What Is The Procedure For Adding Someone To My Council Tax Bill?
What Is The Procedure For Adding Someone To My Council Tax Bill?
This blog answers the question “What is the procedure for adding someone to my council tax bill?” You can add only one other person’s name as a joint owner in your bill. If the person or people being added to your council tax bill have a disability, there are numerous discounts you could claim on your bill once they move in.
What Is The Procedure For Adding Someone To My Council Tax Bill?
You must contact your council to report a change of circumstances when someone moves in with you, even though their name may not be added on your council tax bill. You can write a letter to your council, mentioning the details of the new occupants (including their income and savings.
Your Housing Benefit calculation depends on information about occupants living on your property so a new occupant must be accounted for from the date they move in.
Your letter should be mailed to your council’s postal address like this one for Waltham Forest Council:
Waltham Forest Town Hall,
Forest Road,
London E 17 4JF
UK
Or Enfield Council:
Civic Centre Silver Street,
London EN1 3XA,
UK
Or Redbridge Council,
Lynton House,
255-259 High Road,
Ilford
IG1 1NY
Or Hillingdon Council:
Hillingdon Council,
Civic Centre
High Street
Uxbridge
UB 8 1UW
You can also add residents to your council tax bill online by signing in to your official tax account here
People moving into your house could be lodgers, children or other relatives. Your children will not be mentioned by name but only counted as occupants of the residence, on your council tax bill. The only names that are usually mentioned on a council tax bill are those of the owners of the property.
You may also need to add an occupant to your council tax bill who turns 18. This must be done on or just after their 18th birthday.
If you are living alone, adding someone or one person to your bill will disqualify you from getting the Single Person Discount. This change in circumstances should be reported immediately.
Can I add and remove people from my council tax bill simultaneously and if a mentally impaired resident moves out and another one moves in to take his place, will I still count as living alone?
Yes, of course, you can add and remove residents simultaneously from your council tax bill. In the case that they are both severely mentally impaired and proven so by a medical practitioner, you will get the same tax reduction as before (around 50% of the bill).
In your case as you were getting the Single Person Discount, this tax reduction will still be applicable to your bill. Mentally impaired persons are disregarded when living with one other person, who pays the council tax bill.
Can I add someone to my council tax bill who has his/her own primary residence and chooses to live with me as a care provider?
Yes, you can add this person to your council tax bill, who chooses to live with you as a care provider but their name will not be mentioned on the bill. As they have their own primary residence on which council tax is paid and they can also be disregarded for applying the single person discount, (as a care provider) they cannot be added as a joint owner to property.
This person might also be eligible for a council tax reduction on their primary residence for being a care provider to you and therefore having to leave their property empty.
What if I forget to add someone to my council tax bill, for upto a year after they start living with me?
You should inform council tax of any new occupants of your residence as soon as possible. The new persons change the calculation of your council tax benefits. The additional income they contribute to your own cannot be overlooked for the entire tax year.
You will be charged for their occupancy through fines for underpayment of council tax by HMRC, who is already aware of personal addresses through access to electoral records. So you might be sent an investigation letter or notice during the year for reporting this extra resident on your property.
Can I add someone who is in detention to my council tax bill?
No, normally people living in detention for long periods of time are not counted as residents for council tax purposes. But in the case where the period of detention is short such as the following:
Detained under the deportation provisions of the Immigration Act 1971
Detained in a prison hospital etc
Detained under the mental health Act 1983
Imprisoned, detained or in custody for more than 48 hours under the Army Act, Airforce Act 1955 or Naval discipline Act 1957
In the aforementioned cases the person can be added to the council tax bill, especially if they are also owners of the property. A disregard applies given these circumstances if they have not been detained for failing to pay council tax or failing to pay a fine.
People who are the sole residents of a property who are in long term detention, have their property exempt from council tax
Is there any reduction in the cost of accomodation in a special establishment being used to care for pension age people (as tenants)?
The expenses giving rise to this tax reduction are those related to dependency and accommodation costs for people persons accommodated in an establishment or service.
The cost of providing accommodation for dependent persons, in a long-term care section of a health establishment whose purpose is to provide care of a comparable nature and quality is funded by this tax reduction.
These establishments apply a ternary pricing system (the invoice distinguishes between costs relating to care, dependency and accommodation).
Each person in the tax household can benefit from this reduction without age restriction and on condition that they pay the costs of expenses (accommodation, meals, maintenance, excluding care expenses).
The tax reduction is equal to 25% of the amounts paid in 2018, up to a limit of £10,000 per person accommodated. This tax reduction can be combined with that provided for home employment (in the case of a couple where one of them is accommodated in an establishment for dependent elderly people while the other hires a carer at home to help him/her).
Example : The tax reduction for expenses incurred for accommodation in an establishment for dependent persons gives the right in January N+1 to the payment of an advance of 60% of the amount of the benefit granted in N.
Regardless of your taxable income or age, you are entitled to a tax credit equal to 50% of the expenses actually incurred in providing care for the disabled (salaries and social security contributions) up to an overall limit of £12,000 per year plus :
£1,500 per dependent child
£1,500 for each member of the household aged over 65 years
£1,500 for each ascendant aged over 65 who is likely to benefit from the DLA (only for the calculation of the tax reduction)
This increased ceiling may not exceed £15,000 regardless of the amount of home care required (a few hours per week or per month)
£20,000 if you or one of the members of your tax household are the holder of a disability card of at least 80% or the mobility and inclusion card (mentioning a disability or a disability related benefit such as the Attendance Allowance)
a higher rate of the disability living allowance (£64.50 per week) or special allowance (i.e. a maximum tax reduction of £10,000 per year). do not forget to tick box 7DG.
The expenses giving entitlement to the tax credit are the amounts paid, after deduction of aid received as remuneration for services provided in the home :
to an employee for whom you are the direct employer ;
to a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to provide home care and which is authorised to provide social assistance
a non-profit organisation providing home care and approved by a social security organisation;
an association, company or organisation approved by the NHS
The expenses to be taken into account are those actually incurred:
Other expenses in the process of caring for the disabled at home include:
.
The net salaries paid to the employee which give rise to the social security contributions or which are exempt from them, if you employ a care provider directly;
The sums invoiced by an association or company approved by the NHS or a body with a social assistance agreement (in the case of services provided by such associations or organisations) calculated after the deduction of all aid paid by public or private bodies to help with the employment of home care providers
Is there any allowance payment which helps me to purchase equipment to care for the disabled residents moving in with me?
Yes, there is a tax reduction for expenditure on equipment specially designed to make housing accessible to the elderly or disabled. This allowance or benefit is known as the Disabled Persons Allowance
You can benefit from a tax credit if you have incurred expenses (in your primary residence) on buying equipment specially designed for the accessibility of housing to the elderly or disabled persons.
The benefit of the tax credit is not subject to the presence of an elderly or disabled person in the property where the equipment is installed. Only the characteristics of the equipment determine whether or not the tax credit is granted.
The tax credit applies to expenditure on the installation or replacement of equipment specially designed for the following elderly or disabled persons:
sanitary equipment attached in perpetuity(sinks and washbasins with adjustable height, wall-mounted shower seats
safety and accessibility equipment permanently attached (vertical lifts with a platform
with a platform designed for the transport of a disabled person and inclined lifts specially designed for the movement of a disabled person, handrails etc.).
What is the Carer’s Allowance and how does it provide for the care of disabled people living with me?
The Carer’s Allowance is a payment made to cover the expenses of providing special care to a disabled person.
You must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone by performing tasks such as washing and cooking, taking the person you are caring for to their doctor’s appointment, helping them with daily tasks such as managing their finances to pay bills etc.
The maximum allowance given to you per week is £69.70. If you are on State Pension Credit and your weekly payment is more than 69.70, you will not be eligible to get the Carer’s Allowance but your State Pension Credit will be increased instead.
The payment for the Carer’s Allowance is made weekly in advance or once every 4 weeks into your bank account.
These expenses are eligible for the tax credit only if you or a member of your tax household can justify a loss of autonomy or disability which means that :
you or a member of your tax household is the recipient of the Personal Independence Payment of at least 40% (Armed forces Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance granted for an accident at work);
you or a member of your tax household are the holder of an Access Card, a card marked "priority for the disabled persons' card,the blue badge or the Nimbus disabled person' card or the inclusive mobility summary card (bearing the mention 'invalidity, priority or disabled person)
you or a member of your tax household suffer from a loss of autonomy resulting in classification in one of the groups 1 to 4 of the grid mentioned for the allocation of the mobility allowance
You or a member of your household receive the Adult Disability Payment (the daily living part)
You must not be a full time student to receive this allowance
What kind of equipment can be purchased by using the Disabled Persons Allowance?
This condition of loss of autonomy or disability is assessed:
The Disabled Person’s Allowance is expenditure on equipment to adapt the home to loss of autonomy or disability. Payment of the expenses on purchasing equipment incurred in completed housing (old housing) includes spending on the following :
for expenditure on equipment integrated into the newly purchased property to be bought on the date the residence is acquired
For expenditure on equipment integrated into a house which is purchased on the date of completion of the house. In the case of expenditure on equipment to be bought later to be integrated into a residence
For expenditure on equipment eligible for the tax credit that is permanently attached sanitary equipment (fixed sinks and washbasins usable by people with disabilities)
For integral shower cubicles for persons with reduced mobility...safety and accessibility. Equipment permanently attached (control systems including a movement detector, signaling or warning detector, closing, opening or control systems for electrical water, gas and heating installations heating systems, etc.).
You can benefit from this tax credit whether you are owner, tenant or the free occupant of your
residence.
The rate and ceiling for expenditure on equipment specially designed for the accessibility of housing to the elderly or disabled. Similarly the allowance for expenditure on equipment to adapt the home to the loss of autonomy or disability is also provided for in the tax credit.
The rate of the tax credit is 25% of the amount of the expenditure ;
The overall multi-year ceiling for the "personal assistance" tax credit is £5,000 for a single person and £10,000 for a married couple or civil union couple. This multi-annual ceiling on expenditure is assessed over five consecutive years.
Example: Mr. and Mrs. Martin have incurred expenses in the installation of equipment specially designed for their disabled child, for an amount of £3,000 in 2009 and £7,000 in 2014.
They can again benefit from a tax credit of £3,000 in 2018.
This ceiling is increased for family expenses (to £400 per child dependent child).
Conclusion
This blog post addressed the question “What is the procedure for adding someone to my council tax bill?” To add someone to your council tax bill, you can write to your council by post, mentioning a change in circumstances. You can also use your online tax account to do the same with the help of your personal login credentials. A council tax bill’s owner cannot be changed or any person’s name added to it as an amendment to details (the bill will always be in your name only)
Please feel free to comment on the content or ask any questions in the comments section below :
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) : What Is The Procedure For Adding Someone To My Council Tax Bill?
What happens when the person who was the only adult occupying a property passes away?
When the person who was the only adult occupying a property passes away, without leaving behind a valid will what happens to the residence will be decided by the beneficiaries of the estate. The property will remain exempt from council tax as long as it remains empty in this case.
If the ownership of the property is transferred to the beneficiary of the will the responsibility to pay council tax will be passed on to him after the probate exemption is granted (following the death of the owner
The beneficiary or executor is not personally responsible for paying the council tax at the end of the probation period and the payment should be made from the deceased’s estate.
What is the council tax liability for executors?
The executors or heirs of the deceased person are responsible for dealing with the estate left behind. They can get an exemption (class F exemption) from paying council tax on the empty property. Executors also have the authority to put up the property they are handling up for sale.
The executor must keep council tax updated of the date when the probate is granted, the date when furniture is removed from the property and the date when the property is transferred.
If the beneficiary becomes the owner of the property then he’/she is liable to pay full council tax.
How do I qualify for a job related discount on my second home?
If your second residence is job related and your employment contract requires you to live on the property, you can claim a council tax reduction of 50% on it.
In order to qualify for this council tax reduction you must prove that it is necessary for you to stay in that residence in order to perform your work properly (which could be related to the environment, facilities or exclusion from family).
Or you must prove that it is common for other employers in your profession to provide workers second residences such as yours to aid productivity or performance. In the third case for your job related discount you need to prove that there are specific threats to your security and that this second residence provides you with special security arrangements
When making an application for this discount you need to provide the following:
A confirmation document stating that you are required to live in the residence because it is mentioned in your job contract
A tenancy agreement which shows that your employer has provided the home to you
A confirmation document which shows that your employer helps you to pay part of your second home’s expenses
Citations
Council Tax For People In Prison
Council tax discount form for people in detention
Your Online Council Tax Account
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