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Martin Lewis' council tax shake-up sees most vulnerable taxpayers protected
Households will get 63 days to clear missed bills as councils must adopt repayment plans and cap admin and enforcement fees at £100.
- On Wednesday, April 15, the government confirmed major reforms to English Council Tax administration, shifting payment defaults to 12 months and capping enforcement fees at £100.
- Local Government Secretary Steve Reed confirmed the changes after the old system allowed councils to demand full annual payment within 21 days of a single missed installment, leaving families in financial distress.
- Households will now receive 63 days to settle missed bills, a shift MoneySavingExpert Martin Lewis called a "huge first step," noting the previous system's debt collection was "so aggressive it'd make banks blush."
- Minister for Local Government Alison McGovern said the reforms will "cut through the complexity and make sure that council tax is fit for the 21st century," supporting vulnerable families previously unable to access help.
- Data shows 87 percent of councils used enforcement powers against arrears, affecting around 6.2 million Brits, while the government also plans to update Severely Mentally Impaired discount definitions to eliminate stigma.
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Total News Sources21
Leaning Left1Leaning Right2Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution75% Center
Bias Distribution
- 75% of the sources are Center
75% Center
C 75%
R 17%
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