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Help! big council tax demand!!
Comments
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posted twice
sorry“You’re only here for a short visit.
Don’t hurry, don't worry and be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”Walter Hagen
365 Day 1p Challenge for 2021 #41 ✅
Jar £440.31/£667.95 and Bank £389.67/£667.950 -
What were you living on? Was your husband claiming JSA? If so:
Second adult rebate reduces a claimant's council tax liability by 100 per cent if:-- the second adult gets income support, income-based JSA, pension credit or, income-related ESA (or if there is more than one second adult, all of them get one of these benefits); and
- everyone else in the household is a full-time student.
Second Adult Rebate
What is second adult rebate?
Second adult rebate is awarded when a person has a second adult living in his or her home who has a low income.
Second adult rebate reduces the amount of council tax that has to be paid.
The rules for claiming second adult rebate are different to main council tax benefit because the income and capital of the claimant is not taken into account. The income and capital of the second adult(s) is counted.
Who can be a second adult?
A second adult is somebody who is 18 or over, who is living in your household on a non-commercial basis. A second adult can be:- an adult son or daughter
- a relative
- a friend
A second adult cannot be:- a partner
- a tenant/boarder
- a joint tenant
- a person who is disregarded for council tax purposes such as a student.
You cannot claim second adult rebate if you have a partner or if the second adult has a commercial liability to pay you rent.“You’re only here for a short visit.
Don’t hurry, don't worry and be sure to smell the flowers along the way.”Walter Hagen
365 Day 1p Challenge for 2021 #41 ✅
Jar £440.31/£667.95 and Bank £389.67/£667.950 -
from what i can remember the booklets that came with the bills detailed what the council spent money on and other places the money goes ie the police etc.There's no real appeal that can be made other than to the council and asking them to re-consider.
The husband didn't receive a bill as it sounds like the council were not made aware of the full situation in order to be able to bill him.
TBH I can pretty much say that they would not have the balance written off - Ive seen many similar cases - as the OP should have been aware from the annual bills they received that her husband should not be disregarded. The booklets and information supplied with the bills are quite clear on the sitiuation regarding discounts and exemptions.
It seems the OP was quite aware she was disregarded but what made her believe her husband would not be liable for the council tax ?
It sounds like this information was not passed on to the council.
iv'e been lucky enough not to ever have to apply for any benefits such as council tax benefit, so I suppose i presumed that hubby didn't have to pay because of our situation and had no idea of the process.
I passed all information onto the council, I showed them my proof of disregard entitlement, I filled in the form they provided me. The form would have clearly showed that I did not live alone and hubby's work status.
So whoever dealt with the form made a mistake somewhere along the way.
We did not inform the council of hubby being a student as we thought we were already exempt.
I'm not looking to get the bill written off, if we owe the money we will pay what we owe. My worry is how long a period will they let us pay it over? we really can't afford much at the moment, and the bill we have is asking for payment by 7th dec.0 -
By law they have to provide information regarding discount & exemptions.
The bill is asking for payment in one go because its backdated prior to this year. If you ask them then they may allow you further instalments.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0 -
charleypink wrote: »I just don't understand how they have made such a huge mistake
Sorry, but I am confused as to how it is their fault?0 -
charleypink wrote: »We did not inform the council of hubby being a student as we thought we were already exempt.
It's your responsibility to tell the council of any changes in circumstances - even if said change doesn't change what council tax you pay.
Is ignorance a defence when appealing against decisions like this?Sealed pot challenge #232. Gold stars from Sue-UU - :staradmin :staradmin £75.29 banked
50p saver #40 £20 banked
Virtual sealed pot #178 £80.250 -
It's your responsibility to tell the council of any changes in circumstances - even if said change doesn't change what council tax you pay.
Is ignorance a defence when appealing against decisions like this?
I wouldn't accept ignorance as a defence when its gone on for so long.If it was a short period then possibly.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0
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