Overview

• Under the proposals households would automatically pay council tax over 12 months, cutting average band D instalments by about £38 each month
• New rules would lengthen the period before councils can demand an annual sum or deploy bailiffs after missed payments
• The government is seeking views on simplifying the process for challenging council tax bands and improving billing transparency
• Officials plan to rename the “severe mental impairment” discount to “significant cognitive impairment” to update eligibility criteria
• Martin Lewis and charities such as the Money Advice Trust have praised the reforms as a vital step for easing pressures on vulnerable households