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Paying Council tax on empty property whilst estate is being wound up?
Langtang
Posts: 437 Forumite
FIL & MIL passed away in August 2020. We paid no council tax for the remainder of the financial year. Now we're into the new financial year and the estate(s) are still not settled, when will we be liable to pay council tax on the property? It's empty, and we'll be selling it once everything is finalised. TYIA
It'll be alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end....
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Comments
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I think most councils allow something like 6 months after probate provided that the property is still owned by the estate
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It doesn't go by year, it goes by length of time.The property (assuming it's empty) is exempt until probate and then for up to 6 months after. Following that expect a full council tax charge.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.1
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Look on the website for the council where this property is located and that will (or should!) give you all the info you need.Langtang said:FIL & MIL passed away in August 2020. We paid no council tax for the remainder of the financial year. Now we're into the new financial year and the estate(s) are still not settled, when will we be liable to pay council tax on the property? It's empty, and we'll be selling it once everything is finalised. TYIAhttps://www.gov.uk/council-tax/second-homes-and-empty-properties would also have given you your answer:
After probate is granted, you may be able to get a Council Tax exemption for another 6 months if the property is both:
- unoccupied
- still owned and in the name of the person who died
Googling on your question might have been both quicker and easier, if you're only after simple facts rather than opinions!1 -
Dealing with something similar with a council in England for my late mother.
1) Got a refund for unused CT for the FY she passed away in
2) Zero CT until probate + 6 months but this is dependent on the house going to myself and my sister. If it were going to just one of us, they'd have charged CT straight away.
Easiest way is just to call the CT folk.3
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