Here’s how missing one council tax bill could cost you thousands of pounds

Anyone who fails to pay their first month’s council tax payment of less than £200 could find themselves slapped with a bill for more than £2,000.

Citizens Advice has found that a missed first payment in England and Wales can mean a person will be forced to pay the tax for the full year up front, as well as court costs of £84 and bailiff fees of £310.

Bills could rise as high as £2,000

The calculations by Citizens Advice are based on the first council tax payment in England and Wales typically being £167, and the average annual fee, which amounts to £1, 671.

So with the court and bailiff fees added, the total could increase to £2,065 within just nine weeks.

If the council tax bill is missed later on in the year, the bill may be smaller.

Campaign for laws to change

But Citizens Advice is campaigning for the law to change so that people struggling financially are not slapped with a big bill.

Mark, who is unemployed and suffers from a mental health condition, is one of those who was faced with the large bill.