Requirement of Council tax for tier-1 extension

[AshokG]

Dear Users,

I have a query regarding coulcil tax for Tier-1 Visa extension.
I'll be applying for Tier-1 visa extension in Jan-12.
Currently staying on rent with my friend, who is a student
and not paying any council tax. Infact there is no council tax
from our house as every one except me is student.

So, Is it required to pay council tax when I am working,
and taking benefits of my rent to save Income tax.

Will it effect on my visa extension?

Looking forward to your expert comments.

Regards
Ashok

[rizwan567]

Dont worry... you are not claiming c.tax benefit. And paying c.tax is not necessary to claim extension.

[AshokG]

Thanks for the reply Rizwan,

I didn't understand the phrase "Claiming for Council tax benefits", please clarify more on this.

I am claiming for house rent, but not paying council tax, & as part of tier-1 extension I'll be giving the address proof, so won't this be creating an issue?

Regards
Ashok

[PaperPusher]

Yes, council tax should be paid because you are not a student.

What do you mean "taking benefits of my rent to save income tax"?

You will not be able to include reimbursements as income.

Dear Users,

I have a query regarding coulcil tax for Tier-1 Visa extension.
I'll be applying for Tier-1 visa extension in Jan-12.
Currently staying on rent with my friend, who is a student
and not paying any council tax. Infact there is no council tax
from our house as every one except me is student.

So, Is it required to pay council tax when I am working,
and taking benefits of my rent to save Income tax.

Will it effect on my visa extension?

Looking forward to your expert comments.

Regards
Ashok

[AshokG]

Does it also mean that, each working candidate under Tier-1 visa must pay council tax in-order to prove that he is staying legally?

By Claiming the rent I mean, I have kept my rent under "rent allowance", which is a non-taxable part in my salary.

How will I be paying the council tax? as in the entire house I am the only working candidate & the agreement is not under my name.

Cheers!!!
Ashok

[geriatrix]

1. Does your tenancy agreement absolve the tenants from paying council tax (i.e. - the landlord pays it and is included in the rent)?
2. If not, then your household is not exempt from council tax payment because you, as one of the residents, is not a full-time student.

Should you pay council tax - Yes, if you are liable to!
Will non-payment affect extension of Tier 1 (General) leave - No.

[PaperPusher]

Contact your local council about the council tax. I do not want to contribute through my council tax bill for tax dodgers. You may not have to prove you are paying council tax for a Tier 1 extension, but it is still wrong.

Do not forget it will be unlikely that you can include your housing allowance as part of your earnings to score points. Will you come up short of points? Are you using an umbrella company?

[mulderpf]

From the sounds of it, you want to claim whatever "discount" is available due to the other residents being students. Some councils are now pushing for criminal convictions for falsely claiming discounts (something which will definitely affect you going forward).

Non-payment may not directly affect your application now, but it could affect you in future.

[AshokG]

To sushdmehta:

Actually in my house around 5 full time students are satying with me.
& the agreement is on the student's name, So they have never paid the c.tax, as per them they are not liable to pay any council tax.
As per my discussion with house owner, c-tax will not be applied if atleast 3 full time students are satying in the house.

Should you pay council tax - Yes, if you are liable to!

This is exactly my confusion is, since I am staying with students & for the whole house
they are not liable for any council tax, then how will I be paying it alone?

Will non-payment affect extension of Tier 1 (General) leave - No.
Thanks thats a big relief.
------------------------------------

To PaperPusher:

Contact your local council about the council tax.
I do not want to contribute through my council tax bill for tax dodgers.
You may not have to prove you are paying council tax for a Tier 1 extension, but it is still wrong.

Yeah I'll have a word with him on Tue.
So does this mean every tier-1 visa holder should pay the council tax,
in order to proov that he is staying legally?

Do not forget it will be unlikely that you can include your housing
allowance as part of your earnings to score points. Will you come up short of points? Are you using an umbrella company?

Yeah you are right I am using umbrella company,
I am not using my house rent in-order to score points &
salary wise I am not falling short, so even if I donot claim for house rent allowance it will still be ok, but this saves little bit.

[PaperPusher]

If there is one adult person who is not a student in the house, then that person counts as far as council tax is concerned.

You live in the house. It doesn't matter that the agreement "is on their name". Does that mean I do not have to pay council tax because I am not named on an agreement? Of course not, I live in my home and therefore there is a council tax bill.

The house is almost certainly liable for council tax. I have been that one employed person is a shared student house. We paid the council tax bill.

How you split the bill is up to you or your housemates. You are all adults, work it out yourselves.

[geriatrix]

See also Who is responsible for paying the bill? and Students and Council Tax.

[[iD]]

Full time students are exempt from council tax but not you. You need to contact your council and let them know that you live in the property as well. They will obviously give you guys a discount on council tax because of students but that will not be a 100% discount. Meaning you'll have to pay your share towards council tax. Also, it's illegal not to pay something you're liable to.

Please read Council Tax discounts, exemptions and financial help

[cruzez]

You are breaking law, there is no excuse for some one who is having full time job and not paying council tax.

If all the tenants are not paying tax then you need to pay for the whole house at 3/4 of its council tax.

If council come to know about it then they will ask you to pay for the whole duration since they didn't receive tax from the house you staying. Not the date you moved in.

Failure to do so you will go to court if convicted pay court fee, fine and tax and you also receive criminal record then it will affect with your visa.

[jack_p]

Will non-payment affect extension of Tier 1 (General) leave - No.

Is there any quote of this in the official documentation to just cross-verify? Or are you absolutely sure about your statement?

[quickstart]

What if I used to live with landlords who claimed single person discount while I was living there? If that happended several years ago, do I still need to pay back the missing tax? But that would expose my ex landlords...

If I contact the council to pay back any tax that I was liable to but did not pay previously, will that leave a mark on my record (credit, criminal, any kind of record..)??

Any guidance/ advice much appreciated:!: