Council Tax single occupancy - can they backdate?

mccmjc

Hi, I am registered with the council as a single occupier and hence get 25% discount on my council tax. My girlfriend moved in 6 months back, and I now have a letter from the council asking if I am still a single occupant, and if not, when the other occupant moved in.

If I give a date of 6 months back, will I have to pay backdated tax that I should have paid if I had remembered to notify the council when she moved in?

I don't want to say she only just moved in, but am worried about paying off 6 months' worth of tax in one go...

Thanks guys

dmg24

If I give a date of 6 months back, will I have to pay backdated tax that I should have paid if I had remembered to notify the council when she moved in?

Yes, of course you will. Having not notified your LA at the time, you are now committing fraud. Tell them immediately, and ask to make a repayment arrangement.

CIS

You will get the charge backdated - we recently ran a review on our council and removed some for 5 -6 years.

I regularly backdate the removal of discount back to 2005/06 - the amount wont be due in one go as it has not been through the legal processes for recovery , therefore you will be given at least the minimum instalments - from now to January to make up the debt

mccmjc

Thanks guys, was a bit worried about paying off in one go, but sounds like installments would be good.

Guess I should pay more attention in future...

Cheers