Council tax - will they get me?

crispsandwich

Sorry for the dramatic title. Bit of a storm in a teacup really.

My housemate (who, incidentally, refuses to pay her share of the bills) has told my g/f that she intends to tell the council that I've been working from Jan - April and that I should have been paying council tax (I am a student again in May). She says we got a letter asking to delcare who lives in the house and what they do.

Anyhow, assuming she does tell them I was working for 4 months, will they ask me for 4 months worth of council tax? There is another person who is no longer a student and she's said she's going to inform the council of them as well.

I suppose I could just ignore any letter that come my way from the council, but is it likely to happen?

CB1979_2

tax dodger!!

LittleTinker

Dont you think you ought to pay what you owe?

crispsandwich

It's more to do with the fact that I can't afford it. On top of the rent, bills, food etc, another £80 a month for council tax is something I'll struggle to afford. I've only been a non-student for 4 months. Do students who have 16 weeks off in the summer and get a f/t job to earn some cash suddenly become liable for council tax? I doubt it.

I knew I was going to return in May - I've been in regular contact with the University. So in my eyes I'm still a student. As far as the Uni and the NHS Grants Unit are concerned, I'm taking a 4 month break.

Lavendyr

Yes, you should be paying council tax, and yes they could ask you for 4 months' worth. What your housemate does or doesn't do isn't the issue. Failure to pay council tax can ultimately land you in jail - so just pay it, you know you owe it.

If you are the only one liable in the house, you can get a 25% discount, though.

clutton_2

welcome to the real world

""So in my eyes I'm still a student" - its whether the council regards you as a student or not which is the only viewpoint. look on their website and read how they charge students.

local councils share information with each other about all defaulters, so, where-ever you move to, it will eventually catch up with you ......

Lavendyr

crispsandwich wrote: »

It's more to do with the fact that I can't afford it.

Then quite honestly it's something you should have budgeted for.

To give you an example, I moved in with a housemate in July 2006. I was working full time, she had just finished a Masters degree and was to start a PhD in September. She still had to pay council tax between finishing one degree and starting another, because during that time she was not a student. If there is any period of time when you are not a student, you are liable for council tax.

crispsandwich wrote: »

I knew I was going to return in May - I've been in regular contact with the University. So in my eyes I'm still a student..

Unfortunately, in the council's eyes, you may not be. You may be lucky and be able to get your uni to write a letter to the council stating that you were a student, but honestly I don't think the council will accept it as if you were working full time, by definition you could not have been a full-time student.

JoJoArmani

Are your bills in joint names - out of interest?

TBeckett100

i left CT unpaid in a few properties for a few years. what happened?

i complained about something unrelated, they ran a search and sent me all the bills.

chappers

Not sure but I think you will probably still be a non countable person with regards to council tax, however if there are people liable for council tax in the house then the full council tax will be liable and surely it is only fair that you pay your share.
If you are all on a joint tenancy, then surely you are all equally responsible for the bills.

The problem I see is that as you are stuidents you see yourself as exempt from council tax but that is not how it is, you are non countable for council tax, so you only don't have to pay if you are all students.
wouldn't it seem a bit unfair if it was the other way round and you were working and living with a couple of students and had to pay the council tax on your own.

If some of you are working and some of you are students it's probably time to go your seperate ways if you can't pay your fair share.

SouthCoast

My council tax has just gone up 4.2%.

Jail tax dodgers!