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taxes asks...
I have received a summon from court as regards to council tax payment. I am in full time education and not supposed to pay and council people are still trying to settle the matter. I am supposed to appear in court next month but in the meantime I need to provide police certificate for a job. Will this summon thing appear on my police certificate?
Thanks
What we suggest...
Hi taxes, thanks for contacting q2a.
Receiving a court summons regarding non payment of council tax is a worrying and upsetting matter which requires an appropriate, prompt response. You have made clear in your email that you are in full time education and understand that you are exempt from paying council tax. We will address this issue along with your concerns about whether the summons will appear on any “police certificate” relating to the job you mention.
First of all it may be worth spending a little while clarifying who is exempt from paying Council Tax. Exemptions from Council Tax (including water and waste water charges) are available in the following circumstances:
Where a property is completely occupied by any of the following:
#· full-time students
#· persons under 18
#· a person with a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning (however caused) which appears to be permanent
# school/college leavers under 20
# members of visiting forces
If however the property is occupied by a mixture of students and people who are working, then the Council Tax bill stills needs to be paid. Does this situation apply to you? Are you sharing your accommodation with people who are working?
From the information you have given us in your enquiry it is unclear what accommodation you are currently living in, so it is impossible to say whether Council Tax needs to paid.
For more detail on the rules for council tax exemption check out;
www.direct.gov.uk/en/HomeAndCommunity/YourlocalcouncilandCouncilTax/CouncilTax/DG_10037422
Whatever your circumstances if you have doubts or queries about your exemption we recommend you contact your local Council Tax office and Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).
These are:
# Council Tax Office, East Herts Council, Wallfields, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8EQ. Tel 01279 655261 or emairevenues@eastherts.gov.uk
# CAB, Tooke House, 20 Bull Plain, Hertford, SG14 1DT. Tel 08448 489 700.
When you say 'police certificate' we assume you mean the document of that name which is often required when applying for a Visa for some foreign travel. This definition however doesn't seems to relate to your assertion that it is needed for a job. We wonder therefore if you mean a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check, which is carried out for most jobs that entail direct contact with the public and particularly vulnerable groups like children and young people.
A court summons will not show on a CRB check, however if you were prosecuted for non payment of Council Tax and received a conviction this would be revealed. However even in this worst case scenario, it doesn't necessarily disqualify you from a particular job as it is dependent on the nature of the work.For more information about CRB checks, have a look at www.crb.gov.uk
If we have misunderstood anything or you can clarify any detail so we can give more specific information and advice then please do email us again.
We hope this reply is helpful and informative, and you can get this matter resolved quickly.
Best wishes q2a.
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