2008 / 2009 COUNCIL TAX
Council Tax rates for the forthcoming year 2008 / 2009 were set
by Essex County Council in February 2008, and Braintree
District Council on 18th February 2008.
- Click here for Table of Current Council Tax
Rates
You should receive your bill by 18th March 2008 at the latest,
and for monthly payers, your first instalment will become due on
1st April 2008.
If you already pay by direct debit, you do not need to fill in a
new instruction.
If you would like to receive your bill by e-mail please complete
the online form which can be found under Useful Links.
Please Note that all joint and severally liable persons must
agree. No paper bill will be issued in addition.
WARNING: It is your responsibilty to advise us if you change
your e-mail address. If we send e-mails to the wrong address or
payment is late, recovery action will be taken.
Council Tax Billing
You are sent a bill for every Financial year (1st April - 31st
March). It shows the amount due less any discounts and
Council Tax Benefit. It shows the instalments that must be
paid.
In a full year the Council must offer ten instalments. If you
become liable during the year you will be billed from that date
that your liability starts until the end of the financial year and
the number of instalments offered will be the number of full months
left in the financial year, less one.
Non or late payment
Instalments must be paid on the date specified. Late
payment will result in Recovery action and you are expected to make
financial arrangements to ensure that your payments are made on
time. Even if you have a query about your bill, you must pay
your instalments until the query is resolved and a revised bill is
sent to you. If you are unhappy with Council services you
must still pay your bill. If you have a complaint against a
particular Council service, this does not give you the right to
withhold all or part payment.
How to pay
-
e-Pay - Pay On-line
All payments are due on or before the first day of each month
whether you decide to pay by cash or cheque or Direct Debit.
You can pay by monthly instalments (1st April to 1st January), half
yearly (1st May and 1st September) or in a lump sum (1st May).
For information on how to pay, details are printed on the back
of your bill. You can also pay by credit or debit card by
telephoning 01376 557894. You will need to quote your payment
reference number (from your bill). Please note for credit
card payments a charge of 1.9% is levied for balances over
£10. Please note we are unable to accept American Express
charge cards.
What is Council Tax?
Council Tax is a local tax that Councils must charge to help
meet their costs. It meets about 27% of local Council
costs. The rest is mostly met by government grants which
include some of the Rates for commercial properties that Councils
collect for the government.
What is the basis of the charge?
You pay Council Tax for any property you live in. You also
pay Council Tax for unoccupied properties, however from 1st April
2004, legislation changed regarding unoccupied properties.
Please read below for details. Every property in
England, Wales and Scotland is allocated one of eight bands A
to H which is based on its value as at 1st April 1991. New
dwellings are also banded based on their value at 1st April 1991
had they existed at that time.
Queries about your property band
All properties are allocated a band based upon the property
value as at 1st April 1991. There are eight bands in total, A
being the lowest and H the highest.
The Council does not value or band your property. That is
the responsibility of the Inland Revenue Valuation
Office. You can appeal against your banding to the Valuation
Office within 6 months of becoming liable. You may also
appeal if there has been a material increase or reduction in value
of the property. For more deails on how to make an
appeal you can contact the District Valuer 34 Southway,
Colchester CO2 7BB or telephone 01206 287100.
Discounts and exemptions
The full Council Tax charge assumes that there are two or more
adult occupiers. -
If there is only one adult occupier a 25%
discount is awarded.
Second homes
These are defined as properties that are no-one's sole or main
residence and are furnished. This includes holiday homes and
properties that are let furnished. Currently these properties
receive a 10% discount. Prior to Legislation changing in 2004,
the discount awarded was 50%.
Empty properties
Currently domestic properties that are no-one's sole or main
residence and are empty of furniture receive six months exemption
from Council Tax. After six months has passed, the full
amount of Council Tax will be due with no discount allowed.
The six month exemption is applied against the property, not the
owner, therefore if you purchase a property but do not occupy it
immediately, and it has already been empty for more than six
months, no discount will apply and the full charge will be
payable.
If you have recently moved into or purchased a property ,
you may download and print off a Canvass form
here. Reporting Form - -
Notes
Alternatively you may contact the Revenues Section
directly by telephoning 01376 557755.
Discounts
Various types of people who are resident are disregarded. That
is they are treated as if they are not resident in the property,
which may result in entitlment to a discount. These disregards are
summarised below,
Full time students,Student Nurses
Apprentices, and Youth training trainees.
Patients resident in hospitals
People looked after in care homes
Severely mentally impaired people
People staying in some hostels or night shelters
18 or 19 year olds who have just left school
Care workers working for very low pay, usually for charities
People caring for someone with a disability who is not their
spouse, partner or child under 18
Members of visiting armed forces and certain international
institutions
Members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
People in prison (except those in prison for non payment of
Council Tax or fines)
People with diplomatic privelage of immunity
Non-British spouses and dependants of students.
The above list is not a definitive guide and
further details can be obtained by contacting the Revenues Section
directly on on 01376 557755.
Council Tax Benefit
If you are on a very low income you may get Council Tax Benefit
of up to 100%. This is assessed by looking at your personal
circumstances and income. Maximum Benefit can be awared if
you (and your partner's) income is at Income Support levels.
Disabled Relief
If you or someone living with you is disabled, in some limited
circumstances relief can be granted. It may be granted if
there is a room predominantly used for meeting the needs of a
disabled person, if there is a second kitchen or bathroom used by a
disabled person or if there is a need and the space to use a
wheelchair indoors. Relief is granted by charging Council Tax as if
the dwelling is in the band below its actual band. Any Discounts
and Council Tax Benefit are then calculated on the reduced charge.
A band A property has its base charge reduced by 1/6th.
Please Note...
Being registered for Council Tax does not automatically
mean you are entered on the Electoral Register. In addition,
if you are registered for voting, this does not automatically mean
you are registered for Council Tax.
If you wish to be registered for voting, please
telephone 01376 557750 or email
csc@braintree.gov.uk