L E I C E S T E R C I T Y C O U N C I L Council Tax Explanatory notes 2015/2016 This leaflet is important and forms part of your bill VISIT COUNCIL TAX AT: Customer Service Centre, York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6FB PHONE: 0116 454 1005 Fax: 0116 254 7322 E-MAIL: council.tax@leicester.gov.uk
Click, click Sorted. View and manage your council tax account online: leicester.gov.uk/myrb Change to direct debit The easiest and most convenient way to pay your council tax. Complete the form on page 4 or go to: leicester.gov.uk/ddpayments Paperless billing For a faster, more efficient and convenient way to receive your bills please go to: leicester.gov.uk/e-billing leicester.gov.uk Go online for council services. It s quicker, cheaper and more convenient.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Council Tax direct debit form Paying by direct debit How to pay your Council Tax Council Tax valuation bands Appeals Who has to pay the Council Tax? Changes in Circumstances Ways to reduce your bill Where to get more advice Change of address form Council Tax standing order form Contents If you need help reading this publication or require it in a different format please contact: 0116 454 2530 Financial information relating to this Council, Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Combined Fire Authority and the Office of Police and Crime Commissioner for Leicestershire can be found at www.leicester.gov.uk/your-council-services/housing/council-tax/ - follow the links from "2015/16 bill leaflets". Please contact us if you require a hard copy of this leaflet. COUNCIL TAX FAIR PROCESSING NOTICE How we will use your information: Any personal information that you provide will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will be used by Leicester City Council and our partners to deliver and improve services and fulfil our statutory duties. We will not disclose any personal information to any other third parties unless required to do so by law. Read more about how we use personal data in our Fair Processing / Privacy notice on www.leicester.gov.uk
Council Tax direct 1 debit form Instructions to your bank or building society to pay by direct debit Please fill in the form and send it to Leicester City Council, Freepost RTRE-HTRJ-CSSJ, York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6FB. You do not need a stamp. Please write the name and full postal address of your bank or building society branch below. Names of account holders Instructions to your bank or building society to pay by direct debit Please pay Leicester City Council direct debits from the account shown in this instruction, under the protection of the direct debit guarantee. I understand that this instruction may remain with Leicester City Council, and if so, details will be passed electronically to my bank or building society. Signatures (Telephone number optional): Bank or building society account number Branch sort code Originator s identification number 8 3 0 2 0 5 Council Tax reference number from the front of your bill. This number begins with 20. Please give your address. Date This is not part of the instruction to your bank or Building Society Leicester City Council has four dates for collecting Direct Debits. Please tick which you prefer. (We cannot collect on any other dates.) 1 st Monthly 10 th Monthly 20 th Monthly 28 th Monthly Instalments over a full financial year (pro-rata) 10 Instalments 12 Instalments Please note the actual number of instalments will depend upon the number of months remaining in the financial year The direct debit guarantee You should remove and keep this guarantee This Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits. If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, Leicester City Council will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request Leicester City Council to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request. If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Leicester City Council or your bank or building society you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when Leicester City Council asks you to. You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify us. 4 C O U N C I L T A X
2 Paying by direct debit Take control pay your Council Tax bill the easy way Did you know that direct debit is the easiest way of paying your Council Tax, especially in terms of time and convenience? You also have a choice of four dates in the month when you can pay and you can cancel at any time so you stay in control. l You stay in control You will receive a schedule of payments for the rest of the year, at least 14 days before the first payment is due. You will have plenty of time to ask any questions. l We do all the work for you By filling in the simple direct debit form on the opposite page, your bank or building society will make payments for you automatically, saving the cost, time and effort in paying by cash or cheque. There s no easier or safer way to pay your Council Tax than by direct debit. Please fill in the form on the opposite page, and never worry about paying your bill again! l No need to fill in a form! To make it even easier you can telephone us on 0116 454 1005 with your bank account name, number and sort code and we will set up the direct debit over the phone. l Convenient monthly payments With direct debit, you can choose one of four dates a month to pay your bill. By paying every month, you spread the cost of the Council Tax over 10 months, so you can plan your monthly outgoings in advance. If you apply to pay by direct debit before 1st April this year, you have the option to pay your Council Tax over 12 months. l Guaranteed peace of mind Direct debit is an efficient and secure way to pay. Under the conditions of the direct debit scheme, you are guaranteed an immediate refund if there is a mistake, and you can cancel your direct debit at any time. C O U N C I L T A X 5
3 How to pay your Council Tax You need to pay your Council Tax at the start of the financial year (1 April), in 10 monthly instalments as shown on your bill, unless you take over the property during the year. You are now able to pay your Council Tax in 12 monthly instalments, payable from April 2015 to March 2016. To do this you must contact us by 15th April 2015. If you contact us after this date the number of instalments will depend on the remaining months in the year. Note: To retain your preferred payment date, please contact us by 18th March 2015. If you pay in any way other than direct debit, you should pay three to five days before the due date to allow for postal delivery and bank processing. If you do not pay in line with your instalments, we will take action to collect the money you owe. This could result in us cancelling your right to pay by instalments, and the outstanding balance would then be due immediately. Further action may also result in costs being added to your balance. You can pay your Council Tax bill in any of the following ways. Direct debit This is the simplest way to pay. You stay in control because you have a moneyback guarantee. You pay every month but you only sign one form, and your bank or building society does the rest. You have a choice of four payment dates 1st, 10th, 20th or 28th of the month so you can plan your payments to suit yourself. You can forget queues, cheques and stamps. To pay by direct debit, fill in the direct debit form on page 4 of this leaflet, sign it and send it to: Leicester City Council Freepost RTRE-HTRJ-CSSJ York House 91 Granby Street Leicester LE1 6FB You do not need a stamp. Or Call us on 0116 454 1005 with your bank account name, number and sort code and we can set it up over the phone. If you already pay by direct debit, you do not have to do anything. The monthly payments shown on your bill will automatically be made by your bank or building society. Standing order If you are not sure about paying by direct debit, you could set up a standing order. It is so much easier than paying by cash or cheque. To pay by standing order, fill in the standing order form on page 16 of this leaflet and send it to your bank or building society. 6 C O U N C I L T A X
Remember to set your standing order date 5 days before your instalment due date so that your payment is received on time. Online / Telephone Pay by debit card at any time either online via www.leicester.gov.uk/payments or telephone 0116 454 1012. Please make sure you have your card details and council tax reference number ready when making the payment. PayPoint You can pay at any outlet showing the PayPoint logo. That s hundreds of places in Leicester, and thousands nationwide, helping you to pay where you want, when you want and at no extra cost for cash payments. Outlets include newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and garages. Most open long hours, many seven days a week. Just pass your bill and cash payment to the shop assistant and they will do the rest. You can find details of your nearest PayPoint outlet on our website at www.leicester. gov.uk/counciltax, just look at the How To Pay Your Council Tax section. Post Office You can also pay for free at any PostOffice branch. The QR code locator for the nearest Post Office is shown here. Difficulties in Paying If you have problems paying the amount due you may be entitled to Council Tax reduction. Please read the details on pages 12 and 13 of this leaflet. Depending on what action has been taken already to collect the amount you owe, we may be able to make a payment arrangement. Please note however that no arrangement will be considered without you giving full employment details, and the arrangement must be paid by direct debit. Our contact details are on page 14 of this leaflet. The QR code locator for the nearest Paypoint Outlet is shown here. C O U N C I L T A X 7
4 Council Tax valuation bands Each home, whether it is a house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat, and whether it is owned or rented, is placed in one of eight bands depending on its open-market value as at 1 April 1991. The bands are as follows. Band Ranges of value A Up to 40,000 B 40,001 to 52,000 C 52,001 to 68,000 D 68,001 to 88,000 5You can appeal to have your home put in a lower valuation band only if: l part of the property has been demolished; l it has been converted to flats; or l there have been physical changes in the local area, for example a major road is built nearby, which would affect the value. E 88,001 to 120,000 F 120,001 to 160,000 G 160,001 to 320,000 H Over 320,000 Council Tax Appeals Or, you can appeal within six months of: l a band change to your property made by the listing officer; or l becoming the new taxpayer for the property. You still have to pay Council Tax while you are waiting for a decision on your appeal. If it is successful, we will refund any overpayments. Make your appeal in writing to: Council Tax East Valuation Office Agency Ground Floor, Ferrers House Castle Meadow Road Nottingham NG2 1AB Phone: 03000 501501 Fax: 03000 505145 Email: cteast@voa.gsi.gov.uk Website: www.voa.gov.uk 8 C O U N C I L T A X
The listing officer is independent of the Council. You can appeal to us by writing to the Revenues and Benefits Service if you think you are not responsible for paying the bill for example, because you are not the resident or owner, or because Council Tax does not have to be paid on that property. 6 Who has to pay the Council Tax? Look down the list below. When you reach a description that applies to a person in your home, they will be the person who has to pay. The following people could be responsible for paying Council Tax. 1 A resident freeholder this is the owner-occupier 2 A resident leaseholder this includes assured tenants under the Housing Act 1988 3 A resident statutory or secure tenant 4 A resident licensee 5 A resident this includes squatters 6 The owner this is usually when the property is unoccupied There are a few exceptions to these rules. These include where a property is split into bedsits with shared facilities, or where the occupiers have separate rent arrangements and pay an individual rent to their landlord. These properties are called houses in multiple occupation, and the owner has to pay the Council Tax. 7Changes in Circumstance There may be changes in your household that affect the amount of Council Tax to be paid; for example, people may move in or out, become 18 years of age, or stop being a full time student. Please let us know about any changes within twenty one days of when they happen. This will help us change your bill quickly and ensure you pay the right amount. Failure to inform us within 21 days of any change may result in a penalty and a backdated bill for the revised charge. Details of how to let us know about any changes are shown on page 14 of this leaflet. C O U N C I L T A X 9
8 Ways to reduce your bill If you read the following and think you are entitled to a discount or disabled person s relief, or you believe your home may be exempt, please contact us for more information. You will have to give proof to support your claim. If your bill shows you receive a discount or exemption, you must tell us about any changes that may affect your entitlement within 21 days of the change. [1] Discounts The full Council Tax bill assumes that two adults live in the property. If only one adult lives there (as their main home), the bill is reduced by 25%. The following people do not count towards the number of adults living in a property. l Full-time students, student nurses, husbands and wives of overseas students, foreign language assistants l Apprentices and youth training trainees l Adults with severe mental-health problems l People in prison (except people in prison for not paying fines or Council Tax) l 18 and 19-year-olds who are at, or have just left school l Patients living in hospital l Patients who are living in residential care homes, nursing homes and hospices l Care workers on low pay and volunteer care workers l People who care for someone with a disability who is not their husband, wife or partner, or child under 18 l People staying in certain hostels or night shelters l Members of visiting forces and certain international institutions [2] Property discounts If you have a property that is unoccupied and unfurnished, the property has no charge for the first calendar month. After this, the charge to pay goes up to the full 100% amount. However if the property has been unoccupied and unfurnished for one calendar month or more by the time you become responsible for it, no further discount will be given and the 100% charge will be payable with immediate effect. If you have a property that is a second home, or furnished but not occupied as any person s main home, you will be charged 100% with immediate effect. The change in the level of these charges, effective from 1st April 2013, were part of the Government s Localism Agenda and are in support of the Council s Empty Homes Strategy to help encourage the quick letting or reoccupation of properties in Leicester. For the purposes of determining the last occupation day, any period of less than 6 weeks within which the dwelling concerned was occupied shall be disregarded. 10 C O U N C I L T A X
[3] Long term empty properties If you have a property that has been unoccupied and unfurnished continuously for 2 years or more, you will be charged an extra 50%, meaning a total charge of 150% of the full band charge for the property will be payable. [4] Exemptions Some properties are exempt from Council Tax (you do not have to pay it). The types of property can be unoccupied or occupied, and are as follows. Unoccupied properties Class B Unoccupied properties owned and last used by a registered charity (exempt for up to six months). Class D Properties left unoccupied by someone in prison, unless they are in prison for not paying fines or Council Tax. Class E Properties left unoccupied by people who are in hospital for a long time. Class F Properties left unoccupied by people who have died where probate or letters of administration are to be granted, and properties where such a grant has been made for up to six months after. Class G Properties left unoccupied because the law does not allow anyone to live in them, including properties where a planning condition prevents occupancy. Class H Unoccupied properties kept empty for a minister of religion. Class I Properties left unoccupied by people receiving care elsewhere. Class J Properties left unoccupied by people providing care elsewhere. Class K Properties left unoccupied because the owner is a student living somewhere else. Class L Properties left unoccupied because they have been repossessed. Class Q Properties left unoccupied which are the responsibility of a bankrupt s trustee. Class R Empty caravan pitches or houseboat moorings. Class T Unoccupied property that forms part of another property, which cannot be let separately. Occupied properties Class M Student halls of residence Class N Properties used only by full-time students Class O Accommodation for armed forces Class P Accommodation for visiting forces Class S Properties lived in only by people under 18 Class U Properties occupied only by people who have severe mental health problems Class V Properties lived in by diplomats Class W Occupied by a dependent relative C O U N C I L T A X 11
[5] Reductions for disabled people If you, or anyone who lives with you, need a room or an extra bathroom or kitchen or space to use a wheelchair in your home, you may be able to have your Council Tax bill reduced. Simply rearranging rooms (for example, having a bedroom on the ground floor rather than the first floor) is unlikely to make your home eligible for a reduction. We will need to visit the property. See page 14 for details of how to contact us for an application form. [6] Reductions for annexes A discount of 50% may be granted on an annex (if an exemption does not already apply) which is: a) occupied by certain relatives of the person liable to pay Council Tax on the main property, or; b) the annex is being used as part of the main residence. [7] Do you need financial help to pay your Council Tax bill? The Council has the power to reduce Council Tax where discounts, exemptions or local Council Tax Reduction do not apply, or further reduce Council Tax where they do apply. Each case will be judged on its merits and we will only consider using this power in very exceptional circumstances. The Government abolished Council Tax Benefit from 1 April 2013, as part of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and replaced it with a local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR). Leicester City Council s CTR Scheme is set annually, and full details for the 2014/15 Scheme are available on our website: www.leicester.gov.uk CTR is a discount on the bill, similar to single person discount. This reduction to your bill has the same effect as discounts and exemptions in that it reduces the Council Tax payable by you. You have to apply for a CTR and we means-test your eligibility based on your household income and savings according to our local scheme. Leicester City Council s CTR Scheme The maximum Council Tax liability for a CTR is 80% of Band B. Every workingage charge payer will pay at least 20% of their Council Tax bill themselves. Dependent on your income and level of savings you may have to pay more. CTR is limited to Band B Council Tax liability. Those living in higher Band properties (Band C and above) will have to pay even more than 20% towards their Council Tax bill. If you have capital (savings and investments) of over 6,000 you will not qualify for any reduction in your Council Tax bill. Second Adult Rebate, previously under Council Tax Benefit, has been abolished. If your award of CTR is 3.70 a week or less, you will not receive any reduction in your bill. We call this the minimum award (this minimum amount will be annually uprated). People of state pensionable age are not affected by these changes. 12 C O U N C I L T A X
If I qualify for a reduction, is there any other help that I can ask for to assist me with paying any shortfall in my bill? Yes. You can apply for Leicester City Council s Council Tax Discretionary Relief (CTDR). This is a cash limited fund aimed at protecting those who are most vulnerable in the City as defined in our CTDR policy. A copy of the policy is available on our website: www.leicester. gov.uk In order to qualify for a payment of CTDR, a charge payer must: l have a Council Tax liability; and/or, l be in receipt of an award of CTR; and/or, l Universal Credit How do I apply for either a local Council Tax Reduction and/or Council Tax Discretionary Relief? l apply online at www.leicester.gov.uk/ housingbenefit l visit our Customer Service Centre at York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester, LE1 6FB. We have free online access at all of our Customer Service Centres and City libraries. l e-mail us at: housingbenefits@leicester.gov.uk l request a paper application form from us at the above address; or by calling us directly on: 0116 454 1006. Don t delay, the sooner you apply, the sooner you may receive a reduction in your bill. C O U N C I L T A X 13
9 Where to get more advice You can also get your bill and the information in this leaflet in braille, in large print or on audio tape if you ask us. The leaflet is also available in certain community languages please ask us for more details. You can contact us about your Council Tax: By phoning us on: 0116 454 1005 We may record your call for quality and training purposes. Our opening times are from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday. By visiting us at: Customer Service Centre, York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6FB Our opening times are from: 8.30am - 5pm Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 9.30am - 6pm Wednesday 8.30am - 4.30pm Friday By e-mail at: council.tax@leicester.gov.uk By fax: 0116 254 7322 By writing to: Revenues and Benefits Service (Council Tax Section) Freepost RTRE-HTRJ-CSSJ York House 91 Granby Street Leicester LE1 6FB You can contact the Housing Benefit Section, which deals with Council Tax Reduction claims at: Revenues and Benefits Service (Housing Benefits) Freepost RTRE-HTRJ-CSSJ York House 91 Granby Street Leicester LE1 6FB You can visit the Benefits Section in person at York House and during the same opening times. Or, you can phone 0116 454 1006 Or, email housingbenefits@leicester.gov.uk For more information about Council Tax, please visit our website at www.leicester.gov.uk/counciltax - you will also be able to download most application forms from the site. Note: Remember to write your payment reference number (beginning with 2) or benefit reference number on any letters you send us. Please include a daytime phone number or e-mail address, if available. 14 C O U N C I L T A X
10 Change of address form If you move house or sell a property you own, please tell us about the changes. Please give your Council Tax account number. 2 0 Name of the person moving Exact date of the move New address Owner If you were the owner of the property, has it now been sold? YES NO If No, is the property now furnished or unfurnished? If Yes, what is the exact date of sale? What is the name and previous address of the new owner? Who were the estate agents and solicitors who helped you with the sale? Tenant If you rented the property, what was the name and address of your landlord or managing agent? Was the property rented furnished or unfurnished? I confirm that, as far as I know, the information given on this form is correct. Full name: Date: Signature: Daytime phone number: Please return this form to Revenues and Benefits Service, Leicester City Council, FREEPOST RTRE-HTRJ-CSSJ York House, 91 Granby Street, Leicester LE1 6FB. Any personal information that you provide will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. It will be used by Leicester City Council and our partners to deliver and improve services and fulfil our statutory duties. We will not disclose any personal information to any other third parties unless required to do so by law. Read more about how we use personal data in our Fair Processing / Privacy notice on www.leicester.gov.uk C O U N C I L T A X 15
11 Council Tax standing order form Please fill in this form to instruct your bank or building society to make payments from your account by standing order. We advise that you quote payment dates that are 5 days before the instalment date to ensure payments reach your Council Tax account on time. Then return this form to your bank or building society. Instructions to your bank or building society Please pay: Barclays Bank PLC, 1-3 Haymarket Towers, Humberstone Gate, Leicester, LE1 1WA Sort code: 20-49-17 For the credit of: Leicester City Council Account number: 73926826 Council Tax reference number. 2 0 (Please enter the reference number from the front of your bill.) Name and full address of your bank or building society Name of your bank or building society account to be debited Bank or building society account number Produced by Leicester City Council 02.15 Sort code Date of first payment: Amount of first payment: Further payments of: On the: until Your signature: day of each month or you receive further notice from me in writing. Date: 16 C O U N C I L T A X