Council Tax - confused
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noclaf
Posts: 892 Forumite
Warning - Potential long post.. apologies in advance!
I live in my parents house with my.elderly mother, just two of us.
I am a higher rate tax payer (40 percent), she is a pensioner.house is in the name of mother and father who does not reside with us.
Untill now our council tax bills always were sent in her name only, I've lived here for best part of 30 yrs and fully employed/wages via PAYE.and am on the electoral register with mother for this property.
My mum always received council tax support which reduced the council tax over the years.She was diagnosed with dementia nearly 10 yrs back.l recently applied for a discount.for my mother based on.her mental impairment after it was highlighted by Martin Lewis.
The council now appeared to of wiped out my mother's tax liability to 0, however for the first time they have sent a separate tax bill in my name.
The irony is that the overall tax bill for our house is now higher...they have applied a 25 percent discount to the full amount for my.mother but there is no council tax support given I am not eligible.
My questions:
Why after so many years (I am mid-30's and been working over 12 years) are they only sending a tax bill now in my name?
What's the implications...have they possibly under charged previously for myself?
The overall tax bill is now significantly higher after applying for a valid discount for.my mother, so am perplexed but also apprehensive and trying to understand the logic here.
Sorry again for long post but tried.to get all the relevant info.and context in.
Thanks!
I live in my parents house with my.elderly mother, just two of us.
I am a higher rate tax payer (40 percent), she is a pensioner.house is in the name of mother and father who does not reside with us.
Untill now our council tax bills always were sent in her name only, I've lived here for best part of 30 yrs and fully employed/wages via PAYE.and am on the electoral register with mother for this property.
My mum always received council tax support which reduced the council tax over the years.She was diagnosed with dementia nearly 10 yrs back.l recently applied for a discount.for my mother based on.her mental impairment after it was highlighted by Martin Lewis.
The council now appeared to of wiped out my mother's tax liability to 0, however for the first time they have sent a separate tax bill in my name.
The irony is that the overall tax bill for our house is now higher...they have applied a 25 percent discount to the full amount for my.mother but there is no council tax support given I am not eligible.
My questions:
Why after so many years (I am mid-30's and been working over 12 years) are they only sending a tax bill now in my name?
What's the implications...have they possibly under charged previously for myself?
The overall tax bill is now significantly higher after applying for a valid discount for.my mother, so am perplexed but also apprehensive and trying to understand the logic here.
Sorry again for long post but tried.to get all the relevant info.and context in.
Thanks!
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Comments
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Did you or your mother notify the local authority that you were living there. It doesn't sound like you have.0
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Did you or your mother notify the local authority that you were living there. It doesn't sound like you have.
Not that I can recall.but I find it hard to believe they weren't aware.
I have always officially lived/been registered at this house...even during uni around 15+ years back my mail always came here..my student loan bills. I've lived in this.property for 30+ yrs so I.dont understand how they would miss that.0 -
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Because it's your job to tell them.
Don't know about your Local Authority, but in my mums case (who lives alone) she is sent a form every year to confirm she is the only one living there.0 -
Ok so I've spoken to the council. It's all correct..the tax liability has moved to myself from my mother for.thebproperty. But sadly I've shafted myself after applying for my mum's discount in good faith.
Overall tax bill is now increased by £600 per year because when my mum was the liable person the council tax support significantly reduced the bill.
Before people apply for these discounts be careful guys!lesson learned here.0 -
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Ok so I've spoken to the council. It's all correct..the tax liability has moved to myself from my mother for.thebproperty. But sadly I've shafted myself after applying for my mum's discount in good faith.
Overall tax bill is now increased by £600 per year because when my mum was the liable person the council tax support significantly reduced the bill.
Before people apply for these discounts be careful guys!lesson learned here.
My initial thoughts are that there is something odd here but it might just need clarification.
Are you a joint owner of the property ? (It seems not but can you confirm).
Have the council added your name to the demand notice as the liable person (the person responsible for payment).
Also - is it England, Wales or Scotland.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 -
My initial thoughts are that there is something odd here but it might just need clarification.
Are you a joint owner of the property ? (It seems not but can you confirm).
Have the council added your name to the demand notice as the liable person (the person responsible for payment).
Also - is it England, Wales or Scotland.
Property is jointly owned by my parents only. London/England.
My mother's tax liability is 0 now, to.be fair they have applied a credit from.her account and a further 25percent discount to my tax bill. They sent a separate tax bill/note with my name.only.and a different ref no etc0 -
Property is jointly owned by my parents only. London/England.
My mother's tax liability is 0 now, to.be fair they have applied a credit from.her account and a further 25percent discount to my tax bill. They sent a separate tax bill/note with my name.only.and a different ref no etc
You cannot be legally liable for the council tax charge whilst there is a resident owner - a separate demand notice would indicate they have, from what you say, created a new and incorrect liability in your name.
The new demand notice should show the charge period they are trying to bill you for - what is that period ?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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