Registering for council tax

scoros

I have lived with my parents for the past several years. My mother died a couple of months ago leaving my father and me as the only adults living in our home. I have just found out they didn’t register me for the payment of council tax, which my father pays for. He seems worried that if I try to register the council will do a back search of my residence history for any council tax due. Is that likely? I have always lived at my parents’ home with their full permission and I’m assured my father has always paid the full tax due (i.e. no discounts). Hoping someone can give me a definitive answer… also is there anything else I should watch out for when registering? Thanks!

Barkin

I don't think that my local authority accept credit card payment

eskbanker

As above, it's unclear what this has to do with credit cards (the board on which this has been posted) but council tax is payable for a property, not the individuals living there, so if your father didn't claim a single occupancy discount and paid the full amount then the council doesn't need to know anything else about who lived there....

scoros

(Added): I understand there’s a hierarchy of liability for payment of council tax, and that according to this my father remains solely liable for paying it at present (I’m a couple of rungs lower - as a “resident licensee’ i.e. I live at my parents’ home with their full permission). Does this mean I don’t need to register with the council just yet while my father is still living?

scoros

sorry, just realised I’ve been posting in the wrong category (my first time on tis forum you see). Apols!

Veteransaver

If your father wasn't claiming the single occupancy discount since you turned 18 (or left full time education) it shouldn't be an issue.
Moreover if he didn't claim single occupancy after your mother passed, he may still be able to reclaim some tax covering the period when he was eligible for the 25%. Edit, sorry I see your mother only passed a few months ago, so as long as he hasn't been claiming the 25% discount since then you will be fine. How old are you and are you employed or in receipt of certain benefits as he may still be able to claim the discount even with you living there.

However, you should be registered on the electoral role, which the council can cross check and isn't there normally an annual "residency" form which the household is supposed to complete ( I know we get one)

scoros

I have lived with my parents for the past several years. My mother died a couple of months ago leaving my father and me as the only adults living in our home. I have just found out they didn’t register me for the payment of council tax, which my father pays for. He seems worried that if I try to register the council will do a back search of my residence history for any council tax due. Is that likely? I have always lived at my parents’ home with their full permission and I’m assured my father has always paid the full tax due (i.e. no discounts). Hoping someone can give me a definitive answer… also is there anything else I should watch out for when registering? Thanks!

[Deleted User]

Hi,

nothing to worry about, CT is on the property, not individual occupants, though for a single occupier there is a 25% discount.

Edit: you don't need to register for CT, unless you are solely responsible, though you would need to be on voters roll at home address to be able to vote, maybe that's what dad was thinking about.

Keep_pedalling

There should be no change in CT as it is same for 2 adults as it is for three, and there was no need to register you. There is also no need to do so now your father can continue to pay it and you pay him your share. 

scoros

Thanks for your reply. I’m pretty sure my father hasn’t ever claimed the 25% discount as he and my mother lived together in the same house (I moved away in my early 20s for work but returned several years ago), and obviously won’t claim it now while I’m still around. I am on the electoral roll and switched address for my bank accounts etc a long time ago. 

I understand there’s a hierarchy of liability for council tax payment and according to this my father remain solely liable as the house is in his name (I’d be regarded as a “resident licensee” i.e. I live in his home with his full permission). However I am drawing up a couple of LPAs for my father to help deal with his finances etc as he gets older, so hopefully I can assume responsibility for council tax while he’s still officially liable.

scoros

That’s what I thought, thanks! We won’t be claiming the 25% single occupancy discount as Dad and I are still under the same roof as it were