Solar Panels

[picker]

Do solar panels count as income when claiming Council tax.Without them I would have an expenditure.

[Mamyalynne]

Unless you are selling energy back to the National Grid I would say no.

[mrs_overall]

Hi. I wouldn't class solar panels as an income.
It is a poor comparison but the only one that springs to mind - if you were going to the shop to buy tea bags and have a 50p money off coupon, then that coupon represents a saving, not an income

[Baldric]

Depends, do you get an income from them?

[mrs_overall]

Ah, I never thought about selling energy back to the NG

[picker]

Yes I can get some income from selling back to grid.but I still feel that if I didnt have solar panels I would be worse off paying the full council tax.Does it count on income tax when filling in annual form.I bet nobody tells about their panels.

[bednobs]

I am really puzzled by your question. Council tax is not something you claim, it's something you pay

[Mamyalynne]

Well if we follow that logic - I have four storage heaters in my home but only ever use one , should I tell someone?

[Mamyalynne]

Bednobs, I am confused too , thought this was about CT Benefit.

[naomi24]

//I am really puzzled by your question. //

Me too.

[Dogsbody2]

The place to look, of course, is the legislation framework.

When it comes to income tax declaration (to HMRC) the answer appears to be that the GENERATION tariff for a normal domestic user, it is not income. But when it comes to the EXPORTING electricity tariff, this is income and should be declared. But I'll wager that few people realise this or do it.
The evidence for the above is buried deep in this document.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/bimmanual/bim40510.htm

This question appears to be about one's income in respect of some Council tax benefit. I would expect the 'rules' to be the same as HMRC's definition of solar power income.

[EDDIE51]

They only count as income if you generate so much power that you sell the surplus back to the National Grid and make a profit from it.
You can generate enough to be self sufficient so that you have no electricity bill to pay , you do not have declare that.