Council tax Question

csrivats999

Hi all

I live in Kent with my wife and 2 children and we are planning to travel overseas for a period of approx 2 months (8 weeks).

Am i eligbile to seek council tax discount during this period?

I wanted to get some thoughts before calling the council.

Many thanks in advance
Matt

fluffnutter

An 8 week absence for a holiday won't make your property exempt from council tax. You will have to continue to pay.

HappyMJ

csrivats999 wrote: »

Hi all

I live in Kent with my wife and 2 children and we are planning to travel overseas for a period of approx 2 months (8 weeks).

Am i eligbile to seek council tax discount during this period?

I wanted to get some thoughts before calling the council.

Many thanks in advance
Matt

:rotfl:...sorry I shouldn't:rotfl:but the answer is no... Your main home will always be the home in Kent. If you were to leave your home and put your stuff in storage with the intention of living overseas for some time then this house may not be your main home and you could get a unfurnished home discount but the cost of storage would outweigh the savings made in council tax and would not be worth it. You would also have to show tenancy agreements or ownership documents on the house you have overseas and probably evidence of a job to prove you are living there rather than just being on holiday.

CIS

I live in Kent with my wife and 2 children and we are planning to travel overseas for a period of approx 2 months (8 weeks).

Am i eligbile to seek council tax discount during this period?

There is no discount that you can claim in these circumstances.

thorsoak

No council tax rebate ....but you should check your home building/contents insurance ...that often precludes cover if your house is unoccupied for more than two/three weeks at a time.

cottonhead

You can get a discount ( not total exemption) if your home is not lived in but it has to be for more than 6 months.

Yorkie1

cottonhead wrote: »

You can get a discount ( not total exemption) if your home is not lived in but it has to be for more than 6 months.

Are you sure about that?

There are 2 different issues, depending on whether the property is unfurnished or not - but as far as I recall, the maximum period is 6 months.

CIS

You can get a discount ( not total exemption) if your home is not lived in but it has to be for more than 6 months.

A person can either get a 6 month Class C exemption (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) followed by a discount (rate dependent on the local authority) or a discount for an unoccupied & furnished property (rate dependent on the local authority).

It is however a moot point as a a temporary absence does not give rise to the ability to claim any of the above mentioned discount or exemption.

martinlewistracy

Hi
Yes CIS is correct. You are intending to return to this property so will have to pay council Tax.

fluffnutter

Full details on CT exemptions here (England only).

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/tax_e/tax_council_tax_ew/council_tax.htm