million.

- RICHARD YOULE Senior local democracy reporter

When householders miss council tax payments, they are in arrears. As well as the stress this can cause, it is money owed to 22 local authorities to help cover a range of services such as 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 newly published Welsh Government data.

Figures are also collected on outstanding council tax. A Welsh Government spokeswoman said this consisted of missed “in-year” payments as well as arrears for earlier years.

The running total for outstanding council tax at the end of 2024-25 was £263 million in Wales - again, more than triple the figure of £83.9 million a decade previously.

Local authorities set the level of council tax every year, and it has been rising. There are discounts and reductions for example if you are disabled, live in a low-income household or live alone.

Council tax bills include a police precept, which is set by police and crime commissioners, subject to approval by police and crime panels. These have been increasing, too. The bills can also comprise a community council precept depending on where you live.

Consumer charity Citizens Advice describes council tax as a priority debt that should be addressed before debts such as credit cards.

The Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA), which represents councils, said people struggling to pay their council tax should contact their local authority straight away.

Swansea Council had the highest level of arrears and outstanding council tax in Wales at the close of 2024-25 - £17 million and £26.3 million respectively, to the nearest decimal place.

It also wrote off the highest amount of arrears - £1.4 million.