Council Tax

loopy_loo_5

Hi

My other half serves with the Royal Navy and is away for a 6 month trip next year leaving me in the house on my own. Is there anyway I can get some help with the council tax?:rotfl:

Marker_2

You should be entitled to a discount (only pay the single rate). I thought this was implemented in all councils but someone told me different the other day (whether theres truth in that I dont know).

If I were you i would ring your local council tax office, ask them whether they offer the discount for when personnel go away on tour and see what they say - when asking I wouldnt give your name or address, just in case the answer is no.

If it is no, you can then ring up a bit later and just tell them your now single and just put him back on when he returns.

It sounds naughty but all areas should be treated equally when it comes to things like this.

CIS

Technically under council tax legislation he has an intention to return and the property remains his 'sole or main residence' even when he is away -

Marker_2

CIS wrote: »

Technically under council tax legislation he has an intention to return and the property remains his 'sole or main residence' even when he is away -

Incorrect as the goverment has introduced this:

Council Tax Relief for troops on operations
Armed Forces personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan who pay Council Tax for a property in the UK will receive financial support through a flat-rebate payment over a six month tour of £140. The rebate will be added to the tax-free Operational Allowance paid at the end of an operational tour in Afghanistan or Iraq. The new measure was introduced from October 2007 and the first payment will be made from 1 April 2008.

Problem is only some councils are doing it - apparently.

CIS

That does not change the legal liability that they are still resident for council tax purposes its merely a payment being made by the MOD to troops to then use to pay towards council tax - it has nothing to do with either the councils or council legislation.

jjwhittle1981

You dont need to tell the council office anything your unit admin will get it sorted once your oh comes back off operations. This has been extented now to include all ooa tours not just iraq and afghan.

System

If your OH's unit is in receipt of Deployment Welfare Package he will be entitled to Coucil Tax Relief. He will have to provide the Ship's Office with a council tax bill that bears the address of the property for which he will claim the relief and he will also have to provide a signed declaration stating that he is NOT in receipt of a discounted rate of CTax directly from the council. OR he can claim a discounted rate direct from the council. I would advise that he speaks to his Ship's Office onboard.

Veryskint

I know this is an old thread, but I wonder if anyone can advise.

DH is about to deploy for 6m+ and according to the deployment packs I have received we ought to receive a rebate on our council tax.

I am advised by our welfare office that this comes from the council not the MOD.

I am advised by the council that each council had to decide whether or not to offer these rebates, ours decided not to.

So despite the amount of space given up to Gordon Brown saying "hooray for me, aren't I nice to the armed forces!" I think we will still get nothing in real life.

Any advice gratefully received.

snowball1972

Veryskint wrote: »

I know this is an old thread, but I wonder if anyone can advise.

DH is about to deploy for 6m+ and according to the deployment packs I have received we ought to receive a rebate on our council tax.

I am advised by our welfare office that this comes from the council not the MOD.

I am advised by the council that each council had to decide whether or not to offer these rebates, ours decided not to.

So despite the amount of space given up to Gordon Brown saying "hooray for me, aren't I nice to the armed forces!" I think we will still get nothing in real life.

Any advice gratefully received.

In the RAF, all i did after my tour was take my council tax bill into our admin people, they did the rest, i had no contact with the council.

CIS

Its paid by the MOD - not the local authority. The scheme was created and funded by the MOD , it has no basis in council tax legisaltion.

http://www.mod.uk/defenceinternet/defencenews/defencepolicyandbusiness/counciltaxrelieffortroopsonoperations.htm

http://www.hullcc.gov.uk/portal/page?_pageid=221,99534&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

Veryskint

Thanks very much, I have sent that link to our welfare office as they are the ones that advised it came from the council.

Hopefully this will do the trick!