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reducing council tax

Dear all

My Council tax has recently gone from £ 40 to £120 to £ 200 per month due to overtime on earnings.
Problem is the Council are trying to condense everything to finish in April- but squeezing payments to fit is affecting my life as I don't always get overtime.
The only way they can help is moving my payment date from mid to end month.
Does anyone know if they can spread the amount owed over 12 months?
I did ask but keep getting different answers.....

Comments

  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Are you in England, Scotland or Wales ?


    Very unlikely anything will be spread past the year end without a court order to cover in case of any default.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • Neil_Jones
    Neil_Jones Posts: 9,805 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I don't follow, how does your council tax bill payment reflect your income?

    Normally with Council Tax (in England anyway) you get a figure in April and a 10/12 month payment schedule. Miss one of these and the entire lot becomes due normally.
  • Neil_Jones wrote: »
    I don't follow, how does your council tax bill payment reflect your income?

    Normally with Council Tax (in England anyway) you get a figure in April and a 10/12 month payment schedule. Miss one of these and the entire lot becomes due normally.

    Probably because they are getting some council tax support, which reduces the more you earn.
  • Hello
    Yes I live in England, and was getting CT benefit
    So it sounds like if you were on CT benefit for part of the year, get a job, the bill rockets and the council cram everything due in before April.
  • CIS
    CIS Posts: 12,260 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Hello
    Yes I live in England, and was getting CT benefit
    So it sounds like if you were on CT benefit for part of the year, get a job, the bill rockets and the council cram everything due in before April.


    That is correct - the council year ends on 31 March and the intention of council tax legislation is that all monies are collected by that point.
    I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.
  • you would have needed to pay roughly 20% of your extra income/overtime towards your council tax when you received your extra income - this would have resulted in over payment, but would have kept ongoing payments down to a minimum or close to what you usually pay when back to normal hours/wages
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