Can the VOA backdate a council tax banding increase.

Jacklob

I have just discovered that when I moved into my property in 2006, my council tax band should have been increased due to improvement works carried out by the previous owner. I moved in, paid the council tax bills that were sent to me and didn,t know to question if a review should or should not have been done at this time and my solicitor did not mention anything. I,m happy for this review to now take place but can they backdate any increase to when I moved in, 17 years ago. I understand the extension was built in 1993, just when council tax was introduced, could this have caused the error? All the necessary planning permission and building regulations were in place. Please could you only respond if you have a definitive answer as I am going round in circles on google, lots of differing information.

lincroft1710

Firstly not all extensions result in a CT band increase. Secondly in England a CT band increase cannot be backdated

Jonboy_1984

Have you actually been sent notification that a review is being undertaken, or is this theoretical worry? 

lincroft1710

It is quite possible that as the extension was built in 1993 it slipped through the net. If anyone is to blame for this not being picked up it is the council and/or the VOA. The only chance of this being picked up now is if one of your neighbours complains about their CT and uses your home as a reason for a band reduction. You are under no obligation to tell the VOA that you believe your band is too low.

Jacklob

Jonboy_1984 said:

Have you actually been sent notification that a review is being undertaken, or is this theoretical worry? 

It,s a theoretical worry after reading a random article online, but it must apply to my house due to the extent of the improvements and I,m only in band c. I,m guessing it will be flagged up if I sell as a solicitor should notice this, then again my solicitor didn,t pick it up when I bought.

lincroft1710

Solicitors aren't CT experts and even if the solicitor dealing with the sale believes your CT band is low, the only thing they could do about it is mention the possibility the CT band may be too low on the TA6 form.