Council Tax Refund

MGraham11

Afternoon All,

On the advice of this site i have appealled to have my council tax rebanded and SUCESS! they have reduced it from D to E.

I had hoped to get a refund for the "overpayments" i've made since i've lived here (About 2 years) but it isn't mentioned in the letter from the VOA.

Do i need to apply for it somewhere or will i happen automatically and they'll send me another letter with details? Does anyone know?

Many thanks in anticipation

aveylee

I hope that's a typo in your post as moving from band D to band E is an increase in Council Tax.

The Council should contact you concerning any refund due (or additional tax payable see above).

However bearing in mind the geenral competence of a lot of Council's it may be in your interests to be proactive and contact the Council Tax section directly in writing preferably.

MGraham11

Sorry about that, as you have correctly identified i should have said i was band E and have been moved to a band D.

Will notification of the change come from my local council do you think?

aveylee

Once the valution Agency have made the decision it is the billing authority's (i.e. The Council) responsibility to inform the liable person what tax is due, and details of any overpayments or refunds due etc.

However in reality organising a refund is at the bottom of their list of priorities. Given this I would give them a few weeks to sort it out but then be actively pursuing it. As with all dealings with the Council, expecially concerning money, keep it in writing.

But hopefully any refund you are due should be sorted out quickly.

MGraham11

Thanks man. I actually gave them a call and they confirmed that they have been notified of the change, they expect it will take 2 weeks to actions (Realy? changing 1 letter in a box?) at which point they will arrange a refund so am very happy with that.

Thanks for your help.

elmer

Although it is changing one letter in a box, it will arrive on a report of approx 50 to 100 other items of changes some of which will be much more complicated, and they will be each need to be looked at, so hope yours is at the top of the numerical list, or the changes that week are of the simple variety (my wish every week, rarely granted!)

elmer

MGraham11

Out of interest, will previous occupants paying council tax also get a refund. I ask because my uncle lived in the flat before us and the mrs parent's before that...

Oh and FYI the VOA back dated the ruling to august 2004.

lincroft1710

Then anyone who lived in the property from Aug 2004 is entitled to a refund of any overpaid CT.

AzzaActually

Thanks people - this is an interesting thread. I have unexpectedly received a notice of council tax banding from G to F. I appealed 3 or 4 years ago, but they threw it out on the spurious grounds that my flat being on the third floor made it more valuable than the identical flats on the first and second floors.

I read what you say that the refund should come through automatically, but I am going to write to the council anyway - as we know that they are not very competent.

iritchie

I did the same and it took them around 4-6 weeks to issue the refunds to my account. I just ended up having the total refund deducted from the current years council tax bill (which pretty much made it free) rather than getting a cheque for the difference in amounts, if that helps.
My sister stayed in the flat briefly too and she was given a refund against her council tax bill in her current house also, rather than a cheque.
Don't expect a windfall unless the refund amount exceeds a years council tax!

MGraham11

Yah either way would be nice, will keep you posted.