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Tax cheats owe council £2m
10:52am Thursday 6th September 2007
Comments (14)COUNCIL tax dodgers in Southend have built up debts of more than £2million over the past three years, the Echo can reveal.
Some £1.1million of that is unpaid taxes for the current financial year, according to official figures.
Civic leaders have condemned non-payers, pointing out that their actions are depriving honest taxpayers of services which could be provided if they coughed up.
Council leader Nigel Holdcroft stressed if residents were having trouble paying their council tax, officials could help them pay by installments.
He said: "If somebody doesn't pay, then unfortunately, that will have a financial impact on people who do.
"That is why we are bullish in pursuing those people who are not paying as they should.
"I regret to say it's inevitable with such a large number of people, there will always be a few who try to get away with it.
"I don't think there is a local authority across the country which doesn't have the same problem.
"The money which isn't paid could be spent to benefit the whole community and that is why we have to be vigilant about ensuring it is paid."
In the financial year, 2004/05, the council collected 97 per cent of the amount due, leaving £1.6million outstanding from a total £52.3m.
By the end of July 2007, just £300,000 of the year's total was still due.
A year later, in 2005/06, 97.4 per cent of the total was collected during the year, leaving £1.4million outstanding from a maximum take of £54.9million.
By the end of July 2007, £0.6m was still due.
Patrick Nolan, head of revenue and benefits for the council, said tax-dodgers were actively pursued by officers and the worst offenders could even wind up in prison.
He added: "That has happened in Southend, but it was a long time ago.
"At any time, we are willing to talk to people who are having trouble paying.
"It becomes more of a problem if somebody just refuses to pay and doesn't tell us.
"If someone continually refuses to pay, then we can commit them to magistrates' court or even to prison."
Your Say YourEcho
Nick, Southend says...
12:44pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Its not good enough to let 2 million £ slide.
Mike, Southend says...
1:21pm Thu 6 Sep 07
knobby, billericay says...
2:17pm Thu 6 Sep 07
How many more pantomime councils get into this situation.
Still, not to worry, the rest of us will pay & most of the debtors will get off scott free.
Peter, Southend-on-Sea says...
2:20pm Thu 6 Sep 07
I (and i'm sure many others?)have on numerous occasions recieved threatening letters and notices demanding payments, even though my council tax is always paid on time and in full.
The reason for this (every time) is the transactions have either been lost or not processed correctly.
And i have to spend time and money proving my account is up to date and the balance is paid.
And they try to pass the blame on to us!
Also i'd like to point out that this is another ploy by the council to use these (in-accurate figures) in justification for another council tax increase without improving services for the borough.
evilc, essex says...
3:17pm Thu 6 Sep 07
them.
Then we should hang their quarters:
1. In the entrance to the Thames Estuary.
2.Warners Bridge for entrance from Rochford.
3.Hadleigh A/13 border.
Eastwood A/127 entrance from London
Terry, says...
3:26pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Doug wrote:They probably see the travellers getting away with it and think why should they pay.
Well, that's the settled community for you. Bunch of tax-dodging criminals, the lot of 'em. Sigh. :)
Doug, Wakering says...
3:41pm Thu 6 Sep 07
It's the law. Everyone has to pay. Even non Travellers.
Terry, says...
3:48pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Doug, Wakering says...
4:01pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Alan, Essex says...
5:53pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Terry wrote:Take no notice of Doug, no one else does,he twists everything to suit.
Who says the people who don't pay tax criticise the travellers? They must have the same morals as the travellers.
Doug, says...
10:28pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Doug wrote:Are you calling travellers hypocrites then?
Exactly, Terry. The word you're looking for is "hypocrite".
Paddy the Greek, Basildon says...
11:28pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Doug, Wakering says...
10:22am Fri 7 Sep 07
But you've missed the target yet again pal. I'm not a liberal, I don't have an armchair, and I'm not fighting for the travellers.
I'm waiting now for your follow-up post ranting against the English people who work while claiming dole, who cheat the housing system, who rob their neighbours' houses, who vandalise property, assault innocent people, and litter our once beautiful county. After all you wouldn't be focusing on just a thousand or so people out of millions, would you? Otherwise you might start to look obsessive.
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Doug, Wakering says...
12:27pm Thu 6 Sep 07
Sigh.
:)