Tax council headache!

Havoc88

Hi all,

I need some advice about a council tax issue that’s become a real headache. Between 2016 and 2020, I was living with my wife at x adress. We separated, and I moved out in January 2020. At that time, the council tax account was a joint one in both of our names, but when I left, the account was closed, and a new account was opened in my ex-wife’s name because she stayed at the property.

When I left, I made sure to leave her money to cover council tax and other costs like the deposit, and she assured me she’d sort it out. From what I understood, she did take care of it. She later filed for an IVA (Individual Voluntary Arrangement), and this included the council tax debt from our old account.

Fast forward to 2021, and I started getting chased by the council for unpaid council tax from the old account. Her name had been removed from the bill, and somehow, I was now being held responsible for everything. I called the council back then, explained that I’d moved out in January 2020, and said it didn’t make sense. I told them I was going through a divorce and would look into it. After that, I didn’t hear anything for a while.

Now, out of the blue, they’ve sent me another bill for the same thing, saying I’m the only liable person. I called the council to ask for the original bill from 2018, as I’m sure both of our names were on the account. Meanwhile, I got my ex involved again, and she confirmed that this council tax debt had already been included in her IVA. CreditFix, the IVA company, even sent an email to the council back in 2021 requesting the necessary details to process the payment. The council, however, didn’t respond to that email or fill out the required paperwork, and instead, they put the debt in my name and started chasing me.

CreditFix has now sent another email to the council requesting the same information, but the council hasn’t responded to this either. My ex is willing to ensure this debt is fully covered through her IVA, as I already paid her to cover it when I moved out, but the council is refusing to cooperate.

What I don’t understand is:

• Who authorised her name being removed from the bill in the first place?

• Why didn’t the council respond to the IVA paperwork in 2021, and why haven’t they responded to the latest email?

• How can they hold me solely responsible when it was a joint account, and I moved out years ago?

Any advice on how to resolve this would be greatly appreciated. It’s so frustrating to feel like I’m being unfairly targeted.

Thanks!

elsien

Duplicate thread. 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6570719/council-tax-headache#latest

I’m not sure which part of the  forum is the best place for it to be.

Havoc88

Yes, I think my problem falls into two categories (it’s both council tax and debt) correct me if I’m wrong, thanks.

fatbelly

Joint liability means that either party can be pursued for the full amount.

You say that the council were informed of the change in Jan 2020, and a new account number allocated.

If what they are chasing is council tax owed from 2018 then it is legitimate to ask you to pay as your wife's debts were covered by the IVA. 

However there would have been some monies, maybe not much, payable from her IP for the relevant tax year and that should be deducted from the amount you owe.