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Unpaid tax bills leave authorities £10m short
Monday 20th July 2009, 11:30AM BST.
Local authorities in the Black Country and Staffordshire are still chasing more than £10 million in unpaid council tax from last year, the Express & Star can reveal today.
Latest figures show despite claiming one of their best years for payment for services most councils are still at least £1m each down.
Wolverhampton City Council came top of the list for not getting paid with £3.3m outstanding by the end of the financial year. It comes as it emerged today the authority is battling a £5.3m funding gap, revealed in a budget report for the year ahead out for public consultation.
Some 95 per cent of the £76.2m due to the authority was paid in full, a rate that was today defended by leader, Tory Councillor Neville Patten.
He said: “I have been asking about this recently and wondered that maybe the recession was leading to people keeping their money, which I would never recommend they do because they should always pay.
“As far as I understand things, our collection rates are improving this year.”
The Tory-Lib Dem alliance took control of the council from Labour in May last year. Sandwell Council is still chasing £1.7 m from its residents but was named third best in the country for collecting tax, receiving 97.9 per cent of the £81.2m it asked for. Finance chief, Councillor Steve Eling, said: “This is important revenue for payment of essential public services.” Cannock Chase Council achieved its best ever collection rate in 2008-09 at 98.5 per cent. But even this left a total of £550,000 uncollected from a total of £35.986m.
Walsall Council collected £83.434m by the end of April, receiving 96.9 per cent of what was owed. There is £2.2m outstanding but Walsall was named fifth best nationally for its collection rate. Council leader Mike Bird said: “We are quite aggressive in our approach, but we are compassionate with those people with problems.”
For 2008-9 Dudley Council collected £95.5m in council tax, with £1.7m outstanding, a collection rate of 98.35 per cent. Spokesman Chris Howes said: “It puts the authority in the top two metropolitan authorities in the country.”
Lichfield District Council collected 98.6 per cent of its council tax before the end of the 2008-9 financial year and is still pursuing £1.1m. Stafford Borough Council collected £55.7m and bosses said they have since recouped more, but failed to reveal how much.
Fiona McEvoy, of the West Midlands TaxPayers’ Alliance said: “The sad thing is a lot of this is down to people who are habitual non-payers and councils just won’t do anything about them.”
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Cannock council are so busy chasing who do pay their council tax, but if it is late they send letters threating to take them to court. instead of chasing those who still owe from when it was the poll tax.
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There is no law that says one must pay council tax. Just another tax they want to rip us off with. Soon they will be taxing us for the air we breathe. These are unlawful taxes.
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Where do they expect people to get money for bogus taxes in these times of recession?
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I have not paid my council tax along with t.v licence as I simply cannot afford them. It’s either pay the taxes or feed my children, not a very hard choice.
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Seems that Walsall are a soft touch as they are the highest outstanding. Make them pay send them to jail or something as i have to pay its only fair!!!!
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I am fed up with throwing money at the council only for them to fill their pockets and little else.
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Re 2
So how do you pay for the bins to be emptied etc?
Re 2 & 4. The answer is simple. GET A JOB and make a contribution to society instead of sitting watching Jeremy Kyle and living on fast food.
DO THE COUNTRY A SERVICE, GET A CHAV A JOB!
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Re 7
You make too many assumptions. Just because certain people do not believe in paying unlawful taxes, that does not make them a Jeremy Vile fan or a fan of junk food.
In case you missed it, these are times of recession with more and more people being made redundant everyday.
Wake up to the real world!
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No. 7 – I have a job thanks. That does not mean I am working for nothing and letting my children go hungry.
Do the world a favour and wake up to reality!
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Penfold get a job to pay unlawful taxes? No thanks.
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So here we are again – whilst accepting some of the people are unable for one reason or another – others seem to side step the problem and then complain why all sorts of things are wrong.
Listen put into the system instead of thinking you’ll all get a hand out. Why do the rest of us keep paying in all the time !!!!
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Roger no-one puts a gun to your head and makes you pay.
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Maybe more people would be happy to pay if the council tax money was spent appropriately. With some of the pathetic rules in force now, if you put the wrong type of rubbish in the wrong bin, you get a big fine. This type of behavior is simply unacceptable.
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I agree wholeheartedly Ste. It was not long back that Dudley council wanted to get the latest Blackberry mobile phones at a cost of 18 thousand pounds, if the matter was not pointed out they would have carried on and purchased the phones. I am not paying money into a system where money can be abused on an expenses system etc.
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The council expenses are open to abuse similar to the MP’s. People are not prepared to put money into the system if that money is going to be used to live a life of luxury and not for the purposes the money is there in the first place. No matter how much is put in, they will always want more, more, more.
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the council might be 3.3m in debt but it hasn,t stopped the chair warmers having a wage rise ,they haven,t had a wage cut like the rest of us to keep us working they should not have it and come to the real world
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I think you’ll find that certain individuals are legally liable to pay council tax.
And if you chose to have kids and can’t afford to pay council tax that’s your problem. Why should other tax payers pay for you?!
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Of course if the money was spent sensibly instead of on 25% “expenses” increases for councillors as the greedy graspers in Dudley have just done, perhaps more people would pay up.
I’ve always paid my tax on time by direct debit but the greed of Dudleys councillors defies me. ‘ve now cancelled my direct debit and they will have to chase me for evry single peyment, which I’ll pay at the last minute. In addition don’t forget you can bombard your council with freedom of info requests, though Dudley seems reluctant to give much info out.
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I can understand people feeling fed up of paying more council tax, after the greedy grasping councillors at Dudley voted themseleves a 25% increase whilst cutting budgets elsewhere. I’ve stopped my direct debit in protest. I know I’ll have to pay up but its no longer going to be giving over easy, they’ll get my money at the last minute.
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Vicky (no.4) You will be able to watch all the Jeremy Kyle you like for free from your prison cell while your kids will be well fed in care. Grow up, get some responsibility and pay your dues like everyone else has to.
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no. 20 – In prison for what you moron? For not paying a tax that no law says I must pay? You need to wise up and read up on the law. Everybody else does not have to pay, nobody forces you to pay.
no. 17 – You need to find out the difference between legal and lawful.
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Penfold and Anonnynonny are obviously the same idiot. Sounds like he is a closet Jeremy Kyle fan, please stop advertising your garbage on here and stop ranting on with your nonsense
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Vicky (no4/20) – I trust that because you’re not paying your council tax or TV licence that you’ll have switched your TV off and stopped putting your rubbish out. I very much doubt it though, you scrounger!
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Anonnynonny so you believe people should be thrown in jail and have their children put into care for not being able to afford to pay council tax? You sound much like one of Jeremy Kyle’s guests.
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No 23 Actually I am comment 4 and 21, not 4 and 20. I have not watched tv for years not that it is any of your concern. Maybe if you switch off your tv and realise there is so much more to life you would not come across as such an imbecile.
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Jeremy Kyle for PrimeMinister!
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Vicky – aside from all the daft comments I think you might want to check your facts, the CAB informed me that people do go to jail specifically for not paying council tax – one of us has had wrong information, I hope you were told this by a lawyer or someone in the know
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Vicky – The CAB told me that council tax is one of the few unpaid bills that can lead directly to prison. I may have been given bad advice but I’d suggest you at least check your source!
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Mike the fact you needed to ask the CAB in the first place suggests you don’t know much about the law and your rights.
Can you please tell me under what law I must pay council tax? Maybe the CAB can tell you?
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Vicky comment 4. So you can’t afford a TV license or council tax but you can afford a connection to the internet to leave comments on websites?
Or on top of not paying your tax of which you ARE legally required to do, you’re either using your works connection for personal usage and sponging off your boss or in a library that the rest of us are paying through our council tax to support?
Pathetic.
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Firstly I think you all need to carm down!!! For the record the council tax (Admin & Enforcement)SI 1992/613 reg 47/48 outlines committal for non payment for a period up to 90 days per L/O, so yes you can go to jail!!! for all you jobless joes get a life. AND cancelling your DD whats the point, your heading for a summons with further costs.
so stop moaning and pay!!!!!!!
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You can’t go to prison for being unable to pay council tax, but you can go to prison for refusing to pay council tax.
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No. 30 – LOL, your comments are nothing but gibberish waffling on about rubbish.
My advice to you would be to find out the difference between legal and lawful.
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Vicky – i think you’ll find that The Local Government Finance Act 1992 is the Law that pertains to the payment of Council Tax. Brought in by Parliament/MPs to replace Poll Tax. Do your children go to school? What do you think pays for their’free’ education? Council Tax. And your local swimming pool, the licencing of your local pub/take away etc. Nothing in life is for free. No one likes to pay Council Tax, but if it wasnt there then how much do you think you would have to pay for the priviledge of your children getting an education?
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Marie I think if you study the law you will discover that an ACT is not law. Why do you think it is called an ACT? It is nothing more than legislation, a statute. We live in a common law jurisdiction and no civil law statute applies in a common law jurisdiction without your consent.
A statute is not law but can only carry the force of law with your consent.
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As you seem to know everything and choose not to pay your council tax I guess you don’t create rubbish, your children don’t watch t.v or go to the park, use the road, libraries etc etc etc. the list could go on…
My council tax bill is expensive but I pay it unlike people like you who think they are always right and scrounge off everyone else.
If you can’t afford to pay basic bills maybe you should try disconnection from the internet for starters as was already mentioned.
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Walsall is not a soft touch – I paid late and they passed on my debt to Bristow & Sutor straight away, who are the most evil bunch of bailiffs I’ve ever had to deal with.
It annoys me that they get so stroppy when you don’t pay on time, since everyone who provides services to the council has to wait ages to get paid. I know people who invoiced them a year ago who still have not been paid. WMBC will send a whole load of small companies and freelancers bankrupt, and then have the nerve to whine about them not paying their council tax. Grr…
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LOL, no. 36 you pay your council tax because you believe you have to, you don’t know your rights or the law. You just follow the sheeple, everyone else is doing it so I have to aswell attitude, it is people like you that deserve to be ripped off at every turn. You are a slave to the Government, lol.
By the way I got a 14 thousand pound student loan discharged last year because believe it or not, we are entitled to a free education.
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38. I’m confused you got free education we have to pay for it, you keep banging on about this is free and that is free, where do you think the money comes from….
Amazing spending 14 grand of our money, refuse to pay council tax, this is why the country is in such a bad state… I’ll give you my bank details if you want, take it straight out of my account…
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Confused and angry because you are a slave to the government whether you are aware of it or not. I chose the road to freedom.
The country is in such a bad state because of idiots like yourself.
I will end it here as it’s been like debating with a one eyed half-wit.
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Idiots like me who have worked full time since leaving school as well studying at college and university where my employer paid the fees, not a government loan…
Unlike you little Vicky Pollards, I have been brought up to work hard and not expect handouts. I have the great satisfaction of not worrying whenever the phone goes or when I receive a letter because I couldn’t be bother to pay a bill…
I for one do not agree with the service I get from my local government, but I pay it because I do not want to go to prison…
I’m sure you will get away without because you will cry in courts that your kids will have nowhere to live and you promise to pay it when reality sinks in.
Please please if you want freedom hire a boat sail far far away, then you won’t have to pay your council tax and we won’t have to put up with a freeloader….
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Apologies for my rambling above, forgot to take my medication this morning.
Also I don’t work, I’m a benefits claimant, that’s why I spend so much time on here.
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Hi Vicky,
Why did you have a student loan? To get an education I suppose. What do people get an education? Oh yes, to get a JOB.
Idle freeloading parasitic scum like your good self are the reason this country is on it’s knees; if there is a loophole, you find it, if there is something for nothing, you will take it. If you don’t get it you start spouting your bleeding heart “I’m entitled to it” nonsense and before the honest hard working member of society can object to your selfish demands you will be off to the European Court Of Human Rights, cap in hand, bleating that your “rights” as the aforementioned idle freeloading parasitic scum have been violated.
Now off you pop sweetheart, bang out another few kids for us to educate on your behalf and relax, safe in the knowledge that your immoral and selfish lifestyle choice can be fuelled and maintained satisfactorily by the hardworking British taxpayer.
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Rolled Gold have you just quit smoking?
You sound very angry, hostile and cold, have you tried anger management or yoga?
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Rolled Gold
Quote
“What do people get an education?”
I think you meant “WHY do people get an education?”
Maybe if you were educated to a half decent level you would know the difference between why and what!
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Rolled Gold I think there is a difference between a loophole and claiming ones rights. You sound like a news of the World reader.
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I pay my taxes so everyone else must too. I don’t care if it is an act or law, we all have to pay our taxes, it’s what we are put on this Earth for.
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Vicky you should get a job as a solicitor or a lawyer, sounds like you have a great knowledge of the law. I think I understand where you’re coming from and respect you for your opinion and beliefs. If only more of society was like you maybe the Government wouldn’t be screwing us over.
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Seems some people believe they are robots and know nothing of life besides work. Work and pay tax or we’ll be thrown in jail. Great way to live life folks.
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Hey some great points Rolled Gold, maybe me and you should join forces and start our own political party? Work or die, pay tax or watch your backs! We will be the party for hardworking british taxpayers.
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Bander: It’s called a “typo” – easy to do when typing quickly. For your information I hold a 1st class honours degree in English (self funded).
Fallon: No I’m not a News of The World reader. I just object to scroungers and freeloaders. I take it you too are one of the “tax dodgers” who are responsible for decent folk having to cough up extra money to compensate for your selfishness.
Seems like I have touched a nerve with the rabble who are nothing but a burden to this once great nation. Enjoy your giro.
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Live to work!
Work to live!
Pay to live!
We are the lemmings.
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Angry Vicky I’m with you all the way, when do we start the party?
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No Rolled Gold, you are incorrect. It’s called an idiot not a typo.
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Easy to claim it’s a typo after I pointed it out. If you honestly have an English degree that just confirms any dummy can get one in this day and age.
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Sounds like some people have become institutionalised spending most of their existence on this planet at work. It’m all they know so to speak.
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Well done to those making a stand against this tax. That is the problem with society, people just agree to go along with whatever they are told. We need more people like the ones who have the balls to stand up and fight these criminal taxes. Surely it’s time to say enough is enough.
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