Council Tax and BR

charlie's_mum

hi, we are going to be filing for BR soon. We still owe £148 council tax from last year, and have not paid anything for this year yet. We have had the bailiffs round twice chasing last years bill. At the last visit, we agreed to pay the outstanding £148 by today, but we haven't done so as we have no money. So I am expecting another visit soon. Am I right in thinking that after BR council tax does NOT get written off? So we will still owe £148 from last year plus all of this years? If that is the case, will bailiffs still call chasing the debt?

I am at the point of pretending that I am not at home when there is a knock at the door. Any help welcome ...

Thanks

Richard_S

Hi Charlie's Mum,

Any council tax outstanding at the date of your bankruptcy will be included as a creditor. The problem you face is the hassle you'll get from now until you're declared bankrupt. It might make more sense to offer a monthly amount you can afford, say £10?, to stop them from persuing you.

Best regards

Richard

fermi

Hi charlie's mum,

Council Tax 'arrears' are normally included in bankruptcy. The tax for the current year is a little more complicated, but people report that often a fraction will be allowed.

With the bailiffs, have they already been inside your home? This is very important because it effects what powers they may have when/if they come back.
Basically if the bailiff has not already gained 'peaceful entry' then they cannot force entry when they come back.

This factsheet by nationaldebtline explains the legal rights that you and the bailiffs have when they are trying recover council tax, and what you should do when they call.
It explains it all better than I can.

http://www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/england_wales/factsheet.php?page=02_bailiffs_and_council_tax

Don't let them in to your house under any circumstances unless they have previously entered.

If it is going to be a while before you can go BR, then as Richard says, can you offer some token payments to the council?

charlie's_mum

Thanks for this. No,fortunately the bailiffs haven't been inside (thanks to advice I have read on this forum). Could they try to take the car, given that it is parked outside?

saver_sam

charlie's_mum wrote: »

Thanks for this. No,fortunately the bailiffs haven't been inside (thanks to advice I have read on this forum). Could they try to take the car, given that it is parked outside?

They probably could levy on the car and remove it to pay the debt, or clamp it and hold it to "ransom".

However I did read somewhere recently that when a business goes into adminstration (not sure if it applies to personal bankrupcy so do check) that in the previous 3 months, any monies collected/obtained through levy are given back to the OR so this can be distributed between the creditors.