Previous Address and Council Tax

Sciamo

Hello and thanks for reading...

I've searched all over and cannot find an answer...

Is it a legal requirement that I tell:

- My old council my new address
- My new council my old address

...when applying for Council Tax?

I realise some may want to ask why I don't want to. It really upsets me that government agencies sell on our data. I am not going to help them do this by providing them anything more than what I legally have to.

Thank you very much...

Sciamo

agrinnall

Sciamo wrote: »

It really upsets me that government agencies sell on our data.

Which government agencies do you think do this (other than DVLA, who in theory respond to legitimate requests for information) and what evidence do you have for it taking place? Or are you just a bit paranoid?

Savvy_Sue

I have no idea whether you have to supply this information legally, but if you don't, then you may receive extra attention from them if they aren't sure you moved when you say you did.

lincroft1710

Since your old council knows your old address and your new council knows (or will know) your new address, what is the problem? Only your new address is now relevant, which in theory the new council could sell on.

fed_up_and_stressed

Sciamo wrote: »

Hello and thanks for reading...

I've searched all over and cannot find an answer...

Is it a legal requirement that I tell:

- My old council my new address
- My new council my old address

...when applying for Council Tax?

I realise some may want to ask why I don't want to. It really upsets me that government agencies sell on our data. I am not going to help them do this by providing them anything more than what I legally have to.

Thank you very much...

Sciamo

More than likely this is do with them wanting your address for billing purposes rather than flogging it on.

Ie old house -sending final bill to your new property
New house -council wanting old address in case you had a debt or so they can see how you chose to pay e.g transferring direct debit details.

Savvy_Sue

fed_up_and_stressed wrote: »

More than likely this is do with them wanting your address for billing purposes rather than flogging it on.

Ie old house -sending final bill to your new property

And actually, that's very important: if they don't have your new address then they can't send any refund (which you may well be entitled to as it's worked out on a daily basis). Also if you do still owe them money - or more importantly if they think you owe them money - it may take a while to catch up with you. But catch up with you it will, eventually, and can be a nasty mess to sort out. For example ...

CIS

The council don't sell on your data which has been taken for council tax purposes.

Not a legal requirement to provide the information initially however if the council make a formal request under the Council Tax (administration & enforcement) regs 1992 it's an offence not to provide the information requested to allow the council to determine liability.

Section 29(3) of the DPA 1998 also allows information to be requested for the purposes of taxation.

As has been posted already though, trying to get clever can cost you. I see it every day and it does nothing but bring trouble on those who wont or don't provide the information. It's also surprising how many credits remain unclaimed because there's no contact details been supplied on vacation.