Council Tax - I am in tears

moonrakerz

azjh77 wrote: »

Rates/tax should be based on income/ability to pay, not on the value of your house.

This is a glib statement often used by politicians who are out for a quick headline and hopefully a few votes....BUT......I am very wary of that phrase. Should I pay less for a gallon of petrol than Richard Branson ? after all he is "able to pay" more tax than me; that would be fair. Why should I and my wife pay the same to have our bin emptied as the family down the road with 5 wage earners in the house ? they are "able to pay" more than us.

The "ability to pay" is another way of saying someone who has more money should pay more. Why ? If I choose to live like Scrooge and save every penny I possibly can, why should I pay more for my local services than someone who has spent most of his money on wine, women and song - and squandered the rest ?

The main Tax, (Income) is very much based on your ability to pay; the more you earn, the more you pay. No problem, simple, fair and easy to operate.

Local taxes: Rates, Poll Tax, Council Tax - call it what you want, is a mess. Perhaps that should go onto income tax as well; most of a local council's money is doled out by central government anyway. The present system is a spendthrift's dream - spend what you like, just put up the council tax and blame central government. At least then, the local Councils could be told, "that's it, live within it !"

Personally, I think the Poll Tax was the best system of the ones we have "suffered" in this country in my time. Unfortunately, it was scuppered by a well organised political campaign and the totally inept way it was introduced by the government at the time. I am surprised by the number of posts on this thread who seem to think the same !

I don't know the answer to all of this, if I did I would be out there selling my system and raking in more money than Mr Branson - then I could afford to pay more for my petrol !

shelovestobuystuff

COUNCIL TAX REBATE.
I used the council tax calculator on my local councils website a couple of weeks ago and was amazed to see that we are entitled to a £62.12 monthly rebate.
Last time I looked into this rebate I went into the local office with all my paperwork and asked if it would be worth my while applying.The ladies put my details into their computer, probably using the same online calculator as I did and both agreed," I would not be entitled to anything,wages too high, not worth my while applying".They said "This sort of benefit is really meant for people on low incomes.Benefits of any sort are really meant for people on under £16,000 a year".
THATS RUBBISH!!!
I believed them and didnt even bother filling out the application.SILLY ME!!!
Well I got an e-mail back today saying that they couldnt comment on the incorrect advice I recieved previously but that they would send a form for me to fill out and that I could apply for the rebate to be backdated for 52 weeks
YIPEEEEE!!!:j
The moral of my story is DONT BELIEVE THE EXPERTS!!!If in doubt APPLY ANYWAY.

Cuddles_2

I to am in tears. As houses around me have three bedrooms sitting room/Dining room seperate kitchen and i have only one bedroom 1 bathroom sitting room/Kitchen area and like the other houses i am in band C. I fail to see how even in 1991 that they can justify the 16,000 difference between the top and the bottom of C band prices would pay for the difference in the sizes of the houses. The letter i had back from the from the council offices. They say that i have no right of appeal. If you find a way round it. Please let me know as i will do it.
Good Luck
Cuddles:mad: