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A crackdown on people in Hertsmere who fiddle their council tax bills by fraudulently claiming they live alone has been launched.
Currently around 13,000 people in the borough have their council tax bill reduced by 25 per cent because they are the only countable adult at the property.
But a proportion of the applications of Single Person Discounts (SPDs) are not genuine or the council has not been notified of a change in circumstances. Claiming a discount where there is no entitlement results in incorrect bills being issued and an underpayment of council tax.
The council will be undertaking an in-depth review from this month to root out those who are taking advantage of the system and underpaying their council tax bill.
Council tax is the main source of funding for the police, fire and rescue service, Hertfordshire County Council, the borough council and town and parish councils. It helps pay for vital services such as schools, housing, parks, waste management, and much, much more.
We, as the local authority responsible for collecting council tax, have to take into account exemptions and discounts when we work out the council tax charge per household each year.
As part of the review data from SPD claimants will be cross-matched with information from a credit rating bureau. If evidence is found of multiple occupancy then the resident will receive a letter warning them that the discount will be removed and that they will have to pay back the money they owe.
Tax cheats who do not respond or who refuse to comply could face prosecution in court.
In some cases, false claims have been made unintentionally and will work with residents who are genuinely unsure about their council tax obligations.
For more information about the single person's discount review, please visit our website: www.hertsmere.gov.uk/spdreview or to find out more about council tax visit: www.hertsmere.gov.uk/counciltax.
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