Council Taxpayer Guilty Of Fraud

A council taxpayer who fraudulently claimed a single person discount has been sentenced to 250 hours of unpaid work. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kyle Charles, 55 of South Clive Street, Grangetown, dishonestly failed to disclose information to the Council whilst claiming Council Tax Single Person Discount and as a result, defrauded the authority out of £2,882.94. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Charles pleaded guilty to five offences contrary to sections 1 and 3 of the Fraud Act 2006 at Cardiff Magistrates Court and was sentenced to 250 hours unpaid work within 12 months, and ordered to pay £220 costs and a victim surcharge of £60. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Charles successfully applied for Council Tax Single Person discount of 25 per cent in 1998 on the basis that he was the only person over 18 living at his property. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Throughout his claim, he completed declarations on a number of occasions stating that he was the only resident over 18 in the property, that the information he provided was correct and that he understood he must report changes which could affect entitlement to the discount. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Council was advised that another adult was living with Mr Charles at his address and the Internal Audit Investigation team secured evidence to prove he had failed to disclose his marriage in August 2000, and that his wife had been living with him ever since. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As a result, Mr Charles’s Single Person Discount was cancelled and he has now repaid the £2,882.94 owed. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cabinet Member for Corporate Services and Performance, Cllr Graham Hinchey, said: “Council tax fraud does have serious consequences and this prosecution sends a strong message to anyone thinking that they can abuse the system that the council will take action and get results. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s essential that council taxpayers let us know if their circumstances change, as failure to do so may, as in this case, end in prosecution. We encourage anyone who thinks they know of a person who is committing council tax fraud to get in touch so our team can investigate.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

To report suspected council tax fraud email fraud@cardiff.gov.uk ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​