Crackdown on council tax dodgers
THE city council is to crack down on those claiming a single person discount on their council tax bill when they do not live alone.
The local authority expects to identify 4,000 households where the discount is claimed improperly.
The initiative could generate an additional £1.1m of income for the city council next year.
Councillor Graham Chapman, council deputy leader, said: "It is not fair on the council tax payers who are paying the full amount that some people do not pay their dues by not declaring they live with someone else."
About 130,000 households in Nottingham pay council tax.
The average charge per household is £1,108 and a single person discount will save £277 a year. Currently, more than 56,000 households claim a single person discount.
Coun Chapman said the income from council tax is vital to deliver public services and it is important to maximise income.
He said: "The tax pays for essential services like education, child protection and helping disabled people. We are having to make job cuts to pay for extra pressures [in children's services and adult social care]."
The city council has commissioned Experian and Northgate to review and update council tax accounts to identify those who are receiving discounts who are not entitled to them.
The council will pay the company £37.50 for each discount removed and it anticipates the total scheme will cost £150,000.
The council says the project will not only boost income but by using an outside company it will be cheaper and more effective.
A spokesman for the city council said: "Using an external organisation that has facilities we can't match and can do the job speedily is a good and efficient way of doing it."
Previously, the city council has written to residents asking them to inform the authority if their status has changed, but there is a suspicion that some people did not complete the form honestly.
The firm has access to databases which the council does not use, such as credit reference information, which may reveal whether a resident is married or cohabiting. Where evidence emerges a person may have not properly declared their status they will be contacted directly.
Currently, the council is not planning to backdate charges but will collect the full amount owed in the next financial year, which begins on April 1, 2010.
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by Plonk, Heanor at work
Tuesday, January 12 2010, 2:35AM
“Bill i simply wanted to knowwhat maggie had to do with people conning the system, particularly as its irrelevant until some of the bigoted tunnel visioned politically biased morons who frequent this site try to insert it into the thread.
Thank god for you and andyman who try to be objective.”
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Monday, January 11 2010, 9:31AM
“Plonk I know it stretches the thread but her one sentence does sum it up ""Look It is not from the dole. It is your neighbour who is supplying it ".
As you and many others will be aware fraud robs you and me Plonk not some anonymous Government.”
by Plonk, Heanor at work
Monday, January 11 2010, 2:52AM
“And what has margaret thatcher got to do with this story!!! nothing.”
by FW, Nottingham
Monday, January 11 2010, 12:03AM
“Indeed, Bill, but it takes issue with the system that distributes the money and encourages reliance upon it, not with any individuals who may be defrauding the system. I don't disagree with the principle it is expressing, but, contrary to Mr Mann's pointless witterings, it has no bearing on such daft questions as whether Margaret Thatcher was a "liberal lefty."”
by Bill Lawrenson, Keyworth
Sunday, January 10 2010, 11:31PM
“In all fairness FW I think the speech points out that the money doesn't come from "the government" but from other peoples pockets. It also points out something which is often forgotten - that with rights comes responsibilities. As you said a good speech, in particular regarding our responsibilities to children.”