Council tax, my mum has missed step dad off

nicplymstock

Hello
Odd question this one but I really need to find out what the consequences of my mum's actions could be.

Mum remarried in 2005 and my step dad sold his house about 6 weeks later and moved into hers. She had been on her own in the house since 2001 and was paying 25% less on the bill for single occupancy.
Mum has 'let it slip to me' that she is still paying the lesser rate and has not added step dad to the bill in all that time, i.e near on 4 years.
Now I am worried what will happen. If she phones the council tax people, I presume they will ask for step dad's previous living details, and they will see he sold his house and has not paid any council tax- is the best that can happen that she will get billed for the 25% extra that should have been paid (I think the 25% is about £300 a year, so approx £1200 for 4 years give or take) or could she be in big trouble? Can she be prosecuted?
Financially, they could afford the bill, I don't know why she's done this, but I am worried for her.
thanks

dmg24

She could be prosecuted, but more likely she will get a hefty administrative fine to pay on top of the underpayment.

withabix

She will have to pay the difference as a minimum.

The best thing to do is to instigate the resolution of this herself - write to the Council, notifying them of her mistake and enclosing a cheque for approximately 1 year's Council Tax.

lincroft1710

Many councils will ask taxpayer to confirm they are entitled to single person discount each year. If your mother's council is one of those, she should start thinking of good reason why she has been claiming discount she was not entitled to.

I'm sorry that I can't be more positive on this. As withabix has said she should tell council asap.

nicplymstock

Hi
Thanks for your replies. I had a look on her council's website and it has an electronic form you can fill in to say someone is moving in (or out) of your home.

Should she fill that in with the details including his previous address and for 'date of change' bit back date it to 2005, and wait and see what happens?

Or should she write to them and explain is all etc?
thanks

lincroft1710

It would be better for her to write and explain.

nicplymstock

lincroft1710 wrote: »

Many councils will ask taxpayer to confirm they are entitled to single person discount each year. If your mother's council is one of those, she should start thinking of good reason why she has been claiming discount she was not entitled to.

I'm sorry that I can't be more positive on this. As withabix has said she should tell council asap.

Hi,
yes regarding this, she was paying by direct debit and this just kept going i.e she didn't really look at the bill when it came in- she didn't actively have to confirm her single status, it just kept going. I asked the same too.