Unpaid council tax moved abroad

[jojohansen]

Hello,

I have some outstanding council tax for 2018. I have been in contact with the tax officers for some time on email because I had some questions regarding my zero income and zero capital. It turns out students from outside EU is not applicable for student exemption. I had some problems paying this so I didnt pay for 5 months and now when I asked to get the bills sent to me on email they said that I might have some outstanding charges to be paid to Walker Love aswell.

I am a norwegian citizen and I moved back to Norway a couple months ago, I wonder what your advice would be. I would be prepared to pay the council tax, but Walker Love feels a bit unjustified.

Now I dont know how much it would be but in 5 months im afraid the initial £400 would be increased to £500/600++ by Walker Love.

Could a solution be to not pay, or would this hunt me for a long time?

Would really appreciate if anyone had any tips for how I should proceed.

Best regard Johansen.

[lgfa92]

Hello,

I have some outstanding council tax for 2018. I have been in contact with the tax officers for some time on email because I had some questions regarding my zero income and zero capital. It turns out students from outside EU is not applicable for student exemption. I had some problems paying this so I didnt pay for 5 months and now when I asked to get the bills sent to me on email they said that I might have some outstanding charges to be paid to Walker Love aswell.

I am a norwegian citizen and I moved back to Norway a couple months ago, I wonder what your advice would be. I would be prepared to pay the council tax, but Walker Love feels a bit unjustified.

Now I dont know how much it would be but in 5 months im afraid the initial £400 would be increased to £500/600++ by Walker Love.

Could a solution be to not pay, or would this hunt me for a long time?

Would really appreciate if anyone had any tips for how I should proceed.

Best regard Johansen.

As you mention Walker Love, is this in Scotland ?

[jojohansen]

Yes, correct. It is in Scotland, sorry

[lgfa92]

Yes, correct. It is in Scotland, sorry

In that case the council can pursue a summary warrant for up to 20 years.

The fee when a summary warrant is granted is 10% of the balance - this fee is set in legislation.

[jojohansen]

Thank you, thats relieving, 10% is not too bad.

Out of curiosity, anyone who knows what would happen if I went through a passport control in UK? Would it be notified when entering the country? Or would it most likely only be a problem when applying for a loan or visa.

[lgfa92]

It doesn't get noted for immigration control and doesn't get noted on credit records.

[jojohansen]

So in practice its only my moral obligation that forces me to pay, as I guess they cant proceed this case in norway.

Thanks for all your help.

[lgfa92]

So in practice its only my moral obligation that forces me to pay, as I guess they cant proceed this case in norway.

Thanks for all your help.

There are procedures for transferring some court cases abroad - it depends on the specific enforcement agreements but in well over a decade of working on council tax I've not heard of it ever being done. It would need a look at the finer points of legislation to check if it was possible or not under Scottish law but I can't see any council even trying anyway.