electoral role and council tax

samara

hi,

just wondering,If youy register on the electoral role at a specific address,does it make you liable for council tax there?

I move around a lot for work,and have been told that if I registered at all these different addresses,as I move around,it severely affects the score.I have unfortunatley dropped off at my old address without knowing,as new tenants must have registered themselves

So,i'm thinking of registering at my parents,and getting a mail re-direction setup,as I have been registered here before.Will it leave me liable to council tax though?

Svenena

I don't think so. If there are two or more adults in the house anyway, the council tax due is the same however many over this there are. So even if your name ended up on the bill, your parents wouldn't be charged extra. You register for the electoral roll and for council tax separately anyway, so I doubt that would happen anyway.

I was registered on the electoral role at my parents house for nine years without living there.

Tixy

To help your credit rating your electoral roll address needs to be the same address you use for your credit accounts and the address you use to apply for any new credit product etc.

Once the annual electoral canvass is done (in October-Dec each year) you would no longer appear at your old address.

Assuming there are already 2 adults at the property you use who are charged council tax (ie not students or people without the mental capacity etc) then the cost of council tax would not increase for you parents. Your parents will remain liable for their council tax bill.

Svenena

Tixy wrote: »

To help your credit rating your electoral roll address needs to be the same address you use for your credit accounts and the address you use to apply for any new credit product etc.

Yep, forgot to mention that. All my accounts were also registered at my parents' address. This also made things easier, as I didn't have to worry about changing addresses/redirecting every time I moved (every six months on average :eek:). When I received mail, mum used to just cross out her address, write mine next to it, and pop it back in the post. No need to pay for a redirect. But these days you can get online statements for pretty much everything anyway, so not such an issue.

samara

what if there is only one person living at the address?

will that make me/family liable for extra council tax,cos I don't want that.

Svenena

If there is only one person living there, they will be receiving a 25% discount on their council tax, which would probably be lost.

Tixy

Are you paying for council tax elsewhere? in the places you are actually living? If so then I would think there shouldn't be an issue.
If you are not paying council tax elsewhere and your parent is claiming the single occupier discount (and so only paying 75% of the council tax) then it could be an issue and probably means that they were not entitled to the discount.

samara

tixy,

I am paying council tax elsewhere,but i don't know if the family member in question is on 25% discount,and as they are recently berieved,it's not the kind of question I want to ask.

paulmcerlean

only makes a difference if one person was resident before you put your name on, as they will be receiving a single occupancy discount.

Tixy

If you are paying council tax elsewhere then I'd imagine you could prove you were not resident at this address - but the rules on CT never seem to be totally straight forward so would be worth finding out to be sure. Perhaps speak to the council first.

As to the 25% discount it would be worth mentioning to the family member that they can claim it and ask if they are - obviously if they are very recently bereaved now might not be the time but at a suitable opportunity you could do so.

CIS

So,i'm thinking of registering at my parents,and getting a mail re-direction setup,as I have been registered here before.Will it leave me liable to council tax though?

It wont in itself, Council Tax itself takes no account of electoral list registration.

As the property is occupied by your parents and its not your 'sole or main residence' then you wont affect the council tax charge. If the property was your 'sole or main residence' then you may affect the council tax charge (irrespective of whether your on the electoral register or not).