Council Tax Collection Rates, 2008-09

Statistics on Council tax collection rates by Welsh unitary authorities include data on amounts collected, written off and outstanding both for in-year and for previous years. The latest release updates the statistics previously released on 8 July 2008.

The key points from the latest release are:

• Welsh billing authorities collected 96.4% of council tax bills in 2008-09, a decrease of 0.2% compared to 2007 08.  This is the first time that the collection rate has dropped since 2000-01.
• 13 of the 22 billing authorities recorded a decrease in their collection rate in 2008-09 over 2007-08.
• Pembrokeshire recorded the highest in-year collection rate at 98.3% whilst Blaenau Gwent recorded the lowest at 94.5%.
• The amount actually collected in respect of 2008-09 bills, excluding council tax benefit, was £985 million out of £1,022 million collectable.
• £36 million of the amounts billed for in 2008-09 remained outstanding at 31 March 2009.
• During 2008-09, billing authorities collected £23 million of arrears in respect of previous years, writing off £5 million as bad debts in the process.
• The total amount outstanding at 31 March 2009 was £78 million.  This represents an increase of 8.7% compared to 31 March 2008.  Blaenau Gwent showed the highest level of council tax outstanding per chargeable dwelling at £106.

Contact

Tel: 029 2082 3963
E-mail: stats.finance@wales.gsi.gov.uk

Next update

June 2010 (provisional - to be confirmed on the Due Out Soon page)