By Vivienne Russell
20 August 2009
Town halls could have collected an extra £127m in council tax in the past financial year, according to research published this week.
Information services company Experian said at least 20% of outstanding council tax was owed by people who had the means to pay but avoided doing so.
Although council tax collection rates are high, last year a total of £636m was uncollected. Experian said local authorities lacked the information to distinguish those who could not pay from those who refused to do so.
Simon Waller, responsible for revenue assurance at Experian, said: ‘It is clear that a more individualised approach to debt collection is required to ensure those that have the means to pay their council tax are obliged to do so and to identify people in genuine financial difficulty.’
20 August 2009
Town halls could have collected an extra £127m in council tax in the past financial year, according to research published this week.
Information services company Experian said at least 20% of outstanding council tax was owed by people who had the means to pay but avoided doing so.
Although council tax collection rates are high, last year a total of £636m was uncollected. Experian said local authorities lacked the information to distinguish those who could not pay from those who refused to do so.
Simon Waller, responsible for revenue assurance at Experian, said: ‘It is clear that a more individualised approach to debt collection is required to ensure those that have the means to pay their council tax are obliged to do so and to identify people in genuine financial difficulty.’
