Wolverhampton council is owed more than £10 million in outstanding council tax and has to save £134 million over five years, with 2,000 jobs going.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show that the authority is owed funds dating back at least six years.
The council is owed £1,647,572 from before 2009, £632,557 from 2010/11, £783,426 from 2011/12, £963,033 from 2012/13, £1,807,310 from 2013/14 and £3,682,184 from 2014/15.