How To Pay Tameside Council Tax

2010/2011

An Explanatory Note

You can also download this information as a PDF leaflet  374.43 KB

Dear Customer,

Please find enclosed your 2010/11 Council Tax bill along with additional information which I hope you will find useful.

Council Tax is a local tax set by every Council to help pay for local services. Information on how the charge has been calculated and how Council Tax collection will be spent is enclosed with this leaflet.

There are many ways to pay your Council Tax bill and if you don’t already pay by Direct Debit you may want to consider this cost effective method of payment. Simply contact us on 0161 342 2065 and a Direct Debit can be set up immediately.

The current economic situation has caused concern for many households. Ways in which your bill may be reduced can be found in this leaflet and information is provided on how to claim Housing and Council Tax benefit or be awarded a discount or exemption if the eligibility criteria is met.

Tameside Council’s performance in the last year has once again been outstanding and the Council is one of only two in the country to get the top score in all three organisational categories in the 2009 Comprehensive Area Assessment. The assessment is carried out by the Audit Commission and other main public sector inspectorates. The Council has been recognised for the way in which it has improved the quality of life for Tameside residents, scoring a maximum of four out of four for the way in which it manages performance and utilises resources.

Your Council Tax bill has been prepared based on information received by Exchequer and Support Services up to the beginning of March 2010, therefore very recent changes will not be detailed on your bill. There may be some delay in responding to very recent changes and I apologise if this has happened to you, however all changes will be dealt with as quickly as possible.

I do hope you find this information useful.

Yours faithfully,

Ilys Cookson,
Assistant Executive Director
Exchequer and Support Services.

Introduction

We want to help you understand your Council Tax bill by giving you clear information.

How is my Council Tax calculated?

Most dwellings will be subject to Council Tax. There will be one bill per dwelling whether it is a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat, and whether it is owned or rented. The District Valuer has allocated each property to one of eight valuation bands according to its market value at 1st April 1991.

Your Council Tax bill tells you which valuation band your property falls into.

I would like to appeal about my property banding

You may appeal against your property banding where:

• You believe that the banding should be changed because of an increase or reduction in the value of the property due to building work being carried out on the dwelling, i.e. demolition, extensions or converting the property from houses to flats;
• You adapt part of your dwelling for business use and it is entered into the Non Domestic Rating list
• The listing officer has altered a list without a proposal having been made by a taxpayer;
• Physical changes in the locality affecting value; or within 6 months of the following:- A band change to your property made by the listing officer; A band change made to a similar property to yours has been made by a tribunal or court; You have become a taxpayer at the property in the last 6 months.

Reductions or increases in value resulting from the general state of the housing market do not affect the banding of your property. Your appeal should be sent to the Manchester Valuation Office Agency, Portland Tower, Portland Street, Manchester, M1 3LD.

You may also appeal if you consider that you are not liable to pay Council Tax, for example because you are not the owner or because the property is exempt; or that your billing authority has made a mistake in calculating your bill. If you wish to appeal on these grounds you must first notify Tameside MBC in writing so that we have the opportunity to reconsider the case. Please write to Tameside Revenues Division, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL.

Making an appeal does not allow you to withhold payment of Council Tax. Payments should continue to be made in accordance with the instalments shown on your bill. If your appeal is successful you will be entitled to refund of any overpaid Council Tax.

Can I reduce my Council Tax bill?

Discounts

The full Council Tax assumes there are two adults living in the dwelling. If only one adult lives in a dwelling the Council Tax will be reduced by 25%.

If a dwelling is no ones sole or main home then the bill will be reduced by 50%.

Some people are not counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a property if they meet certain conditions. People eligible for discounts are:

• full time students, student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees, and initial teacher training
• patients resident in hospital
• people who are being looked after in care homes
• people who are severely mentally impaired
• people staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• 18 to 19 year olds who are at or have just left school
• care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
• people caring for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
• members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
• members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
• people in prison (except those in prison for non payment of Council Tax or a fine)
• diplomats and members of international organisations headquartered in the UK, and their non British spouses.

Discount Shown on Bill

If a discount is granted the reduction will be shown on your bill.

25% Discount

Code
01 Only one resident aged 18 or over in the property
02 More than one resident aged 18 or over, but only one is "counted"

50% Discount

Code
03 Property is substantially unfurnished and unoccupied and has been for more than 6 months or the property is unoccupied but furnished
04 More than one resident aged 18 or over, but none are "counted"
05 Only one resident aged 18 or over, but this person is not "counted"
06 A dwelling which is not the sole or main residence of an individual, which is furnished and the occupation of which, is restricted by a planning condition preventing occupation for a continuous period of at least 28 days.
07 A dwelling, which is not the sole or main residence of an individual, which is furnished and the occupation of which, is not restricted by a planning condition preventing occupation for a continuous period of at least 28 days.
22 The property is required as a condition of employment where the occupiers have their sole or main residence elsewhere and are registered to pay Council Tax there.

How can I apply for a discount?

Forms are available on line at www.tameside.gov.uk/benefits/counciltax or alternatively write to us at Tameside Revenues Division, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6DL or contact the area helpline 0161 342 2065.

Exemptions

If an exemption is granted this will be shown on your Council Tax bill. This table explains the reasons.

Disability Reduction

If you or someone who lives with you (adult or child), has a room or an extra bathroom or kitchen, or extra space in your property to meet special needs arising from a disability, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax. The bill may be reduced to that of a band immediately below the band shown on the valuation list. If your home is in band A you will already be in the lowest Council Tax band. However, you may still qualify for a reduction of 1/9th of the value of band D. Contact your area helpline on 0161 342 2065 for further advice. Forms are also available on the Council’s website www.tameside.gov.uk/benefits/counciltax.

If your bill indicates that a discount, exemption or disability reduction has been allowed, you must tell Tameside MBC within 21 days, of any change in circumstances, which affects your entitlement to this discount. If you fail to do so you may be required to pay a penalty of £70.

My circumstances have changed

Please tell us immediately of any changes in your circumstances which may affect your Council Tax liability. These are some of the changes which should be reported:

• If you move house.
• Someone comes to live with you.
• Someone leaves your property.
• If you feel you should be entitled to a discount or any of the exemptions.
• If you cease to be employed or start work.

I am moving house

Please contact the area helpline on 0161 342 2065 to provide details or complete the on-line form at www.tameside.gov.uk/benefits/counciltax.

I need to contact you about my bill

I am having difficulty in paying

For people who may find monthly payments difficult, the bill can be paid by weekly or fortnightly payments. If you choose this method you will need to notify the Council Tax Section so that we can amend your instalment details.

If you are experiencing difficulties, please make early contact with the Council Tax Section by phoning your area helpline who will check that your bill is correct and identify any reductions you may be entitled to that you have not claimed.

Detailed below are other Agencies who can offer free advice if you are experiencing financial difficulties:

For Help with Money Problems:

Money Information Network Tameside
Tel: 0161 331 2280
Website: www.mintameside.org.uk 

Community Legal Advice
Tel: 0845 345 4345
Website: www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk 

For Help with Housing Matters:

Housing Options
Tel: 0161 331 2700
Website: www.tameside.gov.uk/housing/options  

Shelter
Tel: 0844 515 1640
Website: http://england.shelter.org.uk 

Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit

Am I eligible to claim?

Anyone who has to pay Council Tax can make a claim for Council Tax Benefit.

Anyone who has a genuine rent liability can make a claim for Housing Benefit.

• You may be single or have a partner
• You may live alone and get a discounted Council Tax bill
• You may be a pensioner
• You may rent or own your home
• You can be in work or not
• You can be employed or self-employed.

How can I claim?

If you claim Employment Support Allowance, Income Support or Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance, you can claim Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit at the same time.

Alternatively, you can obtain a form to claim Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit from your local Customer Service Centre or Library.

You can check your entitlement to benefit using our online calculator and complete an application form electronically by visiting our website https://tamesideclaims.teamnetsol.com/index.jsp .

When can I claim?

You should claim these benefits as soon as you think you need to, because benefit cannot normally be backdated. If you are not sure whether your income is low enough for you to get benefit, you should claim anyway.

What other benefits are available?

There is an alternative to Council Tax Benefit called Second Adult Rebate, which you can claim if someone else lives with you other than your partner and is over the age of 18, on Income Support or a low income. Should you be entitled to a rebate based on your own income and be entitled to Second Adult Rebate, the council will pay the higher of the two claims.

NB You do not need to complete a new application if you are already in receipt of benefit. Your benefit should automatically be calculated and shown on your bill, if not, contact the Benefits Section immediately on 0161 342 3708.

Benefits

The Council is keen to make prompt payment of benefits to genuine claimants, but we are equally keen to stamp out benefit fraud. There is an active Investigation Team that is responsible for the detection and investigation of fraudulent claims. If you want to report benefit fraud contact Freephone 0800 328 6340.

Don’t Let The Cheats Benefit

Benefit fraud affects everyone – people who make fraudulent benefit claims are not just cheating the system – they are cheating the whole community.

The Council has a dedicated benefit fraud investigation team, committed to the prevention, detection and deterrence of false claims. Report anyone that you suspect is committing benefit fraud directly to the benefit fraud team on 0161 342 3191. Alternatively, call the benefit fraud hotline freephone on 0800 328 6340.

All allegations are treated in the strictest confidence, you do not have to tell us your name.

Please provide as much information and detail as possible, as the more information we are given, the more likely it is that the investigation will have a successful outcome.

The Council will take necessary and appropriate action against any person who has committed benefit fraud which includes prosecuting benefit cheats and in some cases the Council will take action to remove the proceeds of benefit fraud crime by pursuing a confiscation of assets.

Ring Now. All calls will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Remember, benefit fraud is a crime

No If’s, No Buts, The Council is Targeting Benefit Thieves.

Ways I can pay my Council Tax

Direct Debit

Direct debit is the preferred method of collecting your Council Tax. It is cost effective, efficient and couldn’t be simpler. Just contact your area help line on 0161 342 2065 with your bank details or print and complete a direct debit instruction from the Council’s website at www.tameside.gov.uk/directdebit/counciltax and return it to Tameside Revenues Division.

Direct Debit payments are claimed on either the 1st or 15th of the month.

A Council Tax Bill will be issued informing you of your instalments and the dates they will be collected and is subject to the direct debit guarantee.

Online Payments

You can pay your Council Tax by credit/debit card via our secure network by using the Online Payment Form on the Council’s website at www.tameside.gov.uk/counciltax.

You will need your Council Tax account number which can be found at the top right hand corner of your bill.

Telephone Payments

Payments by debit/credit card can be made on our 24 hour payment line 0161 342 4297.

Standing Orders

Council Tax payments can be made by standing order at your bank but you must quote all of the following:

• Tameside MBC
• Your Council Tax reference (this can be found on your bill)
• Your name
• Sort code 08-92-32
• Account No. 61000667
• Account name: Tameside MB suspense account
• The Co-op Bank, 1 Market Place, Ashton-under- Lyne, OL6 6DL.

Payments can also be made at:

• The Post Office
• Any PayPoint or Payzone outlet using your existing card or Council Tax bill
• Any Customer Service Centre or Library in Tameside by cheque.