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Council tax help

Hey guys,

Lately we've been questioning the council tax we've been paying on this property. We moved in on the 25th of august and since then we have paid £439.50 and we're about to pay our last payment for the year of £147. So overall we will have paid £586.5

Overall including water charges etc, the leaflet we have says we should pay £975.71 per year.

We're not sure if this is quite right so if someone could advise a little bit before we talk to the council about it that would be great. Thanks

Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Your daily rate is about £2.673 per day, this would give approx 220 day for £586.50.

    From 25 August 2011 to 31 March 2012 is 220 days so the charge appears to be correct.
    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.
  • Thanks.

    Just seems to be cause they've demanded it all by january 1st it probably seems like more
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Just seems to be cause they've demanded it all by january 1st it probably seems like more
    This down to the statutory instalment scheme - 10 monthly payments from April, decreasing by 1 payment for each month later in the year that a bill is issued.
    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.
  • jennifernil
    jennifernil Posts: 5,806 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Agree with above, but surprised you have to pay 1st January, we (East Dunbartonshire) pay on 28th of the month, by direct debit.

    If you are not on direct debit, the date is probably different. We start paying again in April (28th).
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Agree with above, but surprised you have to pay 1st January, we (East Dunbartonshire) pay on 28th of the month, by direct debit.

    The council have the discretion to allow payment dates outside of the statutory dates if they wish to do so.
    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.
  • jennifernil
    jennifernil Posts: 5,806 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 18 December 2011 at 10:13PM
    Yes, but having to pay the last instalment by 1st January seems rather harsh, our last payment is 28th January.

    Not what I would call using their "discretion to allow payment dates outside of the statutory dates if they wish to do so" in a good way.

    We pay nothing in February and March, then start again in April.

    We have the choice of 3 dates for DD, the 1st, the 15th or the 28th.

    We can also request 12 instalments, but then must pay on the 1st of the month.

    However, I do seem to remember reading somewhere that in some areas, if you do not sign up for DD payments, the payment date could be earlier than if paying by DD.
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