Council tax checks recoup £225,000 | Latest news

 

Arun District Council has ‘billed’ £225,000 which will now be collected from residents after carrying out checks on council tax payers claiming the single person discount.

Councils award a 25 per cent discount to those residents who live by themselves and currently, 24,000 people living in the Arun district claim the discount. Following checks being carried out, over 500 discounts were cancelled. 

The local authority worked with credit reference agency Experian to make these checks between August and November.

Arun District Council keeps £22,500 of the £225,000, whilst 80 per cent goes to West Sussex County Council and Sussex Police gets ten per cent.

Cllr Dudley Wensley, Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Corporate Governance, said: “I am delighted the Council has recovered such a large amount of money which can now be ploughed back into the local authority’s and Police services.

“The Council takes seriously its obligation to be responsible with tax payers’ money by ensuring discounts are claimed fairly.”

If you are struggling to pay your council tax you should contact the Council as there are a number of options available.

Measures such as applying for the council tax reduction scheme is just one of the ways that Arun assists those who are struggling to pay their council tax.

To contact a member of the council tax team phone 01903 737752 or email revenues.benefits@arun.gov.uk or visit our website  to find out more about council tax.