Bailiff Fees Explained: What They Can and Can’t Charge for Council Tax Debt

When bailiffs turn up at your door over unpaid council tax, the stress of the situation is bad enough. But then you see the fees they are adding to your debt, and suddenly the amount you owe has jumped significantly. It raises an obvious question: are these charges actually legitimate?

The good news is that bailiff fees are not a free-for-all. There are strict rules, set out in law, that limit exactly what bailiffs (officially called enforcement agents) can charge. If they go beyond those limits, you have the right to challenge them.

This guide covers everything you need to know about bailiff fees for council tax debt in England and Wales, including the maximum amounts at each stage, what they cannot charge for, and what to do if you think you have been overcharged.

How council tax debt reaches the bailiff stage

Before bailiffs get involved, your council must follow a set process. Understanding this helps you see where fees fit in:

• Your council sends you a council tax bill and you miss one or more payments.
• The council sends a reminder, giving you seven days to pay.
• If you still do not pay, the council can apply to the magistrates’ court for a liability order. You will receive a court summons, and the council will add court costs (typically £50 to £150, depending on the council) to your debt.
• Once the council has a liability order, it can instruct bailiffs to collect the debt on its behalf.

It is only after a liability order has been granted that bailiffs can legally get involved. If someone claiming to be a bailiff contacts you without a liability order being in place, that is not right and you should seek advice immediately.

The three stages of bailiff enforcement

Bailiff fees for council tax debt are regulated by the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014. The process is split into three stages, each with a fixed fee and, for larger debts, a percentage-based fee on top.

Stage 1: Compliance stage

This is the first stage. The bailiff sends you a letter (called a notice of enforcement) giving you at least seven clear days to pay the debt in full, including the compliance fee.

Fixed fee: £75

If the debt (including the compliance fee) exceeds £1,500, an additional 7.5% is charged on the amount above £1,500.

For most council tax debts, the total is under £1,500, so you will only pay the flat £75. This is added to whatever you owe in council tax plus any court costs.

Stage 2: Enforcement stage

If you do not pay during the compliance stage, the bailiff can visit your property. The moment they attend your address, the enforcement fee becomes payable, regardless of whether they gain entry or speak to you.

Fixed fee: £235

Again, if the debt (including both fees) exceeds £1,500, an additional 7.5% applies to the amount above £1,500.

This is where costs can escalate quickly. A council tax debt of £800 can become £1,110 (£800 + £75 + £235) once the enforcement stage is reached. That is a significant jump, and it happens simply because a bailiff visited your property.

Stage 3: Sale or disposal stage

If the debt remains unpaid after enforcement visits, the bailiff can take control of your goods and arrange for them to be sold at auction to cover the debt. This is the final stage.

Fixed fee: £110

Plus 7.5% on any amount above £1,500, and the bailiff can also pass on reasonable costs for removal, storage, and sale of goods.

In practice, it is relatively rare for council tax cases to reach this stage. Most are resolved through payment arrangements or at earlier stages. But if it does reach this point, the costs add up further.

Summary of maximum bailiff fees

Here is a clear breakdown of what bailiffs can charge at each stage:

• Compliance stage: £75 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500)
• Enforcement stage: £235 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500)
• Sale stage: £110 fixed (plus 7.5% on debt above £1,500, plus reasonable sale costs)

For a typical council tax debt of £1,000, the maximum fees across all three stages would be £420 (£75 + £235 + £110), bringing the total to £1,420. That is a 42% increase on the original debt, which is why acting early is so important.

What bailiffs cannot charge for

Just as important as knowing what fees are allowed is understanding what bailiffs are not permitted to charge. The following are not legitimate charges:

• Multiple compliance fees: The £75 compliance fee can only be charged once per debt, not per letter or per visit.
• Fees for phone calls or texts: Bailiffs sometimes make contact by phone before visiting. They cannot charge you for these calls.
• Locksmith fees at the compliance stage: At the compliance stage, bailiffs have no right to force entry for council tax debt (more on this below), so locksmith charges should not appear.
• Invented administrative fees: Some bailiff firms have historically tried to add charges for things like “office fees” or “letter fees” that are not covered by the regulations. These are not lawful.
• VAT on top of the fixed fees: The regulated fees already include VAT. No additional VAT should be added.
• Fees for returning goods: If a bailiff takes control of goods and you then pay the debt, they should not charge you a separate fee to release the goods beyond what is already covered in the fee structure.

Can bailiffs force entry for council tax?

This is one of the most common questions people ask, and the answer is reassuring. For council tax debt, bailiffs cannot force entry into your home. They can only enter through a door that is already open or that you open for them. They cannot break locks, remove doors, or climb through windows.

The only circumstances where bailiffs have powers of forced entry are for criminal fines (imposed by a court for a criminal offence) and certain tax debts owed to HMRC. Council tax is a civil debt, and different rules apply.

If a bailiff threatens to break in or force their way into your home for council tax, that is unlawful. You should note their name, the company they work for, and the time and date, then make a formal complaint.

What to do if you have been overcharged

If you believe a bailiff has charged you more than the regulated fees allow, you have several options:

1. Check your paperwork carefully. Look at the notice of enforcement and any other letters or invoices. Compare the fees listed against the maximum amounts set out above. If anything does not add up, make a note of exactly what has been overcharged.
2. Complain to the bailiff company. All enforcement agents must have a complaints procedure. Put your complaint in writing, clearly stating which fees you believe are incorrect and why. Keep a copy of everything.
3. Complain to the council. Your local council instructed the bailiffs, so they have a responsibility for how the firm behaves. Write to the council’s revenues department explaining the overcharging and asking them to investigate.
4. Apply to the court. Under Regulation 16 of the Taking Control of Goods (Fees) Regulations 2014, you can apply to the county court for a detailed assessment of the fees charged. The court will review whether the amounts were lawful and can order a refund of any overcharges.
5. Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. If your council does not deal with your complaint properly, you can escalate it to the Ombudsman, who investigates complaints about councils and their contractors, including bailiff firms.

Vulnerable people and bailiff fees

If you are classed as a vulnerable person, bailiffs are supposed to follow additional guidelines. The Ministry of Justice guidance on vulnerability covers a wide range of situations, including:

• People with mental health conditions, including anxiety and depression
• People with physical disabilities or serious illnesses
• Elderly people
• Pregnant women or families with very young children
• People who have recently been bereaved
• People with learning difficulties
• People who do not speak English as a first language

If you fall into any of these categories, the bailiff should recognise your vulnerability and refer your case back to the council, often without charging enforcement fees. In practice, this does not always happen, which is why it is important to tell the bailiff about your circumstances clearly, ideally in writing.

If a bailiff has charged full enforcement fees despite being aware of your vulnerability, this is something you can and should challenge through the complaints process described above.

How to avoid bailiff fees altogether

The simplest way to avoid bailiff fees is to deal with your council tax debt before it reaches the bailiff stage. Here are some practical steps:

• Contact your council early. If you are struggling to pay, most councils will agree to a payment arrangement. The earlier you get in touch, the more flexible they tend to be.
• Check your entitlements. You may qualify for Council Tax Reduction, a single person discount, or an exemption that reduces what you owe.
• Respond to the summons. If you receive a court summons, attend the hearing or contact the council beforehand. Courts can sometimes adjourn the case to give you time to arrange payment.
• Pay the compliance fee promptly. If bailiffs have already been instructed, paying during the seven-day compliance period means you only face the £75 fee rather than the much higher enforcement fee.
• Seek free debt advice. Organisations like StepChange, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline offer free, confidential advice on dealing with council tax debt and can sometimes negotiate with councils on your behalf.

The bottom line

Bailiff fees for council tax are regulated and capped, but they can still add hundreds of pounds to your debt if you do not act quickly. The key figures to remember are £75 for the compliance stage, £235 for enforcement, and £110 for the sale stage, with percentage charges only applying to debts above £1,500.

If you are facing bailiff action over council tax, the most important thing is not to ignore it. Whether you need help understanding the fees you have been charged, want to challenge overcharging, or simply need support negotiating a payment plan with your council, getting advice early can make a real difference.

At Council Tax Advisors, we help people across England and Wales deal with council tax debt and bailiff issues every day. If you are worried about bailiff fees or enforcement action, get in touch with our team for guidance on your situation.