Liability order
If the court grants a liability order, we can take further action to recover the debt.
This usually happens if you do not keep to the payment arrangement set out in the summons.
Possible recovery actions
After a liability order is granted, recovery action can include:
- deductions from your wages, where your employer is instructed to take payments directly from your pay
- deductions from benefits, where the Department for Work and Pensions is asked to take payments from benefits you receive
- an application to the county court to place a charge on your property, if you own it. Interest can be added to the amount you owe
- an application to the county court for a bankruptcy order, which adds further costs
Bankruptcy costs start at £1,270.
Enforcement action and costs
In some cases, the debt may be passed to enforcement agents.
If this happens, additional costs are added for each liability order:
- £79 when the case is passed to enforcement agents
- £247 if an enforcement visit is required
- an additional charge of 7.5% of the amount owed if it is over £1,900
Enforcement agents we use
If your debt is passed to enforcement agents, one of these companies will contact you.
|
Enforcement agent |
Contact number |
Website |
|---|---|---|
| Revenues Enforcement Service | 0121 808 0075 | Visit Revenues Enforcement Service web pages |
|
Equita |
||
|
Dukes |
||
|
Reventus |
||
|
Newlyn |
||
|
Empira |
Further court action
If no payment is made after enforcement action, we may apply for a warrant.
This can lead to a committal hearing. Further costs may be added, including:
- £135 for each warrant
- £305 for all associated summonses
Failure to pay Council Tax can result in imprisonment following a court hearing.
More information
You can read more about how unpaid Council Tax is recovered in our Council Tax recovery policy.
Page last updated: 1 May 2026
