Council tax bill not making sense to me.

JustAnotherSaver

New to this so hoping someone can spell it out for me.

I got in touch with the local council via email, explaining we had recently taken ownership of our house, however we hadn't yet moved in due to work needing to be done. It was not furnished & we wondered if there was any discount (the local council website suggested not - IF i understood the wording right).

They said they'd send a form out, which they did...




There's other pages to it, but that's what we got. The following day i got another one...




Question 1: Would you bother filling out the first form as they clearly know my name, the address & have worked out the billing. Is there any point?

Question 2: That form says 100% discount for two months, 50% for the next 4.
The billing period is from November -March, which is 4 months.

The billing states £0.00 though & reads (to me) that it's £0.00 for the whole 4 months, despite the mention of 100% for two & 50% for the following 4.

So is it really £0.00 from now until March, or is there some billing beginning January?


Question 3: We're not yet ready, but for arguments sake, let's say we moved in today. How would they know whether we'd moved in or not (& would therefore have to pay)? Or is it down to our honesty or neighbours doing the reporting thing? I'm not saying we'd try & scam it because it's not worth the risk, but it just made me wonder.

scheming_gypsy

I'd fill the first part in because they're asking why it's empty.

The second part. You pay council tax for 10 months, so the two free months are December and January and the two 50% months are February and March, so the 50% is 50% of £0.00- i think

jennifernil

I don't think that is right. Even though you usually pay in 10 instalments, there are no "free" months, the amount for 12 months is just divided into 10 payments.

So if someone owns a property for 4 months in the year, then they pay for 4 months.

CIS

The first form has been sent out for more information - no harm in completing and returning it to ensure everything they have on file is correct.

So is it really £0.00 from now until March, or is there some billing beginning January?

There will be council tax due after the 2 months full reduction has been given.

They have to issue the council tax bill on the basis that the circumstances which apply on that day will apply for the remainder of the year (even if they know it will change a late date).

On the day the bill was issued the property was exempt and the bill is issued under that basis for the remainder of the year.

At some point, usually a few weeks, before the end of the 2 month exemption they will issue a revised council tax notice showing that the exemption has ceased and the 50% charge is due.