Not paying council tax can be costly as wages and benefits can be arrested, people have been warned.

Citizens Advice Scotland has told people not to skip payments as enforcement can be harsher and quicker than other debts.

The advice service said it deals with around £10m worth of council tax debt enquiries a year.

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It said it can be tempting in a cost of living crisis to prioritise other immediate bills like food and energy over council tax.

However, advisers warned council tax is a “priority debt” that people should deal with first.

It warned householders: “Councils can subject those in arrears of just one month to a speedy debt enforcement through a bank arrestment which can include benefits as a means of recovering payment.”

It also said: “Research also found that local authorities are overlooking potential opportunities to enable repayments to be made.”

CAS said the average council tax debt is £3,368.69, almost three times the average council tax bill in 2023/24 of £1,302.

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Research from Citizens Advice Scotland found reasons for people falling into council tax debt included struggling on low incomes and prioritising essential daily living costs such as food, heating, and housing.

The research also suggests people aren’t aware of the harsher debt collection consequences of being in council tax arrears compared to other types of debt such as loans or credit cards.

Myles Fitt, CAS financial health spokesperson, said: “We are seeing the impact of the worst cost of living crisis in living memory and people are understandably prioritising essential costs like food, energy and housing and may skip their council tax payments as a result.

“People don’t see immediate tangible consequences of not paying their council tax -  the bins still get emptied and street lights stay on – in the way that they do if food cannot be bought or energy bills are left unpaid.”

But he warned that carries “real risks”.

Mr Fitt, added: “Debt collection process for council tax is quicker and harsher than commercial debt like credit cards, such as arresting bank accounts that can include benefit payments.

“We are encouraging people to keep focused on council tax payments amidst other bills, and to see it as an essential living cost.

“We would encourage local authorities to ensure that their collection practices take into account a person’s ability to pay.”

CAS said people worried about bills can check the www.moneymap.scot website.