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Council tax

Thelooneytuner
Thelooneytuner Posts: 64 Forumite
in House buying, renting & selling
Hi, after a little info regarding council tax as im currently working abnormal hours so cant contact the local authority until next week.

We complete on Thursday 12th and plan on moving in on the Sunday 15th. Im unsure of what happens council tax wise as the local authority website is.. well.. uninformative. We are wishing to pay 12 monthly on or around the 6th of the month.

When do we pay council tax from? I guess completion?

Is the first payment in full? Or varied due to mid month?

Is it due the following month or is it an upfront payment?

Thank you!
«13

Comments

  • System
    System Posts: 178,385 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    we complete today [hopefully] my first call will be to the council tax to get our name off and buyers on after that i assume they will be sent a bill.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    Take your name off, but you cannot add their name. You do not know for sure they are moving in and do not, presumably, have their permission
  • dancingfairy
    dancingfairy Posts: 9,069 Forumite
    Normally council tax is due at the begining of April for the whole year ahead. The government/council then let you pay in installments, 10 or 12 to spread the cost.
    You will owe the council from the day of completion until the end of the council tax year (so end of Mar). It's worked out per day.
    This amount is then normally divided and spread out equally among the remaining payment dates as far as I know. From what I can tell you will owe from 12th December to 31st Mar but this will be payable in Jan, Feb and Mar (I doubt they will have time to set you up for any payment in Dec if you are paying by DD). You may be able to claim an empty home discount for the first few days until you actually move in as well.
    Obviously if paying 3 monthly payments will be difficult for you you can always try and pay something/put something by for it in December.
    df
    Making my money go further with MSE :j
    How much can I save in 2012 challenge
    75/1200 :eek:
  • AlexMac
    AlexMac Posts: 3,066 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Practice may vary from Council to Council, but the two I've paid Coucil Tax to are fairly flexible. On being advised of a change, they have re-calculated the annual bill, pro-rata according to how many days of the year you're in occupaation, and mailed it; which takes them a couple of weeks. They refund any overpayment if you're due it on moving out, and wait for you to contact them re. the bill on your new property. The new bill (if they are like the two I experienced) will be the full cost for the part year to next March, but they are realistic about you wanting to spread costs and (in my experience) flexible about when it's paid in the month. So tell 'm after you move and leave the ball in their court. That way you'll probably get a couple of weeks grace before paying, although don't leave it too long or they may demand payment in full til next March
  • System
    System Posts: 178,385 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Guest101 wrote: »
    Take your name off, but you cannot add their name. You do not know for sure they are moving in and do not, presumably, have their permission


    They are moving in they have a welcome letter waiting from sky !!
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Guest101
    Guest101 Posts: 15,764 Forumite
    CHRISSYG wrote: »
    They are moving in they have a welcome letter waiting from sky !!

    Doesn't prove anything, I wouldn't be passing other peoples details around.

    Could be renting it out to family, could just be getting a dish put in. I appreciate the likelihood us they are moving in. But you do not need to tell the council anything about them, I'd stay clear
  • System
    System Posts: 178,385 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Guest101 wrote: »
    Doesn't prove anything, I wouldn't be passing other peoples details around.

    Could be renting it out to family, could just be getting a dish put in. I appreciate the likelihood us they are moving in. But you do not need to tell the council anything about them, I'd stay clear


    When i told the council we were moving out in June they requested the names of the new owners then but its taken until now to get it sold , im just assuming when i ring to tell them we have completed they will ask again.

    The house already has a sky dish up.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • dominoman
    dominoman Posts: 973 Forumite
    Ninth Anniversary 500 Posts Combo Breaker
    Normally you would pay council tax from the day you move in, not the day you complete
  • System
    System Posts: 178,385 Community Admin
    10,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    dominoman wrote: »
    Normally you would pay council tax from the day you move in, not the day you complete


    Didn't all that change in April ? there's not much of a discount if you arent living there ,here its 25% for 6 months.
    This is a system account and does not represent a real person. To contact the Forum Team email forumteam@moneysavingexpert.com
  • Thelooneytuner
    Thelooneytuner Posts: 64 Forumite
    Ok, so I presume the best thing is to phone when we complete.
    Can't believe the lack of info about it though.
This discussion has been closed.
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