Most of us haven’t any alternative when paying Council Tax – however there are methods to be sure you aren’t paying an excessive amount of.
Together with every part else, my Council Tax invoice has gone up. For my council, it’s up by 3.6%, which works out as an additional £96 a 12 months.
By itself, this £8 a month enhance isn’t too unhealthy. However this isn’t the one enhance in prices, and while you add all of them collectively, near £100 right here will make a distinction.
Although I’ll have the ability to afford it, I do know not everybody will – and a few might need seen bigger will increase. Many councils have voted to extend by the utmost 4.99% that’s allowed, and few others have been compelled by monetary points to set off referendums for even bigger hikes.
So I assumed it was a superb alternative to share with you methods you would possibly have the ability to pay much less, or not less than make the way you pay work higher for you.
What’s Council Tax?
Your Council Tax largely pays for native providers, so the quantity you pay is ready annually by your native council. It varies all around the nation.
A few of the cash will even go in the direction of funding social care in addition to police and hearth providers in your space.
There are eight ‘bands’ of council tax, all based mostly upon the approximate worth of the property in 1991. A is the bottom, H the best.
You may get cashback from Santander
There are two present accounts you’ll be able to open which allow you to save in your Council Tax invoice. Although these present accounts have charges, you usually make the cash again on cashback from payments, together with Council Tax so long as it’s paid by Direct Debit.
The Santander Edge and Edge Up present account will provide you with 1% cashback in your Council Tax. The cash is returned to your account together with cashback on different payments, reminiscent of vitality, broadband and water. Nevertheless you’ll pay a month-to-month payment.
If you have already got the Santander 123 or 123 Lite accounts (now closed to new clients), then that has a decrease month-to-month payment. You’ll be able to learn my comparability of the 4 accounts to see which I feel is greatest.
There are reductions… when you’re eligible
To be truthful, most of you received’t have the ability to minimize the month-to-month charge until you match certainly one of these exceptions:
- Residing alone? Wherein case you’re in a position to get a 25% low cost on the speed. For those who’re the one grownup however have kids beneath 18 or not in training, then you definitely qualify for the low cost too as a sole grownup
- College students pay nothing in the event that they’re in full-time training
- If you’re unemployed or meet different circumstances, it’s potential to assert Council Tax Discount funds, which may very well be as a lot as 100%
- Received a second dwelling? You would possibly have the ability to get a reduction too. It’s as much as the native council, but when it’s furnished it’s potential to rise up to 50%. If it’s empty for 2 years or extra, they will cost extra
- If somebody has handed away, there isn’t a cost for six months
- Disabled individuals who want an even bigger home to accommodate house for wheelchairs or additional loos can get their band lowered down a degree for instance they’d pay C charges on a D property
- Adults who’re medically classed as having a extreme psychological impairment will get 100% discounted in the event that they reside alone or with others who don’t pay, 50% when you reside with a carer solely, and 25% when you reside with simply one other grownup
- Reside in carers can get a 25% to 50% low cost in the event that they meet the circumstances
You’ll be able to learn the total standards for all of those on the federal government’s Council Tax web site.
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You’ll be able to examine to see when you’re paying an excessive amount of
Use this authorities web site (or this one in Scotland) to see what band homes round you might be in. If it appears like homes round you might be much less, it may be value interesting. The StreetCheck web site is sweet to search out out neighbouring postcodes.
You can even see what neighbouring homes are valued at, to assist get a way of whether or not yours is value roughly. Zoopla is sweet for this. You’ll ideally wish to see valuations from 1991 as adjustments might have taken place since then.
If each look good, you’ll be able to attempt to enchantment. If profitable you’ll not solely get a reduction going ahead, but additionally backdated funds.
Bear in mind although that the council might additionally select to lift your band – and the way a lot you pay (and for any neighbours who’re additionally then discovered to be underpaying).
I’ve taken a glance and many of the close by homes are all on the identical band, so it’s unlikely I’d have the ability to get it modified to a decrease band.
You’ll be able to pay Council Tax over 12 months when you’d desire
Most Council Tax payments are set to be repaid over 10 months, that means you don’t pay something in February and March. For some this break provides a bit of breather after Christmas to repay additional bills.
I select to unfold the fee over 12 months as an alternative of 10, so I do know precisely what I’m paying every month. You’ll want to ask your council to vary this if you wish to do the identical.
