People in Reading with conditions such as ADHD could face an additional £1,473 a year due to missed payments and late fees, according to new research.
The study by UK Debt Expert found neurodivergent residents in Reading face some of the highest additional costs in the UK, often linked to council tax, utility bills, parking fines and overdraft charges.
The term “neurodiversity tax” refers to the extra costs that can build up when payments are missed or delayed.
Researchers said nearly half of people with Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reported missing bill payments, compared with 18% of the general population.
A large portion of the additional costs identified in Reading related to council tax. Missing three direct debit payments could result in residents being asked to pay the remaining balance in full, estimated at about £1,212.
Parking fines also contributed to the total, with motorists potentially losing discounted rates if payments are not made within 14 days, increasing costs to as much as £63.
The research suggested that over a lifetime, from age 18 to retirement, a neurodivergent resident in Reading could lose more than £88,000.
Dr Sheena Kumar, a chartered counselling psychologist, said missed payments could have wider consequences.
“Missing payments can lead to anxiety, stress or overwhelm and someone may then avoid tasks that make them feel like this, creating bigger problems,” she said.
“If people become trapped in a cycle of debt, this can lead to depression, shame, self-criticism and guilt.”
She said executive functioning challenges associated with ADHD could make tasks such as paying bills more difficult, particularly when systems rely on multiple steps or passwords.
Personal finance expert Maxine McCreadie said the issue was linked to how financial systems were designed.
“The ‘neurodiversity tax’ isn’t about irresponsibility, it’s about how everyday systems are structured,” she said.
“When bills rely on strict deadlines, automatic penalties and complex administration, even small executive function challenges can lead to disproportionate financial consequences.”
Researchers examined council tax, utility bills, parking fines and overdraft charges across the UK’s most populated cities.
They calculated average late fees and applied an estimated three missed payments per year to model the potential annual and lifetime cost.
