Does anyone else have their Council Tax bill period running from May

CFELH

For at least the past four years my Council Tax bill period ran from May to Feb (10 month billing period). Like an idiot, I forgot to update my email address, so missed my CTax bill for 25-26....which now starts from April 25 and ends in Jan 26.

That 'unplanned' payment took a chunk out of this months budget. My irrational self says the council have gained an extra month from us who take a two month bill holiday.

la531983

They still take the same amount of money from you if you pay over 6 months, 9 months 10 months or 12 months (like I do), you do realise this?

Penguin_

CFELH said:

For at least the past four years my Council Tax bill period ran from May to Feb (10 month billing period). Like an idiot, I forgot to update my email address, so missed my CTax bill for 25-26....which now starts from April 25 and ends in Jan 26.

That 'unplanned' payment took a chunk out of this months budget. My irrational self says the council have gained an extra month from us who take a two month bill holiday.

But don't you now have February & March as "free months" as opposed to April & March?

fatbelly

April to Jan is the default payment period. So your 'holiday' months are Feb and Mar

I was not aware any offered May to Feb but all must offer the 12-month option.

Also I thought all bills must be sent by post

la531983

fatbelly said:

Also I thought all bills must be sent by post

Not sure why you think that, ive had mine via email for about 10 years now

CFELH

fatbelly said:

April to Jan is the default payment period. So your 'holiday' months are Feb and Mar

I was not aware any offered May to Feb but all must offer the 12-month option.

Also I thought all bills must be sent by post

Indeed, the billing period is April to Jan. But like other LAs, they have been behind in billing over recent years, so the first payment has fallen on May 1 for some time.  I have email billing only, hence my fault for not updating my email details.

Its frustrating as I use these two holiday periods to fund other things. Lesson learnt

lincroft1710

Over the 12 month period you are no worse off. If, for example, the annual amount is £2,400, then if you are paying over 10 months it will be £240 per month, over 12 months it will be £200 per month. Paying over 10 months is marginally less beneficial to yourself, since if you had had invested the money you would be losing £40 more each month off the capital. 

CFELH

lincroft1710 said:

Over the 12 month period you are no worse off. If, for example, the annual amount is £2,400, then if you are paying over 10 months it will be £240 per month, over 12 months it will be £200 per month. Paying over 10 months is marginally less beneficial to yourself, since if you had had invested the money you would be losing £40 more each month off the capital. 

Accepted. Having enjoyed these two month periods for four years, and having the neighbours say its been like this much longer, I budgeted for the two months March and April to use the money elsewhere. So yes, I will pay the same over the year, but my holiday period for 2025 is one month less. In other words I wasn't expecting to start paying April, so had some money spare....which I now dont.......until Feb and March next year...........unless they bring it forward to March.............in which case I will ask the same question on MSE next year.

molerat

What does your council web site state for the payment schedule ?  Mine is clear it is Apr to Jan for the 10 month but they did once go May to Feb due to a delay in billing.