Need Help With Council Tax Query

needbucks

Hi All,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice please on a council tax query?

I was living at home with my mum, all my post gets delivered there and she registered me onto the electoral roll. However, after a few weeks of living together, for various reasons, I moved out to go and live with my dad and his partner (a mile down the road). However, all my post still gets delivered to my mums place.

During this period, she has been claiming a single persons tax allowance discount-as she does theoretically live alone.

The Fraud Prevention team have sent us a letter to say that I am regsietered as living at that address (on the electoral roll), and that my mum has been claiming a single persons discount, which they say she isn't entitled to.

They are asking for us to pay £950.00 for the whole period that she has been living there until now which we won't be able to find easily.

I have no idea what we are going to do.

I would appreciate any advice the MSE members can offer.

Thank you

MrsManda

You can ask them for a payment plan rather than paying it back all at once. Unless you can prove you were living with your dad and not your mum I don't see how she can prove that she was entitled to the single person's discount.

However I would suggest in the interest of fairness (as it was your choice not to move your post/change your address on the electoral roll etc...) that you pay the money back between you rather than your mum footing the whole bill.

clareabella666

Are you on the electoral roll at your dads? would your dad be willing to tell them that you have been living with them? you might be able to argue the case if you have proof that you were staying at your dads during that period.

Oldernotwiser

MrsManda wrote: »

However I would suggest in the interest of fairness (as it was your choice not to move your post/change your address on the electoral roll etc...) that you pay the money back between you rather than your mum footing the whole bill.

I'd go further and suggest the OP pays the whole lot; I can't see that it's the mother's responsibility.

needbucks

I have no intention of letting my mother paying anything-if I have to pay it then so be it.

It's just we have not tried to evade any taxes at all-it a fair and simple mistake which I want to try and deal with as easily as possible and pay as quick as possible!

Thanks for all your replies

Jowo_2

See if you can get any advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau about how you challenge this. What kind of evidence that you have that you lived at the other address? Perhaps you were registered in college at the new address or your employer has it on their records?

needbucks

Thanks Jowo, I will consult with the CAB and see what they say.

Your response is much appreciated.

elmer

Have you contacted the fraud department to explain that you moved out? We also cross check the electoral roll and will remove the discount if discrepancies are found, if however you are willing to prove your address then, it can be reinstated if your local authority are convinced that your case is genuine.
Hope this helps
Elmer

needbucks

Thanks Elmer-the only proof that I have is my father confirming to them that I have been residing with him. As all my post continued to go to my mothers house. Would this be enough?

Many thanks

elmer

It might be, where I work we usually accept a signed statement, but we dont have a fraud dept for council tax. A senior manager makes those kind of decisions.
See what they say they will accept as proof, and then you can decide what you can provide.

Elmer

CIS

Thanks Jowo, I will consult with the CAB and see what they say.

To be honest CAB can doing nothing you/your mother cant do yourself.

The council have evidence to show that you are resident and have a duty to protect the council tax payer from any possible fraud. You need to speak with them and ask what evidence they require to show that you were not resident during the period in question - as elmer says they may accept a signed statement or they may ask for more proof.