£380,000 owed to Town Hall in unpaid council tax

8:41am Thursday 17th January 2013 in News

PEOPLE in Bolton owe the council more than £380,000 in unpaid council tax.

Bolton magistrates have granted the council liability orders for 692 residents who have not paid their council tax — despite numerous reminders and court summons being sent to them.

In total, £383,477 has not been paid.

It comes after the council took 725 residents to court who owed a total of £414,658. The total amount owed is £798,136 Most of the unpaid bills date from the current financial year 2012/13, but there are some from previous years.

The liability order means the council has the power to bring in bailiffs to recover the money if it is not paid.

In the most recent case, the council sent summons to 891 residents who had not paid their Council Tax.

Of that number, 692 were taken to court and so far, 184 have made arrangements to pay.

Bolton Council will send a letter to the remaining 508 people to ask them to provide income details and to pay the amount in full or make a payment arrangement.

The council has also been forced to issue liability orders for businesses who have not paid their rates.

In October, 49 businesses, who owed £253,430 in unpaid rates, were taken to court.

And the council took another 71 businesses to court who owed £235,520.

The council has said liability orders are seen as a last resort.

People are first sent a bill. If they miss a payment they are sent a reminder and if more instalments are missed they are sent a reminder.

If the money is still not paid they are issued with a summons and taken to court. A council spokesman said: “The majority of our residents pay their council tax on time and we usually collect between 96 and 97 per cent of charges by the end of the financial year, and then continue to collect arrears after that.

“We do understand in the current economic climate there are people who are struggling or unable to pay their bills. However, we do have a duty to collect money in order to fund public services and we will take people to court if reminders are ignored.

“If people are struggling we would encourage them to get in touch as we may be able to help. ”

Comments (13)

9:39am Thu 17 Jan 13

Sick of paying of paying for the idle who DONT want to work! says...

Thats great, means those of us who do pay will have to pay more to cover, if you dont pay for the property you live in then you dont deserve to live there, simple!
Thats great, means those of us who do pay will have to pay more to cover, if you dont pay for the property you live in then you dont deserve to live there, simple! Sick of paying of paying for the idle who DONT want to work!

11:35am Thu 17 Jan 13

georgethebrave says...

Maybe if all the bums that don't pay their council tax had a prayer room they would be exempt from paying it?
Maybe if all the bums that don't pay their council tax had a prayer room they would be exempt from paying it? georgethebrave

1:04pm Thu 17 Jan 13

exiled says...

perhaps those in arrears should consider cancelling their financial luxuries - starting with mobile phone contracts, sky tv and sell their pitulls.

Council tax evasion is no different to benefit fraud, as both defraud the public purse.

Those in arrears should be placed into an arrangement whereby they undertake voluntary work to offset their charge.
perhaps those in arrears should consider cancelling their financial luxuries - starting with mobile phone contracts, sky tv and sell their pitulls. Council tax evasion is no different to benefit fraud, as both defraud the public purse. Those in arrears should be placed into an arrangement whereby they undertake voluntary work to offset their charge. exiled

2:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13

steveG says...

Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management.
Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management. steveG

3:04pm Thu 17 Jan 13

boltonnut says...

SteveG,every thing is unaffordable if you don't work.
SteveG,every thing is unaffordable if you don't work. boltonnut

3:13pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Sick of paying of paying for the idle who DONT want to work! says...

boltonnut i understand what you are saying, but what im saying is I pay MY council tax, why should i have to pay for others who dont!
boltonnut i understand what you are saying, but what im saying is I pay MY council tax, why should i have to pay for others who dont! Sick of paying of paying for the idle who DONT want to work!

4:00pm Thu 17 Jan 13

PDY says...

steveG wrote:
Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management.
The vast majority of people may agree with you but fulfill their civic and moral duty by paying. To correct you, it doesn't just "serve to maintain too many highly paid, undeserving people in council" it also goes toward keeping your dustbin emptied and the roads free from snow and ice in the winter. It also goes toward libraries, meals on wheels for the elderly etc etc. So, if everybody opted to pay nothing, despite the fact that it is based on your ability to pay due to the banding levels which determine the cost to each household, we would have no revenue and, by definition no services.
You are obviously one of those people who wants all the services but does not want to pay.
[quote][p][bold]steveG[/bold] wrote: Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management.[/p][/quote]The vast majority of people may agree with you but fulfill their civic and moral duty by paying. To correct you, it doesn't just "serve to maintain too many highly paid, undeserving people in council" it also goes toward keeping your dustbin emptied and the roads free from snow and ice in the winter. It also goes toward libraries, meals on wheels for the elderly etc etc. So, if everybody opted to pay nothing, despite the fact that it is based on your ability to pay due to the banding levels which determine the cost to each household, we would have no revenue and, by definition no services. You are obviously one of those people who wants all the services but does not want to pay. PDY

4:08pm Thu 17 Jan 13

steveG says...

PDY wrote:
steveG wrote:
Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management.
The vast majority of people may agree with you but fulfill their civic and moral duty by paying. To correct you, it doesn't just "serve to maintain too many highly paid, undeserving people in council" it also goes toward keeping your dustbin emptied and the roads free from snow and ice in the winter. It also goes toward libraries, meals on wheels for the elderly etc etc. So, if everybody opted to pay nothing, despite the fact that it is based on your ability to pay due to the banding levels which determine the cost to each household, we would have no revenue and, by definition no services.
You are obviously one of those people who wants all the services but does not want to pay.
You are obviously one of those people who jump to conclusions without the necessary evidence.
[quote][p][bold]PDY[/bold] wrote: [quote][p][bold]steveG[/bold] wrote: Council tax is unaffordable for many people,is poor value and only serves to maintain too many highly paid,undeserving people in council Management.[/p][/quote]The vast majority of people may agree with you but fulfill their civic and moral duty by paying. To correct you, it doesn't just "serve to maintain too many highly paid, undeserving people in council" it also goes toward keeping your dustbin emptied and the roads free from snow and ice in the winter. It also goes toward libraries, meals on wheels for the elderly etc etc. So, if everybody opted to pay nothing, despite the fact that it is based on your ability to pay due to the banding levels which determine the cost to each household, we would have no revenue and, by definition no services. You are obviously one of those people who wants all the services but does not want to pay.[/p][/quote]You are obviously one of those people who jump to conclusions without the necessary evidence. steveG

4:37pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Phil from Smithills says...

georgethebrave wrote:
Maybe if all the bums that don't pay their council tax had a prayer room they would be exempt from paying it?
Finding them to take to court will be the problem.
When my car was damaged on a supermarket car park, the driver did not live in Bradford Street, as his car registration stated.
[quote][p][bold]georgethebrave[/bold] wrote: Maybe if all the bums that don't pay their council tax had a prayer room they would be exempt from paying it?[/p][/quote]Finding them to take to court will be the problem. When my car was damaged on a supermarket car park, the driver did not live in Bradford Street, as his car registration stated. Phil from Smithills

8:33pm Thu 17 Jan 13

aardwolf says...

If only it were true that people didn't pay Council Tax because they were in genuine hardship. Unfortunately that isn't the case. Council Tax is a priority debt (ranked high because the consequences can be jail, bankruptcy or a charging order placed on the house) however it is treated lower than maintaining a mobile phone, smoking and in some cases going on holiday and having Sky. Council Tax benefit is available for low income households and in genuine hardship cases the tax may even be written off. The vast majority of cases are due to stupidity and neglect - a fact the courts recognise when they grant liability orders. In the olden days (!) if your income fell you did without luxuries and paid your bills = that just isn't the case any more.
If only it were true that people didn't pay Council Tax because they were in genuine hardship. Unfortunately that isn't the case. Council Tax is a priority debt (ranked high because the consequences can be jail, bankruptcy or a charging order placed on the house) however it is treated lower than maintaining a mobile phone, smoking and in some cases going on holiday and having Sky. Council Tax benefit is available for low income households and in genuine hardship cases the tax may even be written off. The vast majority of cases are due to stupidity and neglect - a fact the courts recognise when they grant liability orders. In the olden days (!) if your income fell you did without luxuries and paid your bills = that just isn't the case any more. aardwolf

10:21pm Thu 17 Jan 13

VIGILANTE VIC says...

IF PEOPLE GENUINELY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO PAY ? WORKING OR NON WORKING, AND AS steveG SAYS "TOO MANY HIGHLY PAID PEOPLE IN IN COUNCIL MANAGEMENT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
THE OLD SYSTEM BEFORE THE DREADED POLL TAX CAME IN WAS THE RATES BUT AS USUAL THEY BRING OUT AN UNFAIR POLL TAX IN IT'S PLACE, AND IN APRIL THE "BEDROOM TAX" IS INTRODUCED, THE REASON BEING TO MANY IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, CALL THEM WHAT YOU WILL HAVE FLOODED THIS COUNTRY AND NOW THERE IS NO HOUSING, THE NHS IS OVERBURDENED, SCHOOLS ARE FULL, DOCTORS ARE FULL, ETC,ETC, AND BEFORE ANY OF YOU GET ON YOUR SOAPBOXES I WILL JUST SAY IF I COULD AFFORD TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY TOMORROW I WOULD BE OFF, THE COUNTRY'S F-----D :-)
IF PEOPLE GENUINELY DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY HOW ARE THEY SUPPOSED TO PAY ? WORKING OR NON WORKING, AND AS steveG SAYS "TOO MANY HIGHLY PAID PEOPLE IN IN COUNCIL MANAGEMENT ALL OVER THE COUNTRY. THE OLD SYSTEM BEFORE THE DREADED POLL TAX CAME IN WAS THE RATES BUT AS USUAL THEY BRING OUT AN UNFAIR POLL TAX IN IT'S PLACE, AND IN APRIL THE "BEDROOM TAX" IS INTRODUCED, THE REASON BEING TO MANY IMMIGRANTS, MIGRANTS, CALL THEM WHAT YOU WILL HAVE FLOODED THIS COUNTRY AND NOW THERE IS NO HOUSING, THE NHS IS OVERBURDENED, SCHOOLS ARE FULL, DOCTORS ARE FULL, ETC,ETC, AND BEFORE ANY OF YOU GET ON YOUR SOAPBOXES I WILL JUST SAY IF I COULD AFFORD TO LEAVE THIS COUNTRY TOMORROW I WOULD BE OFF, THE COUNTRY'S F-----D :-) VIGILANTE VIC

10:59pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Citizen Cane says...

...it's only partly to do with benefit freeloading immigrants. It is mostly to do with homegrown freeloaders who have been mollycoddled to an excessive extent. Immigrants are only relatively recent bandwagon joiners.

Stop the gravy train for everyone and the unworthy immigrants will stop coming and those who can't reproduce without their hands in the taxpayers' pockets will stop doing so.

The retirement age needs to go north too and the public sector pension arrangements need to be put on the same basis as most private sector schemes.

Public sector "employment" needs to be reduced by 20% at least - the lead-swinging rump that everyone knows about. You know, the whingers, moaners and sickie throwers.

If you did all that, taxation would be lower and the books would be balanced. Job Done.
...it's only partly to do with benefit freeloading immigrants. It is mostly to do with homegrown freeloaders who have been mollycoddled to an excessive extent. Immigrants are only relatively recent bandwagon joiners. Stop the gravy train for everyone and the unworthy immigrants will stop coming and those who can't reproduce without their hands in the taxpayers' pockets will stop doing so. The retirement age needs to go north too and the public sector pension arrangements need to be put on the same basis as most private sector schemes. Public sector "employment" needs to be reduced by 20% at least - the lead-swinging rump that everyone knows about. You know, the whingers, moaners and sickie throwers. If you did all that, taxation would be lower and the books would be balanced. Job Done. Citizen Cane

11:27pm Thu 17 Jan 13

Marzi30 says...

So the Council Tax funds libraries, leisure centres, meals on wheels and road gritting ? All of which have been decimated to the point of extinction under our local Council regardless of Council Tax arrears or not. If people who live in Council properties are amongst these who owe this money, and I''m sure they are then they should be threatened with eviction. I'm sure repayment arrangements would soon be made and kept to if their homes are at risk. Taking them to Court and threatening with bailiffs costs more money and is obviously totally ineffective
So the Council Tax funds libraries, leisure centres, meals on wheels and road gritting ? All of which have been decimated to the point of extinction under our local Council regardless of Council Tax arrears or not. If people who live in Council properties are amongst these who owe this money, and I''m sure they are then they should be threatened with eviction. I'm sure repayment arrangements would soon be made and kept to if their homes are at risk. Taking them to Court and threatening with bailiffs costs more money and is obviously totally ineffective Marzi30

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