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What happens if you don't pay your Council Tax?

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8. Attachment of earnings order

When the magistrates grant a liability order, it gives us additional powers to recover the unpaid Council Tax debt. We are able to demand you provide certain information which you are legally required to give. If you are in employment these powers include being able to serve an attachment of earnings order (AOE).

An AOE means we can order your employer to deduct the amount you owe from your wages/salary and pay it directly to us. The amount your employer will deduct is shown in the tables below.

From monthly earnings
Amount of earnings Amount we take
up to £300 nothing
over £300 and up to £550 3%
over £550 and up to £740 5%
over £740 and up to £900 7%
over £900 and up to £1,420 12%
over £1,420 and up to £2,020 17%
over £2,020 17% in respect of the first £2,020 and 50% in respect of the remainder
From weekly earnings
Amount of earnings Amount we take
up to £75 nothing
over £75 and up to £135 3%
over £135 and up to £185 5%
over £185 and up to £225 7%
over £225 and up to £355 12%
over £355 and up to £505 17%
over £505 17% in respect of the first £505 and 50% in respect of the remainder
From daily earnings
Amount of earnings Amount we take
up to £11 nothing
over £11 and up to £20 3%
over £20 and up to £27 5%
over £27 and up to £33 7%
over £33 and up to £52 12%
over £52 and up to £72 17%
over £72 17% in respect of the first £72 and 50% in respect of the remainder

In addition, your employer may also charge you a further £1 towards their costs in making each deduction and sending it to us.

Employers can find out more about AOE's in the Employers Guide to Attachments of Earnings.

Please note that although the third party guide refers to cheque payment, we cannot accept cheques and deduction payments should be made online or by bacs.