http://www.audit-commission.gov.uk/fraud/nfi/public-sector/case-studies/Pages/counciltaxcasestudies.aspx
HARINGEY
Tells people they must 'register' for council tax if they move into the Borough. Not true.
I know I must let you know about any changes in my circumstances which might affect my
account. (Not true, council has no business to put false information on forms and make people sign them)
You must notify the Council immediately if any of the above details change (Again, not true)
Local residents are concerned about this. See for example
http://www.harringayonline.com/forum/topics/council-tax-bill-single?page=3&commentId=844301%3AComment%3A231318&x=1#844301Comment231318
where Haringey council officers are apparently putting yet more misinformation into the public domain.
4 April 2011
Dear Councillor Stanton
Council Tax: Single Person Discount Review
Thank you for your e mail dated 22 March 2011 and for bringing to my attention the comments left on the Harringay Online website.
Single Person Discount (SPD) is a statutory relief available to Council Tax payers where only one adult is resident at the property. The value of the single persons discount is significant. Haringey currently awards SPD to 34,824 residents. Based on a Band D property, the SPD is £373.54 per recipient giving a total cost to the Council Tax collection fund of £13,008,156.96.
Billing authorities are under a duty to take ‘reasonable steps’ to ascertain discount entitlement before calculating the council tax liability. This requirement arises from Regulation 14 Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992) (S.I.1992/613), and Authorities must, therefore, undertake procedures to check on the possibility of discount.
Every year, we receive a high volume of applications for SPD. Unfortunately it has been proven that some of these applications are not genuine and, whilst the Local Taxation Service has strong controls in place, it is important that the Council is seen to be taking steps to ensure that every resident is paying the correct amount of council tax.
The Council also has a legal requirement to review discounts annually. All council tax bills are annotated with the following message ‘If your circumstances change you may no longer be entitled to any discount or exemption shown on this bill and must tell us immediately’. Unfortunately, this approach has not always proved to be effective as a number of taxpayers still fail to advise us of the change to their circumstances.
When deciding on a strategy to review SPD for 2011/2012, the Local Taxation Service decided to issue a separate review form to ensure that our records are as up to date as possible. There are sound financial reasons for including the review form with the Annual Bill as it was deemed to be the most cost effective way of contacting those concerned - thus saving on additional paper, printing and postage costs at a later point in the year. Additionally, reviewing accounts early in the financial year means that those taxpayers whose discount is withdrawn due to a change in their circumstances have more time to repay any discount they are not entitled to.
Having read the comments on the website I must confess that I am disappointed that a number of subscribers appear to suggest that they have either not opened or properly read the correspondence sent to them. Please be assured that there was no intention to hide the review form in an attempt to raise additional income as some have suggested on the website. In fact those who do not return their form will be issued with a reminder before any discount is withdrawn. If a discount ends up being withdrawn as a result of a failure to return the form, the taxpayer will be sent a bill detailing the change of liability. If they are indeed still entitled to the discount they will be able to submit a new claim for SPD, and, once all the relevant checks have been undertaken, the discount will be reinstated as appropriate.
Finally, the information you have provided us has of course proved us with valuable feedback on the way that we conduct our SPD reviews and we will certainly consider ways on ensuring that future contact promotes the inclusion of and importance of returning SPD review forms within the prescribed timescale.
As a result of your e mail we are looking at how much it might cost to have a message included on the front of the envelope drawing taxpayers notice to its content.
I hope the above clarifies the position regarding the single persons discount review and allays any concerns you may have.
Should you have any further queries or suggestions as to how we can improve communication with our taxpayers please do not hesitate to contact me.
Yours sincerely
Head of Benefits and Local TaxationSOLIHULL
When we work out your Council Tax we assume two adults live in most properties. (Stop it, then)
Households with more than one adult living in the property where the second adult is a full time student, student nurse, apprentice, is severely mentally impaired or detained in prison may not claim a single person discount but may claim an alternative 25% discount.
If you are not the only adult (aged 18 or over) living in the property you will now be required to pay the full rate of council tax.
Households with more than one adult living in the property where the second adult is a full time Student, Student Nurse, Apprentice, is severely mentally impaired or detained in prison may not claim a single person discount but may claim an alternative 25% discount. For more information and to apply for a discount of this nature please contact us on or email us at revenues@solihull.gov.uk.
(Utter nonsense)
BRENT
Can't tell the difference between discounts and disregard categories.
Discounts on council tax discount are available under certain circumstances.
A discount may be available if you are:
- a person aged over 18 living on your own in a property (this is referred to as asingle person discount)
- a person for whom child benefit is being received
- an 18 or 19 year old who has just left school or college
- a student nurse
- an apprentice
- a Youth Training trainee
- a patient resident in hospital
- a person who is being looked after in a residential care home, nursing home, or hostel providing a high level of care
- a person living with, and providing essential care for someone, for example due to disability, who is not their spouse, partner or child under 18
- a care worker such as a Community Service Volunteer
- a person who is severely mentally impaired
- a convicted or remand prisoner, unless in prison for non-payment of fines or the council tax
- a person staying in certain hostels or night shelters
- a person living in a religious community with no income of their own
- a member of International Headquarters or Defence Organisation
- a member of a Visiting Force
- a diplomat.
If you are the only adult living on your own in a property, you may be entitled to a single person discount of 25 per cent off your council tax.
You must be over 18 to be entitled to this discount.
Use this form to request (or to cancel, if your situation changes) a single person discount.