Taxpayers in Birmingham are being urged to ensure that their details are correct and up to date ahead of a periodical review of bills in the city.
Birmingham City Council has a duty to maintain accurate records for billing and collection of Council Tax and Business Rates (National Non-Domestic Rates – NNDR).
In order to meet this requirement the city periodically reviews all records including those where allowances, discounts and reliefs are granted.
These records may be checked by using information already held by the city and its partner organisations such as credit referencing agencies to identify cases where such allowances, discounts and reliefs no longer apply.
Across the city over £368million is due in Council Tax every year, with a further £380million due in Business Rates. As a whole this relates to bills for 44,066 non-domestic properties and 420,000 Council Tax (residential) properties.
Cllr Randal Brew, Cabinet Member for Finance at Birmingham City Council, said: “These checks are part of the council’s continuing measures to protect the public purse by preventing and detecting fraud and to ensure that allowances, discounts or relief are claimed correctly.
“Improperly claimed reductions place an unnecessary burden on other citizens.
“This should not be allowed to happen, and I am keen to ensure that public monies are spent where they are needed. This regular review process will help ensure that this is the case – and I would urge everyone to ensure the details we have for them are correct.”
Customers are advised they should immediately contact the council if there is a change that would affect their charges or if they are receiving a reduction which they feel may not be correct on 0121 303 1113 (Council Tax) or 0121 303 5510/5511 (business rates).
ENDS
For further information contact Kris Kowalewski on 0121 303 3621
Related posts:
