All bills are issued to give at least 14 days notice of the first instalment. Full details of the charge band applicable, the amount of tax, together with details of any relief or reductions are shown, as are full details of the payments to be made.
Moving Home
If you are moving home:-
- You must tell us straight away if you move in or out of a dwelling for which you should be paying Council Tax.
- Once we have received all the relevant information we will issue amended bills within 8 working days.
- If you have moved out any overpayment will be credited to a new account or refunded to you.
- If you have moved into a newly built property we have to wait until the Valuation Officer (Inland Revenue) has set a Council Tax band.
- We will issue the bill within 6 working days of him notifying us of that band.
- Whilst waiting for the Band to be set you can, if you wish, start making payments on account by Direct Debit or any other method of payment.
Discounts and Relief
- Any application for a discount or relief should be made in writing and we provide forms for this purpose.
- Single resident discounts can be applied for by letter but this must include the date from which it is claimed and contain a statement that the applicant is the only adult living in the household.
- Please do not forget to sign any application.
- Completed requests for discounts or relief will be responded to within 8 working days.
- The award of such a discount or relief will be made by way of an amended bill showing any revised instalments.
- If your discount or relief is likely to change as a result of a change in the household circumstances you are obliged to advise us within 21 days of the change occurring. On receipt of all the necessary information we will send an amended bill or notification within 8 working days.
Relief for the Disabled
- It is our normal practice to visit the premises to verify a claim. We will contact you within 5 working days of receipt of the claim to arrange this.
- A decision will be made and notified to you within 5 working days of the visit.
Award of Council Tax Benefit
- Where Council Tax Benefit is awarded we will issue an amended bill and statement of instalments within 2 working days.
Payment of Council Tax
- All bills are issued so as to give 14 days notice of any new or revised instalments due. Payments are due on the 6th day of each month, from April to January in a full financial year.
- Taxpayers using Direct Debit can have 12 instalments from April to March and can also choose whether to pay on the 6th, 14th, 22nd or 28th of each month.
- All taxpayers have the right to pay monthly but we also offer twice yearly and yearly arrangements.
- There are payment facilities at the Basildon Centre. Details are given on payment documentation and in leaflets issued with new bills.
- The recommended method of payment is Direct Debit.
Problems with Payments
- People who have genuine payment difficulties are advised to contact us as soon as possible (before we have to send reminders). We will offer advice on Council Tax Benefit, be sympathetic and consider reasonable offers of payment.
Refunds
- Overpayments can arise for a number of reasons. It could be that you have moved out of the District having paid your account or it may be because you have paid too much or have been awarded a benefit or discount after having paid your instalments.
- Whatever the reason we will notify you by way of a credit bill. This will usually be accompanied by a form for you to claim a refund..
- We issue these forms because we know that some people wish to offset the credit against future bills with us and do not wish to receive a refund. In cases of joint liability we use the form to clarify as to whom the refund should be paid.
- A refund can be made either by cheque or by payment direct to a bank account.
- Refunds will be sent within 7 working days of the request.
Non Payments
- Where we do not receive a payment, or have no agreed arrangement we will issue Reminders and Final Notices at any time after the instalment has been missed.
- Our major standard regarding unpaid sums is to secure payment in line with the relevant legislation and to exercise these functions in a ‘Firm but Fair’ manner.
Recovery procedures for unpaid debts
- Our commitment is to follow up on all unpaid debts, continually encouraging people to come forward and discuss acceptable arrangements for payment and to rigorously pursue those where other means have failed.
- The issue of Reminders and Final Notices will be followed up by formal recovery action in the Courts in the event of there being no satisfactory payment arrangement or contact.
- This ‘Firm but Fair’ policy is carried out in line with our general obligation to all our taxpayers which is to minimise the amount they have to pay in Council Tax through effective collection practices.
Complaints and Suggestions
- Our aim is to continue improving our service and we welcome customers’ comments or suggestions.
- If you have a complaint which you feel has not been properly dealt with you may make use of the Council’s formal Complaints procedure
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