Council tax - Cutbacks concern
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If your council has a spending deficit, it will need to look at finding revenue from other sources or by reducing its spending. If it is cutting back on spending and you are concerned, you should raise the concern in writing with the council.
The government has encouraged councils to reduce or freeze council tax bills to try to help its citizens. However, you are still required to pay your council tax bill. If you are not satisfied, you cannot send your case to the Local Government Ombudsman: it will only deal with matters relating to your own council tax bill, and not about issues that affect most people living in the council area (for example, the level of council tax set).
You should know
Council tax is a system of local taxation collected by local authorities. It is a tax on domestic property. Some property is exempt from council tax. Some people do not have to pay council tax and some people get a discount. Council tax banding All homes in the UK have a council tax banding that is determined by the Valuation Office. The bands are based on the value of the property in April 1991. For Wales, the value is based on prices in April 2003. The bands are: A Up to £40,000 B Over £40,000 and up to £52,000 C Over £52,000 and up to £68,000 D Over £68,000 and up to £88,000 E Over £88,000 and up to £120,000 F Over £120,000 and up to £160,000 G Over £160,000 and up to £320,000 H Over £320,000 When do you pay council tax? You’ll usually have to pay Council Tax if you’re 18 or over and own or rent a home. A full council tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a home. Spouses and partners who live together are jointly responsible for paying the bill. You’ll get 25% off your bill if you count as an adult for council tax and either live on your own or no-one else in your home counts as an adult Council tax discounts You’ll usually get a 50% discount if no-one living in your home, including you, counts as an adult. Full-time students You won’t have to pay any council tax if everyone in your home, including you, is a full-time student. Who doesn’t count as an adult? These people are not counted as adults for council tax purposes: Homes exempt from council tax Properties which may be exempt include: Second homes and empty properties You may be able to get a discount if you have a second home or an empty property - it's up to your council to decide. Councils can charge extra council tax for empty properties. Second homes You may pay less council tax for a property you own or rent that’s not your main home. Councils can give furnished second homes or holiday homes a discount of up to 50%. Contact your council to find out if you can get a discount - it’s up to them how much you can get. Empty properties You’ll usually have to pay council tax on an empty home, but your council can decide to give you a discount - the amount is up to them. You’ll need to contact your council to ask about a discount. Your council can charge up to 50% extra council tax if your home has been empty for two years or more (unless it’s an annexe or you’re in the armed forces). If you’re selling an empty property on behalf of an owner who’s died, you won’t have to pay council tax for up to six months from the day you get probate (the right to deal with the estate). Some homes don’t get a council tax bill for as long as they stay empty. They include homes: You might get a discount if your home is undergoing major repair work or structural changes, for example if your walls are being rebuilt. If your property’s been refurbished Your council will tell you when you have to start paying council tax if you’ve been carrying out major home improvements on an empty property or building a new property; you’ll receive a ‘completion notice’ that tells you the date you must start paying. If your property’s derelict Your property is only considered derelict if it: You can apply to get a derelict property removed from the council tax valuation list. Follow the process for making a formal challenge to the Valuation Office. Appealing your council tax bill You should tell your council immediately if you think that your council tax bill is wrong, for example if you think: You can’t appeal just because you think your council tax bill is too expensive. How to appeal Write to your council, saying why you believe that your bill is wrong. The council might either decide that the bill: If the council decides that your bill is incorrect, you must continue to pay the amounts listed in your original bill until the new one arrives. The council has two months to reply. If you are not satisfied you can make a council tax appeal. Council Tax Appeals All houses in England and Wales are allocated a council tax banding. This is based on the value of the property in April 1991; for Wales the value is based on prices in April 2003. If you feel that the valuation of your property is incorrect, you must carry on paying your council tax bill but in the meantime ask the Valuation Office to check the banding. If the issue is still not resolved, you can make a formal challenge of the Valuation Office. Reasons for changes to your property’s valuation Your property might be revalued and put in a different band if certain circumstances have occurred. These could include if: How long it will take A valuation appeal will take up to four months to be recalculated. If it is, the council will be informed so that your bills can be updated. If you disagree with the revaluation In England, if you make a formal challenge and disagree with the Valuation Office’s decision, you can appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal. You must appeal within three months of getting the Valuation Office’s decision. The tribunal is free and can make the Valuation Office re-examine your challenge. In Wales, if you and the Valuation Office can’t agree, your challenge will be heard by a local Valuation Tribunal. If the tribunal agrees with you, the Valuation Office will change your band and the council will update your bill.
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