There is one Council Tax bill for each dwelling whether it is a
house, bungalow, flat, maisonette, mobile home or houseboat, and
whether it is owned or rented. The person liable to pay the charge
is normally the person who falls into the first category to apply
from the following list:
- Resident owners.
- Resident tenants.
- Residents who have a license to occupy.
- Other residents.
- The owner (this applies where the dwelling has no
residents).
The liable person will normally be whichever resident owns or
rents the dwelling. A resident is defined as a person who is 18
years or older and has their sole or main residence in the
dwelling.
In some cases the owner rather than the resident has to pay the
Council Tax. These are:
- Residential care homes & nursing homes.
- Dwellings of religious communities.
- Dwellings in multiple occupation.
- Dwellings occupied by domestic servants of an employer.
- Residences of Ministers of Religion.
In these cases the Council Tax bill will be sent direct to the
owner.
Where there are joint owners or tenants each of them will be
responsible for paying the bill. Also a spouse, civil
partner or partner of the liable person will be jointly liable
for the bill even if they are not the joint owner or tenant of the
dwelling. There are exceptions to this rule, students and people
who are severely mentally impaired cannot be held jointly liable.
There will be only one bill sent to each dwelling irrespective of
the number of liable persons.
If you disagree with our decision to make you the liable
person you should write to us explaining why you disagree
with our decision. We then have two months in which
to review our decision and contact you. If you still disagree
with our decision you can then
appeal to a Valuation Tribunal.
If you are moving
If you move home please let the us know about it. Your bill
can then be adjusted to reflect the charge due at your new
property. It is especially important to advise us if you move out
of the Council's area because you may be due a refund depending on
the amount you have already paid.
Contact us
You can contact us by telephone on 01394
444855 or email
council.tax@suffolkcoastal.gov.uk.
You can notify us if you move home or are new to the
district by completing our online form. If you are
hearing impaired and have a minicom device you can call us on
01394 444211.