Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I'm going to have to pay the full council tax demand, aren't I?

48 replies

CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 19:35

Six months ago I suddenly got an adjusted council tax notice knocking £290 off the total. I rang them to query and they told me it was accurate. I wasn't convinced tbh but I only earn minimum wage and take home less because I pay into a pension, and they said it was based on my earnings so I kind of went with it. Now I've got another notice demanding the full whack ie I've got to pay another £290 by 1 March. That's a quarter of my monthly take home and quite a nightmare to find in three weeks. But I don't think I can avoid it. Can I? In any way?

OP posts:
captainmajor · 09/02/2022 19:38

Are you sure it's not some sort of scam ? The council tax office wouldn't know what your earning were would they ?
The only reduction I know of is 25% for single adult occupancy - I may be wrong

DoverWight · 09/02/2022 19:41

They might be able to arrange a payment plan so you can pay it off over a few months, give them a call to ask.

Original poster
CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 19:42

Definitely not a scam. When I got the first adjusted notice I rang the number on the council website. All three notices (the original back in March last year, the adjusted one in August and now this one) have the same payment details/blurb etc on them. I'm going to ring them tomorrow and try to (pitifully) argue that they categorically told me my bill was that much less, but I don't think I'll have a leg to stand on. It's taxes innit. Death and taxes. Full liability, nothing more certain.

OP posts:
Amichelle84 · 09/02/2022 19:43

@captainmajor

Are you sure it's not some sort of scam ? The council tax office wouldn't know what your earning were would they ? The only reduction I know of is 25% for single adult occupancy - I may be wrong
Agree with this - doesn't sound right to me.

I'd ring your local council and check. Don't use any of the contact info on any correspondence you've had regarding this. Find an old letter or google their number.

PyjamaFan · 09/02/2022 19:44

Council tax is related to your house or flat, it's nothing to do with your earnings.

Sounds dodgy to me.

Original poster
CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 19:45

It's really not a scam. They've just fucked up.

OP posts:
Original poster
CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 19:46

Council tax benefit is related to your earnings though. They've applied that benefit to my earnings when they shouldn't have, somehow.

OP posts:
Trinxsy · 09/02/2022 19:47

DP and I get a council tax reduction as we're on low incomes. Could it be that? Ours is definitely correct.

We've also had demands before when we've had to skip a payment (naughty of us I know) and they're always willing to let you pay in instalments if you can't afford it.

TheFlis12345 · 09/02/2022 19:47

But how?!? Council tax is nothing to do with earnings and they would have no way of knowing your salary, so why would someone genuine have told you that?

TheFlis12345 · 09/02/2022 19:48

Cross posted, sorry. They need to offer a payment plan as they messed up.

stargirl1701 · 09/02/2022 19:48

Speak to your local councillor. If nothing else, they can intervene for you to pay back in instalments without incurring a penalty charge or interest. Keep all the letters you were sent to show in the meeting.

AuntyJanet · 09/02/2022 19:49

Why would your earnings have any bearing on how much your council tax is?

kookievee · 09/02/2022 19:49

Council tax will know your earnings if you've applied for a reduction so people saying it's nothing to do with earnings are wrong.

BrambleRoses · 09/02/2022 19:49

I think that the OP means paying back the council tax benefit.

Fairylightsongs · 09/02/2022 19:49

The people saying your earnings don’t come into it are wrong. For very low earners there are discounts, It’s called council tax reduction or supports and is discounted for very, very low earners.

Op, call them and discuss.

toomanyhobbies · 09/02/2022 19:50

Have you claimed UNiversal credit OP? I know councils get notice of UC claims
automatically and this can count as claim for Council tax reduction/support. Which would adjust your Council tax and is based on your earrings.

MondeoFan · 09/02/2022 19:50

I've had the same in the past. I get council tax support and as my whole claim has been recalculated i had to pay the rest there and then. No way around it. I was scared of the bailiffs coming round and my bill was £550

Fairylightsongs · 09/02/2022 19:51

Op you must have applied for a reduction. They don’t just randomly offer it up.

Original poster
CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 19:53

Yes I moved onto universal credit in August which I guess triggered it. My UC claim is accurate though. All the numbers I've given are correct. It's them that have fucked up. I didn't apply for council tax benefit. They just gave me it, around the same time I moved onto universal credit.

OP posts:
TyrannysaurusXXrightshoarder · 09/02/2022 19:54

@kookievee

Council tax will know your earnings if you've applied for a reduction so people saying it's nothing to do with earnings are wrong.
Yes, this!!! Council Tax isn’t connected to income but Council Tax Support is.

OP, do you think they are correct based on your calculations? IE did they over pay you? If they did, and it was their fault (ie not because of incorrect information you gave them) you can still appeal it with the Valuations Tribunal.

This link might help
www.turn2us.org.uk/Benefit-guides/Benefits-Overpayment/Council-tax-support-overpayments

Musereader · 09/02/2022 19:54

While council tax is nothing to do with your earnings, you can get council tax reduction if you are on a low income, and if you are on Universal credit, they get an idea of your earnings from your UC award as certain people in councils have access to a shared information system that shows the other benefits award.

It may be that your earnings were very low for a short period, or UC information was wrong for a bit (for ex. if some earnings were not included in the award because your employer reported them late)

Councils are generally quite forgiving if you call them and explain you can't get the money in 3 weeks, especially if it is more than your normal monthly payment and will generally arrange payment plans. If they go through UC to get the arrears they will only get £16 per month so are happy to make arrangements with people to collect it sooner even if not all paid in one go.

Smileyaxolotl1 · 09/02/2022 19:59

You can get a council tax reduction if you’re on a low income so it might well not be a scam.
If I were you I would arrange to pay it back as at really low rate £5 a week or similar.
I don’t see why they wouldn’t agree to this.

Fairylightsongs · 09/02/2022 19:59

Ah ok the benefits explains it, just call then and speak to them op.

Queenoftheashes · 09/02/2022 20:00

I accidentally didn’t pay my council tax for months. Nothing happened. Just tell them you’ll be paying in instalments.

Original poster
CouncilFuckingTax · 09/02/2022 20:01

@Musereader thanks, that makes sense. I got the adjusted notice around the time I switched to UC. It wasn't a smooth switch because apparently my tax credit was calculated two weeks behind and UC is calculated five weeks behind or something, I don't really get it but yes I guess given what you've said my perfectly normal way of getting paid monthly would maybe throw up gaps in systems that aren't properly connected. I didn't think about that at the time.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread