Telford & Wrekin Council launches council tax amnesty
Telford & Wrekin Council today launched an amnesty for residents to set the record straight on any council tax benefits or discounts they are be mistakenly claiming.
Residents have until May 1 to tell the Council of any changes in circumstances that have affected these claims without the risk of fine or prosecution.
This applies to anyone claiming a Single Person council tax discount when there is in fact a second adult living in their home.
Equally if people are claiming Council Tax Support, and there’s been even a small change to their circumstances, this could affect the council tax discount they may receive.
Changes that affect Council Tax Support include changes to the amount of income received for anyone living in the household, or changes to who lives in the house.
When the amnesty finishes on May 1, failure to tell the Council about any changes could result in criminal prosecution and fines of up to £1,000.
Around 27,000 people in Telford and Wrekin claim a Single Person Discount, but it is estimated that 1,000 of these could be living with a new partner or housemate and are no longer entitled to the discount.
Around 11,000 households in the borough receive Council Tax Support, but even a small change to earnings, savings or other circumstances could affect their entitlement.
The amnesty period gives people an opportunity to cancel their discount and re-pay anything they owe without facing any further action.
Some changes that could affect Council Tax Discounts include:
· A new partner has moved in
· You share your home with a tenant, housemate, lodger or any other adult
· A child aged over 18 has left full-time education or returned home to live with you.
· There has been a change to the income of people living in the household
To set the record straight on your council tax, go to www.telford.gov.uk/mycounciltax or call 01952 383838 to speak to an adviser.
Cllr Bill McClements, cabinet member for finance and enterprise, said: “The amnesty is the chance for everyone to set the record straight without fear of prosecution.
“From May we will be able to impose stiffer sanctions on people who don’t declare any changes that could affect their entitlement to a council tax discount.
“With all the Government imposed changes in the welfare system recently, we want to give people the chance until 1 May to set the record straight without any fear of prosecution.
“I urge anyone unsure about whether their new circumstances affect their discounts to call our team of advisers before 1 May.”
