Council tax pro-rata charged

k0629411

Hi,

I am new to this so please go easy on me!

To cut a long story short, I was still a registered full time student when I bought my house at the start of last summer. My student days came to an end on the 10th of January this year. Yesterday I got a letter from my friendly council office stating that I was to be taken to court as I had outstanding council tax payments which I thought rather odd as I pay by DD. On further investigation it seems that I have been charged per day from the 10th of January until the end of March in what I assume is an attempt to recover as much as they can from me. They have just told me that because I was exempt from the time I moved in that I do not have the luxury of paying in ten monthly instalments therefore I do not get the usual two months per year off.

I am not trying to avoid it; I suppose if it's due then it's due. I was just wondering has anyone else experienced anything like this? I have been billed for two months, each month greater than the sum I pay now. They aren't too helpful on the phone.

Apparently if I pay today or tomorrow then they will waive the £70 court summons fee which is very kind of them.

Thanks for your time

lincroft1710

The council are correct in charging you from 10 Jan 2014.

CT is calculated on the number of days per year a person occupies (or is entitled to occupy) a dwelling. Thus you do not pay 10 months CT but 12 months spread over 10 rather than 12 payments. Obviously you cannot pay this amount over 10 months, as that period has passed.

I calculate your 2013/4 payment would be 80 (No. of days Jan 10 to Mar 31) divided by 365 multiplied by the amount for your band for 2013/4, less 25% if you are the sole occupier.

I agree that it is kind of them to waive the £70 court fee, so pay up as requested.

k0629411

Thanks Lincroft,

At least it is all clear to me now and I can go ahead and just pay them off and not wonder if it was correct or not. Thanks for the response; you've been very helpful

Kind regards