# Require two notices before council tax instalments end

> “The government will require councils to issue at least one reminder notice and one final notice before a taxpayer loses the right to pay by instalments.”
>
> — HM Government; Improving enforcement of council tax: government response, 12 October 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Taxes](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/taxes)
- **Speaker:** [HM Government](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/hm-government)
- **Made on:** 12 October 2026
- **Where:** Improving enforcement of council tax: government response
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** Council taxpayers in England who miss a payment, and the councils that collect council tax
- **When:** Not stated
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-enforcement-of-council-tax/outcome/improving-enforcement-of-council-tax-government-response (checked word for word at its source on 18 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0)
- **Last updated:** 19 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-council-tax-two-notices-2026

## Where it stands

A household in England that misses a council tax payment can lose the right to pay by instalments. The government will also set a timetable: a final notice no sooner than 14 days after the last reminder and 41 days after the first missed payment, then 21 days to pay before that right is lost. It will change regulations to do this and assess the cost to councils, but gives no date. The card moves when the regulations are laid.

## Timeline

- 12 October 2026, Promised: The government says it will require councils to send a reminder notice and a final notice before a taxpayer loses the right to pay council tax by instalments

## About the cost

No cost has been published; the government will assess the cost to councils.

## Sources

- [MHCLG, 12 Oct 2026: Improving enforcement of council tax: government response](https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/improving-enforcement-of-council-tax/outcome/improving-enforcement-of-council-tax-government-response)

## Checks

- Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 19 October 2026.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 18 October 2026.

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