How do you stop a wage arrestment in Scotland?
There are several ways to stop, remove or avoid a wage arrestment in Scotland.
The right route depends on your circumstances. Two of them, a Debt Arrangement Scheme and a trust deed, can even remove an arrestment that is already taking money from your wages, while others can help you avoid one before it starts.
If your wages are being arrested, or you have been warned that they might be, it is natural to feel worried. The important thing to know is that a wage arrestment is not the end of the road, and the right route simply depends on your circumstances.
A wage arrestment (also called an earnings arrestment) is a way for a creditor to collect a debt by having your employer deduct money directly from your net wages. For council tax arrears, it usually follows a summary warrant and a charge for payment. The amount that can be taken is set by law, and some of your income, such as your pension contributions, is protected. This page explains the main options so you can see how each one works.
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Watch: how a council tax wage arrestment works and the options for stopping it.
Please note: This page provides general information about debt solutions available in Scotland. It is not financial, legal or debt advice, and it is not a recommendation to choose any particular option. Which solution is right for you depends on your individual circumstances. Our service is free to use and there is no obligation, and we can talk you through the options and, where appropriate, introduce you to a suitable provider.
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Your options at a glance
There is no single “best” solution. Each of the routes below is used by people in Scotland to deal with council tax arrears and wage arrestments. The overview below is a starting point, and each option has its own page with more detail.
Council Tax Debt Advice
Free, non-judgemental help to understand your arrears and the options for dealing with them.
Special Payment Arrangement
An affordable instalment plan to repay arrears, agreed directly with your local authority.
Debt Arrangement Scheme
A statutory scheme that lets you repay your debts in full at an affordable rate, with interest frozen.
Trust Deed
A formal insolvency solution for larger debts, with any remaining included debt written off at the end.
| Option | What it is | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Council Tax Debt Advice | Talking to a debt adviser to understand your arrears and the routes available to you. | Getting advice early often opens up more options and can stop matters escalating to a wage arrestment. |
| Special Payment Arrangement | An affordable instalment arrangement to clear council tax arrears, agreed with the council and the sheriff officers acting for them. | Making an offer before enforcement can stop a wage arrestment being used. Acceptance is at the council’s discretion. |
| Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) | A Scottish Government scheme, administered by the Accountant in Bankruptcy, to repay your debts in full through a single Debt Payment Programme. | Interest, fees and charges are frozen, and once a programme is approved an existing wage arrestment must stop. No minimum debt. |
| Trust Deed | A formal insolvency solution where you make affordable payments, usually over at least four years, managed by a licensed insolvency practitioner. | Once protected, creditors cannot start new enforcement. Generally for debts of £5,000 or more, and it affects your credit file. |
Council Tax Debt Advice
Speaking to someone who understands Scottish council tax debt is often the best first step. A debt adviser can look at your full situation, explain what is happening and why, and set out the routes that may be open to you. Getting advice at an early stage can open up more options and, in many cases, help you avoid a wage arrestment altogether.
Read more about council tax debt advice ›
Special Payment Arrangement
A Special Payment Arrangement is an affordable instalment plan to repay your council tax arrears, agreed directly with your local authority and the sheriff officers acting on their behalf. You can make an offer of payment at any time before enforcement action is taken, and reaching an arrangement can stop a wage arrestment from being used.
Whether an arrangement is accepted is entirely at the council’s discretion. It is also worth knowing that if you fall behind on an agreed arrangement, the council may then proceed to a wage arrestment, so any offer needs to be realistic and sustainable.
Read more about Special Payment Arrangements ›
Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS)
The Debt Arrangement Scheme is a statutory scheme set up by the Scottish Government and administered by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. It lets you repay your debts in full through a single Debt Payment Programme at a rate you can afford. While you keep to the programme, interest, fees and charges are frozen, and they are written off when it completes.
Once a Debt Payment Programme is approved, an earnings arrestment that is already in place must stop. There is no minimum level of debt, and you set a programme up with the help of an approved money adviser.
Read more about the Debt Arrangement Scheme ›
Trust Deed
A trust deed is a formal insolvency solution in which you make affordable monthly payments, usually over at least four years, managed by a licensed insolvency practitioner who acts as your trustee and is overseen by the Accountant in Bankruptcy. Once a trust deed becomes “protected”, your creditors cannot start new enforcement action such as a wage arrestment, and any remaining included debt is written off at the end.
A trust deed is generally available if you owe £5,000 or more. Like other insolvency solutions, it is recorded on the public Register of Insolvencies and stays on your credit file for six years, which is worth weighing up alongside the benefits.
Want help working out which route is right for you? It is free and there is no obligation.
Where to find free, impartial information
As well as speaking to us, you can read more about your options from these independent, official sources:
- mygov.scot – Debt solutions (Scottish Government)
- Accountant in Bankruptcy (Scotland’s insolvency service and regulator)
- National Debtline – Council tax arrears (Scotland)
- Citizens Advice Scotland – Debt and money
- MoneyHelper – Dealing with debt (government-backed)
Not sure which option fits your situation?
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