Council tax payments

Annah1994

Hi guys,

My cousin has received a letter saying she must start paying coucil tax. She currently lives with her parents, who do not work as they have retired. She earns 11,400 before tax.

Does she have to pay or is there a way she would be exempt...

Thanks!

Annah1994

Update- her dad gets pension credit and her mum doesn’t receive any money or credits

Norman_Castle

https://www.gov.uk/council-tax

CIS

Annah1994 wrote: »

Hi guys,

My cousin has received a letter saying she must start paying coucil tax. She currently lives with her parents, who do not work as they have retired. She earns 11,400 before tax.

Does she have to pay or is there a way she would be exempt...

Thanks!

Under council tax legislation the party/parties with the highest legal interest is responsible for payment although all of the other adults in the property are looked at when determining the charge which is payable.

Unless your cousin is the joint owner or joint tenant then she cannot be held liable for any council tax charge on the property and if this is the case then she needs to advise the council accordingly.

agrinnall

Who has she recived this letter from? And do her parents currently pay council tax? And if so, is it the full amount or do one or both of them qualify for any discount/exemption?

pmlindyloo

It is likely that her parents have a joint Pension Credit claim so are exempt from paying council tax. (i.e through Council Tax Reduction)

However they would still be liable for a non dependent deduction as the daughter is working.

Why the letter is addressed to the daughter is a mystery. Suspect the OP hasn't got the full details.

00ec25

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Suspect the OP hasn't got the full details.

^^^^^^ this is most likely

"If you're entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR), your entitlement may be reduced if you have a non-dependent adult living with you. This is because the non-dependant is expected to contribute to your household expenses."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-council-tax-council-tax-reduction/how-your-council-tax-reduction-is-worked-out/council-tax-reduction-non-dependant-deductions-for-pensioners/

Margot123

00ec25 wrote: »

^^^^^^ this is most likely

"If you're entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR), your entitlement may be reduced if you have a non-dependent adult living with you. This is because the non-dependant is expected to contribute to your household expenses."

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/help-if-on-a-low-income/help-with-your-council-tax-council-tax-reduction/how-your-council-tax-reduction-is-worked-out/council-tax-reduction-non-dependant-deductions-for-pensioners/

Wouldn't this depend on whether or not the claimants of the Pension Credit have an assessed income period or not?

00ec25

Margot123 wrote: »

Wouldn't this depend on whether or not the claimants of the Pension Credit have an assessed income period or not?

I don't know the first thing about pension credits, perhaps you could expand your answer to show us?

At the end of the day council tax has to be paid, whether that be by the liable owners, the liable occupants, waived via CTR, and/or partially paid indirectly by a non dependent adult's contribution needs to be clarified.

G_M

Is this question about CT liabilty? ie who in the household is responsible for any CT that is due (you? your parents? etc)?

Or is this question about benefits? ie who is eligible to claim what benefits?