Council Tax: Payments over 10 Months

melaniehardman

I've just had a horrible conversation with my local council, after I requested to pay my council tax over 12 monthly payments rather than the 10 standard.

I was told this was "the law/part of legislation" and even though they let me pay via 12 monthly payments last year they won't this year.

I wondered if anyone else had success with convincing their councils to provide the same 12 montly payment service. I have written to my MP too.

Many thanks in advance,

Melanie Hardman

theartfullodger

They may be right: Worth asking what "Law/legislation" then go check that Law/Legislation (they are usually online) says what the council thinks it says..

Post their reply & we can see who can help....

Good luck"!!

Artful

m_13

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 contains a statutory instalment scheme whereby taxpayers can pay by ten monthly payments

You can pay it in less - for example in two payments - but they must fit in with when the 10 monthly payments would be due.

Some places are/were allowing 12 payments but they were being penalised for not having all their payments in by the end of January as they are assumed to be receiving interest on the money after that! Bexley asked council tax payers would they be interested in paying an extra £2.50 per year to cover their lost interest if they allowed 12 monthly instalments and unsurprisingly 57% of residents said no.

Catti

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/index/life/tax/council_tax.htm#Howtopaycounciltax

If you do not pay over the allotted 10 months, they can withdraw your right to pay in instalments and demand outstanding balance immediately.

amersall

i pay my council tax over 12 months as do everyone i know , i have for the past ten years , we have not been penalised in anyway, maybe not all councils are the same?

cheap_charlie

I just got my annual demand in yesterday for Edinburgh and it offers me 12 monthly instalments as a matter of course.

CIS

The 10 instalments are the standard instalments as set out in statue however the council can vary these to 12 payments if they wish.

At this time of year many councils will issue the standard 10 instalments as it saves messing around with different instalment systems at the busiest time of year (many councils are sending out 50000+ bills) however if you contact them once the new year bills are issued many will adjust the instalments (we are already doing so in some case at my authority).

baileysbattlebus

Ours are 10 months - always have been

brightonman123

in reality, so long as all paid off by end of the tax year, you should be ok (keeps books tidy).


but dont blame me if they came round with bailiffs!

Abbafan1972

We got our council bill through yesterday.

Ours is over 10 months, always has been.

We use Moneyway to pay our bills, we pay them a weekly payment and they pay our utility bills on our behalf, so the fact it's over 10 months isn't noticed.

melaniehardman

brightonman123 wrote: »

in reality, so long as all paid off by end of the tax year, you should be ok (keeps books tidy).


but dont blame me if they came round with bailiffs!

I tried that tactic last year - they didn't like it! Thanks to all for the posts; I found the legislation document - it's enormous (not provided by my council I hasten to add), rather a lead from m_13 above (thank you) - some light reading beckons. I'll update the thread as and when I find out more.

Melanie