Penalties for not paying council tax?

[andrewrob]

A friend of mine (no really) has just realised after moving into a flat three and a half months ago that he has not paid any council tax.
I've told him he needs to talk to the council as soon as possible.

Are there any fines involved in this kind of circumstance?
He was living with his parents before moving out into this flat so he has never paid council tax at another address.

Thanks

[plg]

Within the year that they are due, probably not. Providing he pays the 3months as well, the council will probably be glad of the money...

[peterguk M500]

Not paying coucil tax can result in prison. He needs to talk to them ASAP.

[plg]

peterguk M500 said:

Not paying coucil tax can result in prison. He needs to talk to them ASAP.

Refusal to pay council tax can result in prison.

A couple of months back tax is treated as a mild debt. One year plus might get serious.

[Olivera]

They are prepared to send OAPs to jail for not paying council tax, so I suggest your mate coughs up.

[thatone1967]

I changed bank earlier this year and due to problems getting things set up, missed the first couple of payments, effectively, the couple of months I missed are used as the "free" months at the end of the year. Instead of missing Jan and Feb, I missed May and June... No drama...

[Boosted LS1]

Do the council know when he moved in and the tax became due?

[stigmundfreud]

Olivera said:

They are prepared to send OAPs to jail for not paying council tax, so I suggest your mate coughs up.

how about MP's that claim it on expenses only not use the expenses to pay for it as the property didnt need it?

[Dixie68]

I didn't pay at my last place for 4 months due to the council being muppets and trying to get the money from the previous occupants. When they finally sorted themselves out, after loads of phonecalls, they just adjusted the monthly payments for the rest of the year to make up the backlog. Bonus really as I'd been saving the money I knew I owed.

[siscar]

stigmundfreud said:

Olivera said:

They are prepared to send OAPs to jail for not paying council tax, so I suggest your mate coughs up.

how about MP's that claim it on expenses only not use the expenses to pay for it as the property didnt need it?

The cases have yet to come to court, should be in the autumn. They've been trying, and failing, to claim parliamentary privilege

[streaky]

They take the property away and crush it.

Unless it's worth over £1.5m, in which case they house an immigrant family there.

Streaky

PS - couldn't decide between a to show my comments were in jest, or a to show they weren't - S

Edited by streaky on Tuesday 3rd August 09:49

[Tino]

Could the landlords be paying the council tax?
I didn't think you would get away with it for very long if no-one was paying the council tax, as even unoccupied properties pay, I think 90%?

[davidjpowell]

Tino said:

Could the landlords be paying the council tax?
I didn't think you would get away with it for very long if no-one was paying the council tax, as even unoccupied properties pay, I think 90%?

Unoccupied varies by area. To OP don't sweat. Give them a ring and they will sort it out on Direct Debit.

[Soovy]

Ring them. Pay it.

Non payment can = jail.

[mph1977]

Olivera said:

They are prepared to send OAPs to jail for not paying council tax, so I suggest your mate coughs up.

for deliberately refusing


the usual approach is either attachment of earnings orders or to send the moronic, with little or no actual understanding of balliff law despite their 'Certificate', mouth breathers from the likes of Rossendales around ...

[oldsoak]

directgov said:

Who is responsible for paying the bill?

There's one Council Tax bill for each home. Usually the person living in the property has to pay the bill. Spouses and partners who live together are both responsible for paying the bill.

The person at the top or nearest to the top of the following list has to pay the bill:

• lives in the property and owns it
• lives in the property and has a lease (this includes 'assured tenants' under the Housing Act 1988)
• lives in the property and is a 'statutory' or 'secure' tenant
• lives in the property and isn't a tenant but has permission to live there
• lives in the property (for example a squatter)
• has a lease of six months or more on the property, but doesn't live there
• owns the property but doesn't live there

You can't be responsible for paying the bill if you're under age 18.

If you're still unsure about who is responsible for paying the bill, you can contact your local council and they'll be able to help.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/CouncilTax/DG_10037383

[Engineer1]

Those people saying none payment = jail time, it may well do but they have to prove you were refusing to pay. This is a council we are talking about I bet they haven't got round to doing the paperwork on change of occupant yet, so he shouldn't sweat it, but he should be prepared to argue with them if they demand all the missed payments in one go.

[andrewrob]

I've spoken to my friend, he's relieved to say the least. He is ringing the council this morning. Thanks for all of the replies I'll let you know the outcome though doesn't seem to bad now.