Anti-Poll Tax Unions (APTUs) were set up in local areas throughout Scotland, England and Wales to organise against the poll tax (officially the "Community Charge") brought in by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government in 1989 (Scotland) and 1990 (England and Wales).
The first anti-poll tax union was established in Edinburgh, in the Gorgie/Dalry area in February 1987, by Russell Taylor, who went on to become the Secretary of the Edinburgh Federation of Anti-Poll Tax Unions and was one of the earliest activist. This was the first manifestation of an actual community group dedicated to non-payment. Prior to this an amorphous group issued membership cards at the Mound in Edinburgh but failed to organise any meetings.
An All Britain Anti-Poll Tax Federation ("the Fed") was set up to co-ordinate the activities of the local unions.
The Anti-Poll Tax Unions played a major part in the legal actions in which around 20 million people were summoned for non-payment of the tax. Those jailed included Terry Fields, MP for Broadgreen.