Huge Council Tax bill

savemoney

£500 for 5 months isn't that bad. I pay £1,100 per annum band B

lepetit

Its just unreal... I just can't believe they one don't warn you that it's going to take two months to decide your band and then back date plus give you a few days to pay the whole lot!??!

I'm sure they are within their right but it just seems so unfair!

Valli

If I were you I would write to them (the council) and inform that that, as you contacted them in November and then reminded them about this (include a copy of the email you sent) you feel that, to demand the total payment for the 2009-2010 tax year (or part thereof) in one payment when you have been waiting for them to set the tax is unreasonable. And offer to pay, in installments, by DD. I would suggest three payments that you can make and on what dates.
By all means e mail this letter but keep a copy of it.

Although CT is an annual charge many councils collect in 10 installments, starting in April, last one January, so this might well be why they are pushing for payment.

Simultaneously appeal the CT - but that is a separate issue.

SuzieSue

lepetit wrote: »

So just go straight ahead and appeal? I mean I have no idea how the houses are banded so how do I make the case for being in the wrong band?

You have to do quite a lot of work - we had to go the local library and get local newspapers from the date that they used to band our house and look for similar properties to ours in the estate agent's advertisements. There are probably easier ways to do it now and there is probably a lot of information on this site.

jennifernil

You don't say what your band is, but you can compare it to the other houses on your development and to older houses nearby of a similar size as a first step. I think you can view the register on-line now?

Regarding the bill........

I know this is your first house, but did you not budget for CT at all? Set something aside each month? I presume you knew there was such a thing? And why did you not think that it would be backdated to when you moved in?

Not meaning to be harsh, just wondering.

As to paying......do as suggested and ask if you can pay by installments. If not, can you borrow it from someone/somewhere and pay them back?

lincroft1710

As the concept of CT is well known, Councils believe that everyone who becomes a homeowner or liable tenant knows all about it. If OP says he sent email which was ignored they will counter with "you should have tried to contact us again".

2 month wait for band isn't unreasonable.

Errata

Why would the OP need to borrow to pay the CT bill ? Surely they will have known CT was payable from the day they moved in and put some money aside each month to cover it.

monstermoo

Ahhh yes, the Valuation Office will band your prop, whilst you council will produce the bill. You have to pay it in 1 go as all bill should really be paid by Jan, as you should pay it Apr till Jan (10 payments)

If you wanna reband it contact your local VOA-the council should have the number if not do a web check.

The council will want you to hopefully pay it off before the end of March as you get your new bill at that time.

Was the prop empty at any time-if so go onyour councils website and check out the exemptions/discount section.

Like above paying by DD can extend the 10 mth, but up to the council. I hears some do discounts for paying it up front if thats possible

CHW

If you have been billed with only a few days to pay, you have been incorrectly billed- you are legally allowed 14 days from date of the bill.

It depends upon the Council- we will estimate a band and send a temporary bill out to allow payments to start coming in as the VOA can take a while to get things in place...

The Council will have expected you to have put some money aside to prepare for this so don't expect them to go beyond March payments.

At worst, if you pay this in a couple if instalments- and receive recovery documents through as a result, as long as you are paid in full before any court hearing date, you should not incur costs, -this is a worst case scenario though, as at this time of year most officers are allowed to be a little more flexible- and they should give you a payment schedule to March

CIS

If you have been billed with only a few days to pay, you have been incorrectly billed- you are legally allowed 14 days from date of the bill.

If there is less than 14 days from the date of postage to date due then there is an issue , although the only way it would be less than 14 days would be if someone had manually set the instalment plan, a system generated plan wouldn't give less than the14 days.

What the OP needs to also consider is that its not 14 days from date of receipt for the payment, its 14 days from when it was posted.