How far back can the council claim back council tax i have just received a bill from 7 yrs ago

Question

the bill is for my ex husband and myself from a property we shared 7 years ago what do i do i know he has also received this bill as my son told me as my ex and i dont speak

Answer 1

There is no limit, as it's a tax. Trust me!

Answer 2

to infinity and beyond !

there is no set limit on Council Tax so they can seek you out regardless of how long ago it was

Answer 3

Go to the Citizens Advice Bureau and see if they can negotiate with the council on your behalf. But basically there is no time limit to them claiming arrears on it.  You and your ex are unfortunately both liable and most councils will sue for repayment  if you don't come up with an agreement to pay.

Answer 4

Council is unlimited in the period it can be claimed back for however for the council to enforce legal action they must have a liability order issued within 6 years of the date of the billing otherwise they can only ask for the money nicely.

Its most likely that the council do have the liability order and thus the power to collect the payment. The council have probably decided to tighten up the recovery process and chase overdue accounts.

Answer 5

Well if it is in both names you must split the costs.

Seek advice about this and I would speak to them too and ask if they willl do a deal with you.

Answer 6

They are perfectly entitled if the bill is correct, i.e. that you truly owe them. Conversely, if your property is rebanded and goes down to a cheaper band, they will refund you, no matter how far back it goes. So, fair's fair.

Answer 7

Normally a debt can only go back 6 years but I believe the law makes an exception for council tax.

You sat "a property we shared" that makes you both jointly liable.

Between you it has to be paid otherwise they hand it over to baillifs

Answer 8

I feel that it may be highly unfair of them to have waited so long before giving you the letter which tells you that you owe them for so many years. i would ask for some proff on their part to inform you earlyer that your bill was not being paid and they made efforts to inform you of this. you may try to prove incomputance by them. Who lives at the address you both lived at 7 years ago ? what happend to any letters they may have sent you ? IF ANY.

But saying all that, they could turn it around and ask what efforts you made to pay and not avoid paying.

Plead depression. Have you been on any medication during them years that you could use in your defence ?

Answer 9

as far back as it takes to claim back what you owe and should have paid. The local authority don't just forget that you were in affect robbing them seven years ago