[ashgray]

The administrative cost of chasing people through the courts to pay the tax was vast, and unlike the riots, defaulting was far easier for larger numbers of protesters to maintain over the long term.

The administrative costs were added on to the poll tax debt that had to be payed back,believe me the government didn't lose money because of the defaulters.
Have you never heard of bailifs collecting debts then,or employers being made to pay peoples poll tax or council tax directly out of there wages.
it was the riots believe me.