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Avoid misinformation about Council Tax

Part of: Non-payment of Council Tax

Contents

There is much information on social media and the internet about not needing to pay Council Tax.

This information comes from unofficial sources. It is often misleading and incorrect.

Following unofficial advice may cause additional costs to be added to your Council Tax debt. It may even lead to your imprisonment. Find out more about non-payment of Council Tax.

If you find it hard to pay your Council Tax bill, contact us straight away. Do not wait to receive a reminder letter or a summons.

Find out how to contact us about Council Tax.

Accurate independent advice

You can get independent free advice about what to do if you are unable to pay your Council Tax. Visit these websites using the links below:

The laws of Council Tax

We are legally obliged to demand and collect Council Tax. Those who are liable to pay it must do so.

For details of the legislation that compels us to levy and collect Council Tax, visit the Legislation.gov.uk website using the links below:

Examples of misinformation about Council Tax

Here are some examples of misinformation being used to challenge the need to pay Council Tax.

We will not respond to Freedom of Information Requests raising any of the issues listed here.

Freemen of the Land

The Freedom of the Land movement (and other groups opposed to paying Council Tax) contend that they are not required to pay as they do not recognise statute law. 

These arguments have been determined to be unacceptable by the courts, as set out in the case of Manchester City Council v Mark McKenzie.

Declaring yourself to be a ‘Freeman of the Land’ does not exempt you from paying Council Tax. The liability of a person to pay Council Tax is determined by the legislation referred to above.

Individuals have claimed that they do not need to pay Council Tax because they did not give permission for us to hold or process their personal data.

We are entitled to hold and process the personal data of those required to pay Council Tax in order to discharge our statutory duty. 

For details, visit the Legislation.gov.uk website for Article 6.1(c) of the General Data Protection Regulations.

Find out more about how we deal with data protection.

Not-for-profit company

There have been claims that Trafford Council is registered with a Dun & Bradstreet D‑U‑N‑S Number and appears to be a not for profit company, and is therefore unable to demand Council Tax.

This is not the case. We are a council established by the Local Government Act 1972 - Legislation.gov.uk. We are not a company formed under the Companies Acts.

Contract to collect Council Tax

There have been claims that we are required to establish a contract with a person in order to collect Council Tax.

Council Tax is not a contract. It is a tax imposed upon persons who are liable to pay it under the authority of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 - Legislation.gov.uk.

Therefore, we do not have to demonstrate that:

  • any contract exists
  • there was relevant consideration
  • you were properly invoiced under such a contract