Can you pay less on your Council Tax? 

Most of us don’t have any selection when paying Council Tax – however there are methods to be sure you aren’t paying an excessive amount of.

Together with every little thing else, my Council Tax invoice has gone up. For my council, it’s up by 6.4%, which works out as an additional £15 a month. That is the most important annual hike I’ve skilled, and it provides as much as £175 further over the yr.

Although I’ll be capable to afford it, I do know not everybody will – and a few may need seen bigger will increase. Many councils have voted to extend by the utmost 4.99% that’s allowed, and few others have been pressured by monetary points to set off referendums for even bigger hikes.

So I assumed it was a very good alternative to share with you methods you would possibly be capable to pay much less, or a minimum of 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 every year by your native council. It varies everywhere in the nation. 

A few of the cash can even go in direction of funding social care in addition to police and fireplace providers in your space.

There are eight ‘bands’ of council tax, all primarily based upon the approximate worth of the property in 1991. A is the bottom, H the best.

You will get cashback from Santander 

There are two present accounts you possibly can open which assist 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 power, 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 possibly can learn my comparison of the four accounts to see which I feel is greatest.

There are reductions… in case you’re eligible

To be honest,  most of you gained’t be capable to minimize the month-to-month price except you match considered one of these exceptions:

• Residing alone? Wherein case you’re in a position to get a 25% low cost on the speed. In the event you’re the one grownup however have kids underneath 18 or not in training, you then qualify for the low cost too as a sole grownup
• College students pay nothing in the event that they’re in full-time training
• In case you are unemployed or meet different circumstances, it’s attainable to say Council Tax Discount funds, which could possibly be as a lot as 100%
• Received a second house? You would possibly be capable to get a reduction too. It’s as much as the native council, but when it’s furnished it’s attainable to stand up to 50%. If it’s empty for 2 years or extra, they will cost extra
• If somebody has handed away, there is no such thing as a cost for six months
• Disabled individuals who want an even bigger home to accommodate house for wheelchairs or further bogs can get their band decreased 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 dwell alone or with others who don’t pay, 50% in case you dwell with a carer solely, and 25% in case you dwell with simply one other grownup
• Stay in carers can get a 25% to 50% low cost in the event that they meet the circumstances

You possibly can learn the complete standards for all of those on the government’s Council Tax website.

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You possibly can examine to see in case you’re paying an excessive amount of

Use this government site (or this one in Scotland) to see what band homes round you might be in. If it appears to be like like homes round you might be much less, it is perhaps price interesting. The StreetCheck website is nice to search out out neighbouring postcodes.

You too can see what neighbouring homes are valued at, to assist get a way of whether or not yours is price kind of. Zoopla is nice for this. You’ll ideally wish to see valuations from 1991 as adjustments may have taken place since then.

If each look good, you possibly can try to appeal. If profitable you’ll not solely get a reduction going ahead, but additionally backdated funds.

Bear in mind although that the council may 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 be capable to get it modified to a decrease band.

You possibly can pay Council Tax over 12 months in case you’d want

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 just a little breather after Christmas to repay further bills.

I select to unfold the associated fee over 12 months as a substitute of 10, so I do know precisely what I’m paying every month. It’s good to ask your council to vary this if you wish to do the identical.