Council Tax and other information 2020/ 2021 - Bolton Council
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2020/
2021
Council Tax
and other information
LIBRARY
www.bolton.gov.uk/counciltax
1Introduction
Welcome to this guide which includes information about your council tax and what
discounts, exemptions and reductions are available. It also shows what your council
tax is used for and where to find further information on our website.
Since 2010 the amount of grant we receive directly from central government has reduced
significantly. In addition, from 2017/18 onwards the council has retained 99% of its business
rates (with 1% going to the Fire Service). As a result business rates and council tax are now
the two principal sources of revenue we receive to fund services.
The overall increase on Bolton’s basic council tax (i.e. before the GM Mayoral precepts) is
2%. This is allocated directly for Adult Social Care. There is no increase in the general levy.
The council works with other public bodies, the private sector and community and voluntary
groups to improve the borough. Our two main aims are to increase prosperity within the
borough and to narrow the gap between the most vulnerable residents and the better off.
For further information please see our website:
www.bolton.gov.uk/council-tax/council-tax-used
Council tax bands Discounts for occupied properties
If you have already been awarded a discount it
and charges will show on your bill.
• If you are the only adult (over 18) living at your
Council tax bands address, you can claim a 25% discount off
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) is your bill
responsible for setting the bands which are • If only one adult living at your address is
based on property values at 1 April 1991. Your counted then a 25% discount can be claimed
council tax bill shows which band your • If none of the adults living at your address are
property is in. counted then a 50% discount can be claimed
and in some cases an exemption may apply
Banding appeals - see Exemptions for occupied properties
If you think your band may be wrong, you can • If you have a second home that is provided
ask the Valuation Office to review it: under a contract of employment then a 50%
discount can be claimed
Manchester Valuation Office, Manchester One,
53 Portland Street, Manchester M1 3LD Adults who are not counted
Tel: 03000 501501 Here are examples of people who are not
Website: www.voa.gov.uk counted:
• Full-time students, student nurses,
Council tax information apprentices and those people under 25 on
youth training schemes
Charge appeals • People permanently resident in hospital or in
If you think that either you or your property care homes
should not be subject to a council tax charge, • People who are severely mentally impaired
you may appeal to the council tax office. • Carers - people living with and caring for
someone who is not their spouse, partner or
child under 18
2• 18 or 19 year olds who are still at school or council tax charge will be payable for the
college or have just left property.
• 18 year olds for whom child benefit is still
being paid After two years – when the property has been
• Members of religious communities, such as unoccupied and unfurnished for two years then
monks or nuns a 100% premium will be payable on top of the
• People staying in hostels or night shelters full charge. This will mean that a 200% charge
• People in prison or detention (except those will be payable.
in prison for non-payment of council tax or a
fine) After five years – when the property has been
unoccupied and unfurnished for five years then
Discount for annexes a 200% premium will be payable on top of the
This is a 50% discount for annexes that are full charge. This will mean that a 300% charge
either being used as part of the main residence will be payable.
or are occupied by direct relatives of the
person who is responsible for the council tax The premium should not be charged on any
on the main dwelling. property that:
• Would be the sole or main residence of a
Local discount – care leavers person in the armed forces who is posted
If you have been in local authority care, you away from home; or
may be able to receive a full discount on your • Is an annex to a property that is being used
council tax for the property you live in until you as part of the main residence of the main
reach the age of 25. You may still be entitled to dwelling
this even if you live with someone else.
Second homes and properties which are
Reductions for people with disabilities unoccupied and furnished There is no
You may be entitled to a reduction if you have discount on these properties. This means that
an additional room, bathroom or kitchen or a full (100%) charge will be payable.
extra space for a wheelchair for a disabled
person who lives there. This reduction is the Unoccupied and unfurnished properties
equivalent of your band being reduced to the that are undergoing or requiring major
one below, or by a sixth if your property is in a repairs or alterations There are no discounts
band A. available.
Exemptions for occupied properties Unoccupied properties that are exempt
• Occupied only by people under 18 • Properties owned by a charity are exempt for
• Occupied only by people who are full-time up to six months from vacation providing that
students or student nurses when they were last occupied they were
• Occupied only by people who are severely being used for the purpose of the charity
mentally impaired • Properties left empty by someone who is a
• Where the property is part of another permanent resident in a hospital, residential
property and a dependant relative lives in it, or nursing home or in prison/detention
such as a ‘granny flat’ or annex • Properties left empty by someone who has
left to receive care from another person
Unoccupied and unfurnished properties • Properties left empty by someone providing
The following charges apply based on when care for another person
your property first became unoccupied and • Properties left empty that were last occupied
unfurnished. There are no discounts available by a full-time student who is the owner or
on these properties. leaseholder
• Properties left empty because someone has
The first two years – if the property remains died are exempt where probate has yet to be
unoccupied and unfurnished the full (100%) made and for up to six months after probate
3has been granted you pay council tax why not find out if you can
• Properties left empty because they have get a reduction based on your circumstances?
been repossessed or are the responsibility of You can get a personalised calculation using the
a trustee in bankruptcy online calculator at www.bolton.gov.uk/
• Properties left empty because occupation is benefitscalculator
not allowed by law
• Properties waiting to be occupied by a Discretionary council tax
minister of religion reduction scheme
A discretionary reduction may be awarded
Paying your council tax where you are struggling to pay your council tax
You have the choice of paying your council tax and you can show you need extra help. For
over 10 or 12 months. We offer weekly, example, if you are claiming council tax support
fortnightly and monthly instalments. and it does not cover your bill in full, or if you are
struggling to pay council tax on a property that
If you wish to change the frequency or method is empty. Anyone can apply whether you are in
of paying your instalments, please complete receipt of benefits or working.
the form on our website or contact the council
tax office. The scheme is designed to offer short term help
to those customers who are struggling
Problems paying financially. Every application will be considered
If you are having problems paying your council individually, if you wish to apply for this, please
tax, please contact us as soon as possible. We complete the relevant application form on our
are able to make special arrangements if you website.
are having financial difficulties.
To apply for a discretionary reduction for a
If you don’t contact us or pay on time, further property you live in go to: www.bolton.gov.uk/
action will be taken which may lead to benefits/extra-help-rent-council-tax
additional costs being added to your account.
To apply for a discretionary reduction for an
Further information can be found on our empty property go to: www.bolton.gov.uk/
website on the council tax - problems paying council-tax/discounts-exemptions
page. Alternatively, contact the council tax
office. Contact us...
Council Tax
Are you entitled to Tel: 01204 331599
benefits? Online form: www.bolton.gov.uk/counciltax
Write to:
Local council tax support PO Box 32, Town Hall, Bolton BL1 1UT
You can apply for council tax support if you are
in receipt of state benefits or if you are on a low Housing Benefits
income. Tel: 01204 331590
Email: housing.benefit@bolton.gov.uk
All working age people will now have at least Write to:
12.5% of their council tax to pay. If you have PO Box 4, Town Hall, Bolton BL1 1RX
£3000 capital or more you will not be eligible
for council tax support if you are working age. Large print, interpretation, text only and
There are some exceptions to this if you are in audio formats of this document can be
receipt of welfare benefits. arranged on request.
Tel: 01204 333333
If you are pension credit age and have capital Online contact form:
over £16,000, you will not normally qualify. If www.bolton.gov.uk/counciltax
4Counciltax 2020 infographicsV3.pdf 1 20/02/2020 11:35
What does the council do for me?
Over 12,763 potholes
13.3m 2,885
510km
had a full road route grit
and urgent repairs made to
highways with 12.8 miles bins are emptied every year LED lanterns installed
by Highways last year
completed completely resurfaced
LIBRARY
858 residents with 1,047 1.3m visits to our 562,446
items borrowed from
1,279,763
visits to our Libraries
debt problems helped by Food hygiene leisure centres run by Bolton
our Money Skills Service inspections in Community Leisure our Libraries and Museums last year
saving them £174k the last year
8,220 children There were
26,627
We registered
9,316
There were
11,889 291 people facing conflict at
home or in the workplace
helped each term with
early education funded contacts for adult social births, marriages and contacts for children’s supported by Mediation, helping
places care services last year deaths last year social care services 87% of young people at risk stay
last year at home or with close family
Central support
Environmental Services
Costs including Finance/Legal/
Emptying bins, maintaining
Information, Communications
a roads, cemeteries and parks,
uncil T x increas and Technology
Co e ensuring consumer protection,
% is
.1 s managing libraries and museums
Development
3
pl
ur
it..
Yo
and Regeneration
.
GM Mayoral
Precepts /Housing
GM Mayoral
Adult 1.1% GM Levies General Managing the planning
Social Care Precept process, increasing tourism,
2% Waste, GM offering housing advice,
transport and Including Fire Mayoral increasing employment
land drainage Services Police and skills opportunities
and Crime
Commissioner
Precept
LIBRARY
Adult Services
and Public Health Childrens’ Services
Residential Care, Home Care, Social Care for Children
Direct Payments, Supported including fostering and adoption
Living and various other forms placements. Support to Schools
of Social Care for Adults. and Educational services
Preventative and information
services in relation
to Public HealthYou can also read
