• Welcome to the LegalBeagles Consumer and Legal Forum.
    Please Register to get the most out of the forum. Registration is free and only needs a username and email address.
    REGISTER
    Please do not post your full name, reference numbers or any identifiable details on the forum.

Council Tax Liability Order Applications

Collapse
Loading...
X
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Council Tax Liability Order Applications

    A question or two to all liability order aficionados regarding imposed council tax summons costs.

    First off, this is the letter North East Lincolnshire council sent Grimsby Magistrates' court last year when it decided it wanted to increase the revenue generated from council tax liability order applications by changing the composition of the summons/liability order fees.

    It increased the overall cost by 23% as well as front loading all the charge to the summons fee (effectively a 120% hike).

    Dear Deputy Justices' Clerk


    Court Costs for Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates


    I am writing to advise you that North East Lincolnshire Council has taken the decision to increase the court costs which it charges to tax payers for the non payment of Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates.

    The costs to be charged for a summons for Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates will be £70.00. There will be no additional costs for the liability order. The increase will take effect from 1st April 2011.

    If there is any further information you require then please don’t hesitate to contact me directly on 01472 ****** or via e mail at *****.

    I would like to take this opportunity to express my thanks for your continued cooperation and support.


    Yours Sincerely


    Income and Collection Manager
    Simply notifying the court of its intentions is clearly not something councils should be doing regarding how much (if any) costs are awarded to them.

    Also, how is it possible for councils to specify on the summons document a predetermined amount for either the summons or liability orders which will be imposed on the taxpayer? Magistrates would need to determine this at the council tax liability order hearing. These costs would vary from one hearing to another because a key factor in determining the costs incurred by the council would be the number processed in the rubber stamping exercise of the bulk hearing.

    Does anyone have further details about how the level of costs imposed on council taxpayers in respect of liability order applications are agreed and authorised by the Magistrates' court? Any links to legislation?

    Also any opinions of the legitimacy of councils specifying the amount of costs imposed on the actual summons document when a summons is only a means of inviting the defendant to court to answer the complaint?

    Thanks for any information.
    Last edited by outlawlgo; 10th April 2012, 10:31:AM.
    Tags: None

  • #2
    Re: Council Tax Liability Order Applications

    Try a FOI to the council asking the actual cost of obtaining a Liability Order, and the actual cost of issuing a Summons. The last figure I had, though I can't guarantee the information was accurate, was that it cost about £4-5.

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Council Tax Liability Order Applications

      Thanks labman!

      Your figure sounds more realistic than the 1.3 million North East Lincolnshire council says it incurs up to the summons stage.

      With an average 12,644 summoned each year, this would work out at around £90 per summons.

      If you could believe the accuracy of their calculations, it would mean they were out of pocket to the tune of £20 per liability order application with their single summons fee of £70.



      They are clearly using householders caught-out with late payments to pay for staff and services within council tax administration which would be incurred in any event and are not specific to the costs incurred up to sending out the summons.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Council Tax Liability Order Applications

        They should not be making a profit from the misery of customers who have fallen on hard time.

        As for their figures, I'm thinking of a word rhyming with 'rollocks.'

        Comment

        View our Terms and Conditions

        LegalBeagles Group uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to create a secure and effective website. By using this website, you are consenting to such use.To find out more and learn how to manage cookies please read our Cookie and Privacy Policy.

        If you would like to opt in, or out, of receiving news and marketing from LegalBeagles Group Ltd you can amend your settings at any time here.


        If you would like to cancel your registration please Contact Us. We will delete your user details on request, however, any previously posted user content will remain on the site with your username removed and 'Guest' inserted.
        Working...
        X