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Key Takeaways
Council tax arrears are a significant and growing issue, with £6 billion owed in England by March 2024.
Three-quarters (73%) of StepChange clients in council tax arrears were also behind on energy bills.
Escalating debt collection practices have detrimental mental and physical health impacts on individuals.
Only 5% of surveyed clients said councils took their personal circumstances into account before escalating enforcement.
Bailiff involvement often exacerbates the financial and emotional strain, with 95% of clients reporting negative mental health effects.
60% of respondents went without a healthy diet to keep up with council tax payments.
Enforcement action is frequent, with 49% of clients facing bailiffs for council tax collection.
Current council tax systems are deemed regressive, with outdated tax bands and variable support systems across councils.
Council tax demands, including threats of imprisonment or full-year payment requests, are common.
The lack of c...
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