Council Tax refund when moving out?

Sioryn

New to this forum, hello there.

I've only lived in the UK for a year now so please excuse me in advance for my cluelessness with this. I've been paying Council Tax for my flat since August 2016, in 10 instalments. However, I have plans to move out to a new flat at the start of next year, possibly around February-March. This flat would possibly be in the same county, but might not be, or might be but in a different band.

The question is, if I've been paying in 10 instalments rather than 12 instalments and I move out in February, would I be granted a refund? According to my brain (which might very well be wrong though) paying in 10 instalments would really only benefit me if I would stay in my current flat to the end of the whole council tax year -- if I moved out in the middle of it, then haven't I paid more than I would've needed to? Somehow I can't get my head around this!

Moreover, as far as I know, the 10 instalments / year means that two months' payments of the year are skipped? As far as I know, this should be March and April? I just had a look at my bank statements, and during the past year I paid council tax:

Paid (since I moved in) in August 2016 - 01 Feb 2017
Paid 01 March 2017
Didn't pay 01 April 2017
Paid 01 May 2017 onwards

I was under the impression that choosing to pay in 10 instalments meant that I should not need to pay for March and April? Or am I missing something obvious?

Thank you very much in advance!

aneary

You can switch to 12 monthly installments which would mean that you have less of an issue.

If you pay this way you can then ask the council to work out what your last payment was and they will close your account 2 weeks prior to moving.

I have just done this.

Btw I suggest you pay by standing order rather than DD.

LEJC

paying by 10 instalments gives you 2 months grace at the end....I thought it was feb and March...but its no worry which one it is.

council tax is calculated daily so you will be billed over the year that way so moving out after you have paid the full amount will result in a refund due to you.

When you move out contact the council tax dept and advise them of your leaving details and date and any overpayment can be refunded to you.

If you are moving somewhere within the same council authority I believe that you can ask for the refund to be placed against your new property....but it may be just as easy to request a refund on one and get a new account set up for the new property.

CIS

As soon as you cease being liable (which may or may not be the date of vacation) the council will re-calculate the charge to only that period. Any payments you've made will be offset against this amount and any over/under payment will be dealt with.

Payment over 10 instalments on the statutory scheme takes the year's payments from April to January but in some cases this can be varied slightly depending on when payments can be taken.

Craig

TBagpuss

Yes, as others have said, you can claim a refund if you have overpaid.

In my experience you normally pay 10 installments April - January, so get February and March 'off'. However, if you start part way through the year then the calculation may simply be spread evenly over the remaining months.

Councils do sometimes get things wrong so it doesn't hurt to check how much you actually paid compared with the amount of the original bill.

Sioryn

I see now, thank you everyone for the helpful replies!

G_M

Just remember to write/call the CT dept with the date your tenancy (or liablity) ends.