Expired single person discount (council tax)
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eddidaz
Posts: 69 Forumite
We signed up for a council tax discount when my partner started uni. After graduation a couple of years ago they never put it back up. If I tell them now, will they ask for the graduation date and charge us what we've been under posting this whole time? I want to do the right thing but can't afford a big bill.
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Comments
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Yes , but if you tell them rather than wait to be found out they may give you time to pay.
How could they know to put it back up if you failed to tell them ?I am not a cat (But my friend is)0 -
They had the course dates when we provided evidence for the discount. I'd also expect a well managed organisation to revalidate discounts like this on a regular basis to capture changes in circumstances (like quitting or extending studying) to prevent this kind of issue occurring.0
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Checking entitlement to the discount on an annual basis might be considered good practice, but also annoys single people who shouldn't have to fill in a form every year. An annual review is also expensive, and there are better things for the council to be spending your money on.
There is a legal requirement for you to notify the council if you believe you are no longer entitled to the discount.
The main thing is to correct the situation now and agree a repayment plan.0 -
They had the course dates when we provided evidence for the discount. I'd also expect a well managed organisation to revalidate discounts like this on a regular basis to capture changes in circumstances (like quitting or extending studying) to prevent this kind of issue occurring.
No, it is your responsibility to inform them of each and every change in circumstances that has an impact. Yes, it would make sense to be able to say "I only need this discount for 3 years" but since when did any part of government (particularly local councils) and taxation make any sense, and for future information you should never use the phrase "well managed organisation" when discussing the council.(Although I could be wrong, I often am.)0 -
They had the course dates when we provided evidence for the discount. I'd also expect a well managed organisation to revalidate discounts like this on a regular basis to capture changes in circumstances (like quitting or extending studying) to prevent this kind of issue occurring.
Well I would expect someone who "wants to do the right thing" to tell the council straight away of the change. Those annual council tax bills showing the discount were conveniently ignored were they?0 -
Assuming England and Wales:
There is a duty on the council to ensure a discount is correct before issuing a demand notice however there is also a duty on the tax payer to advise the council if the discount is incorrect. They can issue a penalty notice for failure to advise them.
You could try and argue the toss regarding the backdating but it's unlikely to get you anywhere - I've known it work before but rarely.I no longer work in Council Tax Recovery but instead work as a specialist Council Tax paralegal assisting landlords and Council Tax payers with council tax disputes and valuation tribunals. My views are my own reading of the law and you should always check with the local authority in question.0
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