Council tax,big problem need help!

blokefella

Hello guys.

Another question about council tax really.

The problem is,Im now 37 and have relaliseded Im not on the electrol roll and registered.The reason for this is Ive spent long periods abroad in my life etc.

Anyway,Over the last few years Ive had spells staying back at my mothers address,working etc,before maybe going overseas for 6 months or so and returning.

The problem is because my mother claims the single person allowance,now she's terrified that it looks like she's been defrauding the local council.

I do want to register properly,but what he hell Im I going to say about where ive been all this time?
How much detail will I have to provide and how can I put my mum's mind at ease over this?

Im happy enough to pay my taxes(well as happy as everyone else) but I don't want to get myself in a bad situation over this.

Before any moral judgements I am trying to become legitimate here,Im just hoping for the least painful way of going about it.

Please help and many thanks.

chihuahuabear

Hi,

I think it depends on what kind of contract you're on with your work.

If your work is unpredictable and you've been leaving and coming back into the country at short notice then the council tax people will probably look favourably on it.

In my experience the people in the council tax office are pretty disorganised and if you're honest and explain your situation clearly then they should be fine with it.

That said, I've never heard of anyone being investigated for the single persons allowance. Do you have your bank or anything else registered to that address?

If there's no evidence of you living there then I wouldn't be worried about it...just pay your council tax from now on!

Spongbong

You could say you've been sleeping on friends' floors?

treac

Your mum doesn't have to give your past history - she only has to notify the local authority of the date you moved in and her discount will be ended from that date. She doesn't even have to give your name - just that another adult is in the property, unless she is claiming council tax benefit, when she will have to provide your details.

lincroft1710

If you are now living back home with your mother you should register as an elector and your mother must inform the council that she is no longer entitled to the 25% single person discount.

If you left personal belongings at your mother's and intended to return there after a trip abroad then her home would be regarded as your main residence and she really should not have claimed 25% SPD.

Therefore if you are asked for a previous permanent address and you gave the last address you stayed at abroad, this could be seen as possibly committing or colluding in Council Tax fraud if your mother's home has always been your home

CIS

The key issue relies on the location of your 'sole or main residence'. If your 'sole or main residence' is at your mothers house then case law has determined that working abroad would not prevent you being resident at the property and your mother not being eligible for a single person discount.

If your settled at your mothers house (have a room and belongings there, have your drs here etc etc) and you leave it to work abroad and then return I would say that its probably remained as your 'sole or main residence' during this period.

'Sole or main residence' determinations can be difficult so you would need the local authority to make the decision.

That said, I've never heard of anyone being investigated for the single persons allowance. Do you have your bank or anything else registered to that address?

Most authortities review these annualy/bi-annualy and have done for several years now. They do use experian and the likes to check residencey.

blokefella

thanks for the replies guys.

well,according to expedian I was last registered at my mum's in 1993,after that no entries.( I was a student at the time)All my banks etc are registered at the address,but Im not on any utilities bills etc.

So,Im thinking that technically there's no proof Ive actually lived here.

Chilu and cis your right,It could be classed as my main residence,because thats where my belongings have been kept etc.

However Unless I declare this how can It be proven?

Of course I could just say ive slept on floors or lived in a tent in a hippy commune or something but its if this will actually wash?

I don't know how much snooping there going to do is what Im worried about.

hugheskevi

Due to travelling overseas and not joining electoral roll at an address I spent a year living at inbetween travel, I spent a several years off the electoral roll (from Dec 2003 - Aug 2007).

During most of that time I had bank accounts, etc, registered at my mothers address.

When I registered in Aug 2008 the Local Authority didn't ask anything at all about history, just added me to the electoral roll. If there were any questions like that at all, I would have put that I had been travelling overseas and nothing more was asked.

CIS

TBH we wouldn't generally push it if a person advised they had previously lived abroad or out of the area - there's simply not enough time to chase each person individually.