Not eligible for help with council tax. But if I was a diplomat I would be.

[pavlovthecat]

I am furious.
DH is not entitled to contributions based benefits after losing his job as he dared to take 3 weeks off unpaid when DD was born 2.5 years ago, and thus had a break in payment of stamp duty.

We earn too much money to be entitled to any help with our council tax, and the Single Person Allowance applies to single occupancy, not the number of people working.

We were stupid enough to buy our own flat, so not eligible for any housing benefits, and even if we were I am earning too much to get any help anyway.

However, if DH was diplomat, or if he was a criminal, committing a serious enough crime to warrant a custodial sentence, he would not be classed as a 'person' for council tax purposes and I would then be eligible for 25% discount on my council tax.

Rant over.

Sorry about the council tax situation (grr bloody council tax) but don't start on the slippery slope of envying diplomats. They are exempt from practically everything and researching/thinking about it it will only make you angrier!!

Tough life though with all those twinkling trays of Ferrero Rocher.

Just take a look into how much Congestion charge fees the embassies have amounted which they won't be paying, it is shocking!

Did you know you cant actually make a pyramid from Ferrero Rocher without sticking them together, or onto some kind of base? I have watched my BIL the ambassador try.....

LOL at the ferrero Rocher - now, I think I might even be more furious now I remember they get those free too!

Rusty, I assumed that, like my UN friend, Dips are only exempted whilst posted abroad? Some years my friend is only in UK a matter of weeks per yr so therefore is not subject to tax as a UK resident, although for all intents and purposes they 'live' in the UK.

LOL @ Ferrero Rocher, I always take a box with me when visiting DH's Uncle (retired ambassador) it amuses me no end!

I know that BIL pays council tax while he's here, and when they are abroad the house is let, so it's due on it then anyway because it's occupied by other people - they are normally out of the country for 3 - 4 years & then back for a year or two.

Don't think Ferrero Rocher actually come with the job, pavlov - the ones BIL was experimenting with were out of four Easter eggs that we brought with us when we stayed with them one Easter.

They do tend to get nice houses to live in though: this and this were in their first Ambassador's Residence -it was a lovely house

There's a difference between being subject to uk tax and being subject to council tax though.

Rustybear is correct that it is only foreign diplomats that are exempt from council tax.

Council tax is a burden but the money has to be raised somehow. They tried taxing each adult and that didn't work so I'm not sure how they are supposed to come up with a new idea.

Mrs pnut, That should have read

'so therefore is not subject to council tax'

My UN friend's partner is treated as a single person residing at the address, as my friend is not resident in the UK for long enough each year to count as a resident at that address.