Council Tax Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Direct Debit and Payment Questions
Questions about the band of my property, and how to
appeal
Questions regarding Exemptions and
Discounts
What is council tax?
Council tax is an important part of the financing of Local
Government and other local services. The money raised by council
tax is used to make up the difference between the funding supplied
by Central government and the money required by Bassetlaw District
Council to supply all of the services needed by the inhabitants of
Bassetlaw. It was brought into effect on the 1 April 1993 and
replaced the Community Charge system.
Why do I have to pay council tax?
The council tax is paid by every occupier or owners of a
domestic property (houses, flats etc). It is a contribution towards
the cost of services provided by Bassetlaw District Council,
Nottinghamshire Police Authority and Nottinghamshire Fire Brigade.
Bassetlaw collects all the charges and then passes the required
amounts to the other organisations.
Who is liable to pay
council tax?
The owner will normally be liable if they live in the property
or if they leave the property empty. If they do not live in the
property and let it out or other people live there, the tenants or
those living there will be liable. If the property is a
multi-occupied rented property the owner will be liable.
How is my council tax
calculated?
Your council tax is worked out according to the valuation bands
which are based on the estimated value of the property on 1 April
1991. There are 8 council tax bands - A through to H - and each
band has a level of council tax set for it. The Valuation
Office determines the valuation band of your property.
Can I get help to pay my council tax?
Depending on your income and family circumstances, you may be
entitled to help with your council tax in the form of Council Tax
Benefit. When awarded this benefit reduces your council tax
bill.
When should I pay?
Council Tax is due as per your Council Tax bill, for the
majority of citizens this is monthly, and unless you have
decided to pay by Direct Debit your payment will be due on the 1st
of the month. For citizens on Direct Debit can choose from
the 1st, 10th, 15th, 25th and 28th.
I can not afford to
pay what can I do?
If you are on a low income you can apply for council tax
benefit. If you have difficulty paying, please contact us, but in the meantime, pay
what you can.
What if I do not pay on
time?
You will be sent a reminder. If you do not bring your Council
tax account up to date or you keep paying late you will be sent a
summons for the whole year’s bill and £60 costs will be added to
your account.
I pay by
direct debit when will my payments start?
Direct debit payments can be for 10 or 12 months. If you pay on
the 1st of the month, your first payment will be on the 1 May and
the last payment on 1 February, if you opt to pay over 10
months.
If you pay on a 12 month plan these will run April through to
March.
How do I know what to pay?
You will still be sent a council tax bill which will detail what
you need to pay and when.
I pay by
standing order do I need to complete a new form?
You will need to notify your bank of your revised payments
whenever you receive a new bill.
Who determines what the Band of my property should be?
The Listing Officer, District Valuation Office, Spur B, Block 5,
Government Buildings, Chalfont Drive, Nottingham. NG8 3RT
determines what the value of a property is for Rating purposes. He
is completely independent from Bassetlaw District Council and can
be contacted on 0115 9800 900. It is his responsibility to ensure
that the council tax Band List is kept accurate and up to date. For
further information visit the Valuation Office Agency website. This
site also contains information on how to appeal if you think your
property Valuation Band is wrong.
What is the council tax band list?
Every council has a list, compiled by the Valuation Office, that
shows the value of all domestic properties in its area and their
given band, this is called the council tax valuation list. The
properties are listed in alphabetical street order within postal
areas and every property has its own reference number.
Can I see the council tax band list?
The council tax band (valuation) list is a public document and
can be seen at the Valuation Office Agency website. A
hard copy is also held within the Revenues section at the Civic
Centre.
Can I appeal
against the band my property is in?
Yes, but there are time limits. Information on making an appeal
can be found on the Valuation Office Agency website or by
contacting The Listing Officer, District Valuation Office, Spur B,
Block 5, Government Buildings, Chalfont Drive, Nottingham. NG8
3RT. Telephone 0115 9800 900.
I have appealed against the Band of my property do I still
have to pay?
Yes. council tax is payable on the basis of the band currently
appearing in the list and you remain liable to pay the amount you
have been billed until the property's band value is altered. If the
value is reduced, any overpayment will be refunded or credited
against a future bill.
Why is my next door neighbours Band different to mine?
If the properties are identical, they should be in the same
Band, but if there are differences, for example one of them has an
extension this could account for the difference. The ranges of
values in the bands are quite wide and these are shown on the
Council Tax Band page. If you believe the Band of your property is
wrong you may appeal against it to the Listing officer at the
Valuation Office. Information on making an appeal can be
found on the Valuation Office Agency website.
My property is empty or soon will be empty do I still have to
pay anything?
Reduced charges can be claimed in certain instances, for example
when a property is completely vacated and all furniture and effects
removed, a charge free period of up to six months is available.
This will end before the six months are up if the property is
occupied or furnished. After the six months, a charge of 100% will
become payable even if the property remains unfurnished.
What happens if I no longer own or rent the property?
If your liability to pay the council tax for a property changes,
you should notify the Council Tax Section. See your bill for
details or the council tax home page for further information. We
will need to know
- the date you vacated the premises
- the date the premises were sold or the lease expired
- your forwarding address for correspondence
- details of the new owner or leaseholder
- landlord or agents details if you were renting
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I have been made jointly responsible for Council Tax can I
split the bill for payment half and half?
The Council Tax law provides that each person named on the bill
is liable for the whole of the amount payable. Therefore the
bill cannot be split between parties. We can enter into
unofficial arrangements to pay, but the Council can look to either
person named on the bill for payment.
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I am on a low income am I entitled to any benefits?
You need to complete a benefits claim form, Council Tax benefit
is means tested. Once completed you need to return it to the
Council for assessment, you will be notified if you are entitled or
not. In the meantime you must continue to pay Council Tax
until your benefit is assessed.
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I am a student do I get any reduction in my bill?
It depends on the number of residents over 18 in the
property. A student living in a property with other people is
disregarded or 'not counted' for Council Tax, therefore if only two
resident in the property and one is 'disregarded' as a student you
would get a 25% discount. A property wholly occupied by
students is exempt from charge. To class as a student you
fall into 2 categories:
Under 20 studying at least 12 hours per week for 24 weeks a
year, or
Over 20 studying 21 hours per week for 24 weeks a year.
A student certificate is required as proof of the qualifying
course of education, and you will need to complete a student
disregard application form. Available from the Council Tax
office.
Correspondence courses do not qualify.
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I am living on my own can I claim any discount?
Yes, if there are no ther persons over the age of 18 in the
property. You will need to sign a SIngle Occupier Discount
claim form. Your bill will be reduced by 25%. If you
are single because someone has left your property, we will need to
know the date they left and the forwarding address.
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Someone else living in the proeprty has gone into prison what
happens?
Unless that person has been sent to prison for non-payment of
Council Tax, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council
Tax. You will need to contact the Council Tax Unit,
confirming what date the person was sent to prison, the prison they
have gone into and the prison service number.
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I am already paying Council Tax elsewhere in another
area do I have to pay for this property?
If you are already registered at another property (and it still
remains your sole and main residence) you will be required to pay
either a 100% charge if it is an unfurnished empty property, after
the initial 6 months Class C exemption (empty and
unnoccupied). If it is furnished, or a holiday home then you
pay 90% as a second home.
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My property is empty what help is available?
For this question, there are many possible answers
depending upon the circumstances under which the property became
empty, contact the Council tax Unit if you are unsure.
- If the property is unoccupied, but furnished
then you have to pay a 90% charge, there is no free period.
- If the property is unoccupied and unfurnished
then the first six months you will have no Council Tax to
pay. After 6 months a 100% charge is payable.
- If the property is unoccupied, and the previous
occupier has gone into a nursing home/residential home/hospital,
permanently, then there is no Council Tax to pay whilst ever those
circumstances remain.
- If the property is unoccupied due to
repossession there is no Council Tax to pay. However, we will
require documentary proof of the repossession.
- If the problem is unoccupied but uninhabitable
then there is no Council Tax to pay for the first 12 months.
After this, a 100% charge is payable. However, the Council
will send an inspector to check over the property to ensure it
falls in this category.
- If the property is unoccupied but is someone's
second home a 90% charge is payable.
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Can I change my Direct Debit payment date?
Yes you can, and you don't have to fill in a new mandate.
All you need to do is let us know the new date you want us to
collect from. However, there must be 14 days between
notifying us of the change of date and the date on which we will
first collect.
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Can I set up Direct Debit over the phone?
Yes, call our dedicated Direct Debit line on 01909 533383 and
have your bank account details ready.
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If I move address in Bassetlaw do I need to cancel my Direct
Debit?
No, if you are going to be responsible for paying the Council
Tax at your new address, we will transfer your Direct Debit details
over to your new Council tax account and send you a revised
bill.
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I have moved into a new property can I set up a Direct
Debit?
Yes, even if the Valuation Office has decided on the valuation
band of your property, we can arrange for you to pay by Direct
Debit on a provisional valuation band.
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I use my local Post Office to pay can I have a payment card to
use?
Yes, we can supply you with a Post Office Swipe card to use if
you live in a rural area, where Bassetlaw doesn't operate a cash
office service. Our cash office's are located in Worksop,
Retford and Harworth, so for residents of these areas you wouldn't
be able to get a free Post Office payment card.
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Why have I received a reminder?
If you haven't paid in line with the bill you received, then you
will receive a reminder, you can only be issued with 2 separate
reminders in one financial year, the next time you fall behind with
your instalments, you will lose the right to pay by instalments and
the whole balance of the year will become due.
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What can I do about the reminder?
If it's for the current year, if you sign up to pay by Direct
Debit, we will cancel the reminder and negotiate a new instalment
plan with you.
If you don't want to pay by Direct Debit, then pay up the
arrears on the reminder within 7 days, but please note
What happens if you don't pay?
(separate page).
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I have received a Summons what is it what should I do?
You have received a summons because you didn't pay in line with
your bill, or the reminder notices which were issued.
Therefore you have lost the right to pay by monthlyt
instalments. If you pay the whole amount of the summons
including the court costs before the date of court, your case will
not be passed to the Magistrates Court. If you wish to set up
a Direct Debit.