Council Tax rebate

Davers123

We have followed Martin’s advice and appealed our council tax band for the last 10 year. We had council tax benefits for an amount just over the difference and the council now say we are not owed any rebate as with the CT benefit we paid below the new amount after the band has been lowered. I have tried to find advice but cannot as we should be owed some rebate as we would have got the benefit even if we were on the lower band?  Any advice gratefully accepted. 

lincroft1710

Many things affect the Council Tax Reduction (as it has been called since 2013) to which you would be entitled. It is quite possible that had you been on a lower CT band from the start, you would be entitled to less CTR, so the council could well be correct that you have not overpaid CT.

CIS

Davers123 said:

We have followed Martin’s advice and appealed our council tax band for the last 10 year. We had council tax benefits for an amount just over the difference and the council now say we are not owed any rebate as with the CT benefit we paid below the new amount after the band has been lowered. I have tried to find advice but cannot as we should be owed some rebate as we would have got the benefit even if we were on the lower band?  Any advice gratefully accepted. 

They are correct to adjust for any council tax benefit/reduction that has been paid as you did not pay that, the council will re-claim the monies from that.

E.g.

Band D at £1000 - you got 80% paid in council tax benefit, so £800, and paid the balance of £200.

Band lowered to a Band C at £800.
The council would cover the 80% of this, so apply £640 in council tax benefit. This leaves £160 to pay. You actually paid £200 so you get £40 back.

Over the years I've dealt with hundreds of band reductions and it's quite common to find that little or no refund is due to the taxpayer as they never paid the monies in the first place.

Davers123

Thank you for the advice we actually paid £600 towards 1 year and they say we get 1 pence back when the difference is £210 between the bands.  

Kind Regards 

CIS

Davers123 said:

Thank you for the advice we actually paid £600 towards 1 year and they say we get 1 pence back when the difference is £210 between the bands.  

Kind Regards 

To say exactly what the situation is would need a full look at the charge (discounts, exemptions etc) before and after the adjustment - these things can be complicated but I have seen a few go wrong over the years.