When moving home, your list of things to do is already long, and new things keep popping up, but one of your top priorities should be to resolve your council tax situation. By informing your local authority of any change in your residential situation, you could end up saving money in the long run.
Council tax is payable by adults who do not qualify for tax relief. Additionally, if you move, you must inform the local authority at the earliest opportunity.
Fortunately, it’s much simpler than it seems to cancel your council tax. However, you must do it a few weeks prior to the actual move in order to avoid problems that could end up costing you in your pocket. Additionally, King’s Removals customer service will also be able to give you guidance on cancelling your council taxes.
What is Council Tax?
Every resident must pay the local government in England, Scotland and Wales council tax. Introduced in 1993 to replace the unpopular Poll Tax, Council Tax is calculated on the market value of your house.
How is Council Tax Calculated?
Council tax is determined using a series of council tax bands and the value of your property. The cost of the property for local government authorities to provide services increases as the band increases. In England and Scotland, there are eight valuation council tax bands, from “A” (the highest) to “H,” and nine bands, from “A” (the highest) to “I,” in Wales.
How to Cancel Your Council Tax When Moving House
You must inform the local council authority of your move in order to register for council tax at your new property.
If you don’t take care of this problem right away, a few issues might arise. Knowing where and when you are moving is therefore crucial for notifying the council in a timely manner.
How to cancel council tax:
To avoid the chaos of administrative work and lengthy lines, get started early. Report your starting and ending points for moving to the local authorities.
The processing of your application could take up to a few weeks, depending on any backlog. Because of this, you must complete this at least a month before you vacate your home. In this manner, you are freed from the obligation to pay council tax for a home that you no longer occupy.
If you are still in the same administrative area, the process might be simpler. However, if you are moving to a different district, you must contact their local authorities to request the cancellation of your current account and the creation of a new one.
It is crucial to keep in mind to inform the two local councils of the move by getting in touch with them. You run the risk of having to pay two council taxes otherwise.
You’ll get your final bill for your old home as the moving day draws near.
Information You Must Provide for Moving and Council Tax
You must provide the following information because the duty is based on the type of property and your living arrangement:
- Your name and contact information (phone number).
- The postcode that you are relocating to or from.
- The account number, if you already have one.
- The day you relocate.
- Your tenancy’s expiration date, if you’re a tenant.
- Whether or not the housing is furnished.
- The day that furniture is brought in or taken out.
- The names and locations of any attorneys working on your behalf.
- The address and name of the landlord or agent you were renting from, or the name of the property owner.
Council Tax Overlap When Moving House
You might get two bills if you switch from one council authority to another without informing both council authorities.
You must get in touch with the council where you previously lived if you move and the taxes are overlapped.
They should be able to resolve the issue if you describe your situation and let them know that you weren’t living in the property.
However, if you own the home you are leaving empty and leave it unoccupied, you may be required to pay up to 50% of the property’s council tax.
Payment of council tax is the responsibility of the residents of the property. Since they are the ones residing there and there is a tenancy agreement, the tenant is typically held accountable. When the lease is up, ownership of the property is given to the landlord.
Are You Eligible to Receive a Council Tax Reduction?
Your house’s type, value, and living situation all affect the council tax band you must pay. Your income, home ownership, pensions, and the presence of other adults in your household as well as your children and marital status are taken into consideration.
For more information on council tax assistance, visit the website of your local council.
Who Do I Need to Inform When I Move House?
Most likely, you already have a list of businesses and service providers that you need to notify of the proposed change of address. But let’s bring them up once more.
In addition to contacting your local council when you move, you must also:
- Change where your post goes. If you did this as soon as you determined that you would be relocating and knew your new address, it would be beneficial. You could miss valuable and vital correspondence sent to your old address if you wait too long to reroute your mail.
- Notify the utilities, such as the water authority, the electricity and gas companies, and the garbage collection services.
- Update and inform other home services, such as TV, broadband, and phone.
- Change plans, contracts, and subscriptions. Make certain to notify them at least 31 days in advance.
- Inform the proper parties at work. Your personal information will change, and they need to be aware of that.
Registering With Your New Local Council
As you go through the process of cancelling your current local council tax, you can determine whether the same council area covers your new address. Your local government will update your council tax account to reflect the new property if this is the case.
You must visit the council offices in person to create a new account if you’re moving to a different area, though. This is so that your new tax account, which will be based on the residence you’re moving into, can be established.
You will receive a bill from the new council based on how your property has been valued for a particular tax band within a few days of the move-in date. Keep a close eye on the band to which you have been assigned, and get in touch with the council right away if you discover a problem. Paying too much or too little could leave you with a negative balance.
How Long Does The Process Take?
Even though it only takes around ten minutes to fill out the paperwork at the council office, you still need to allow time for lines to form and back-office tasks to be finished. It is safe to assume that the entire update or transfer of your local council tax account could take up to 4 weeks.
However, there are some times of the year when the workload at the council might increase or when more government employees might be on vacation.
The best course of action is to get in touch with your council as soon as you know you’re relocating to learn what the current anticipated time would be.
When Should You Start The Process?
The best way to answer this question is to visit your local council office about a month before you plan to move, making sure to allow time for any potential waiting times.
The main justification for doing this so early on is to avoid having an overlapping period, which you might have to pay and then try to recover.
What Information Will You Need To Provide?
People frequently visit their local authorities only to leave empty-handed because important information is missing. By having the following knowledge on hand, you can avoid this:
- A driver’s licence or passport may be required by some offices, so be prepared.
- Using your current council tax account number will expedite the process.
- Both your old and new addresses are required.
- As a tenant, you must disclose information regarding your most recent rental date and the beginning of your new tenancy.
- Don’t forget to bring the landlords’ contact details for both the new and the old property.
- The closing date of the purchase agreement must be provided if you are the property’s owner.
- Have on hand the contact information for any attorney working on your behalf.
Can You Get A Refund On Council Tax If You Move?
If your account ends up in credit after you move, which typically happens when people are under time pressure to move or have left it too late, then you can receive a refund on your council tax.
You can request a refund to be reimbursed to you directly if you have paid a tax bill that extends past your moving-out date. Your local authority will have all the information on file.
Summary
As with anything important, planning is everything. So if you are moving house any time soon make sure that you add cancelling your council tax to your list of things to do. It’s not only a crucial thing to do, but it could save you in the long run.
