Poll Tax

[seasider1953]

My mum hs been admitted to nursing home as she is terminally ill and her own property is now empty. Does she still have to pay her poll tax on her own property?

[mxyzptlk]

I believe you pay 25% on empty properties

[dzug2]

Poll tax was abolished years ago

There is no Council Tax on empty (ie unfurnished) properties for (I think) 6 months.

[joggerjayne]

6 months is correct.

[New Judge]

In fact there has never been a “Poll Tax” in the UK.

A Poll Tax is one which links payment (and sometimes prompt payment) with the right to vote. The Community Charge introduced by the Conservative government in 1990 and which replaced domestic rates made no such stipulation. The reason it attracted the name was because individuals who were asked to pay were identified, among many other methods, by their inclusion on the Electoral Register. In countries where a Poll Tax has been applied there has been an explicit link between payment of the tax and the right to vote. However, refusal to pay the Community Charge or becoming in arrears with its payment did not deny one the right to vote, so the nickname was a misnomer.

It was rapidly applied by factions opposed to its introduction because they wrongly (or perhaps conveniently) believed that the Electoral Register was the sole source of data for those obliged to pay. They were opposed to its introduction because, they said, its application did not take account of the ability to pay. This was despite the fact that adequate safeguards existed for those on low incomes or benefits.

Unlike, of course, the previous domestic rates system and the current Council Tax system which simply assumes that if you live in a large house you have loads of money.

[fredpuli47]

Not quite, NewJudge. The 'poll tax' in the United States was linked to the right to vote. Southern States used it to refuse negroes the vote.

In 1377, England had the first Poll Tax, so named. Others followed soon after, until the fourth Poll Tax led to the Peasants' Revolt. It was a tax calculated per head .It was not linked to any right to vote. Naturally, Mrs Thatcher's opponents preferred the name 'poll tax' for her tax per head because of the association with the Peasant's Revolt though, it must be said, what she named it was not very catchy. .

.

[R1Geezer]

There has been no poll tax since the 14th century, as the judge says, community charge ended in 1992. 50% Council tax is payable on an empty property after 6 months

[New Judge]

Yes, thanks for the reminder, fred.

[themas]

The OP is clearly referring to Council Tax. There are special provisions for people who go direct fromn their home into a care home. If no-one else lives in the property it becomes exempt from Council Tax so long as the person is in the home. If/when she dies, there is a further exemption.

Talk to the Council about it.

[mike11111]

Poll tax was never linked to the right to vote in England. Its name derives from "poll" meaning head, in other words a tax on the person, rather than his wealth or property. Don't think many peasants had the vote in 1381!

[anneasquith]

sorry to hear about your mum.