HOUSEHOLDS can challenge their council tax bands and potentially save thousands of pounds.
New government figures show that 27% of people who tried to change their band between 2023 to 2024 were successful.
According to the VOA (Valuation Office Agency), 39,590 cases were resolved, down from 56,820 in 2022 to 2023.
The figures show that 10,530 saw a council tax reduction, while 25,930 were unchanged.
The total number of challenges made in 2023 to 2024 was 43,820, down from 51,300 the previous year.
This means that 27%, or almost one in three, were successful in getting their council tax band reduced. This is almost identical to 2022-23, when 28% were successful.
These households will now pay less and may be in line for a refund for what they’ve overpaid.
Properties across the UK are put into a band from A to H, and this informs how much council tax you pay.
Your home’s band is based on its rateable value – the more expensive the property, the higher the council tax band.
But the bands were created based on property values back in 1991, so many households may find that based on today’s prices, they should be in a different band.
In this instance, you can challenge your council tax band – it could mean you are moved to a lower band and therefore pay less.
You’ll also get a refund of council tax going back to the date you moved into the property.
But a word of warning to anyone considering this – there is also a risk that you could get moved up a band and have to pay more.
According to this year’s figures, a total of 30 challenges resulted in a tax band increase.
Depending on which band you are in, getting a reduction could potentially save you thousands.
But the amount of money you can save moving council tax brackets varies depending on where you live.
Martina Brannigan, 26, couldn’t believe how “quick and easy” it was to challenge her Council Tax band.
She went from band E to band D, which lowered her council tax bill from £197 a month to £162 a month.
She was also told she would get a refund for the three months she had overpaid since she moved in.
Plus, instead of taking this as a lump sum payment, she decided to have this taken off her future payments, reducing them to £137 a month for the remaining tax year.
Elsewhere, mum-of-one Melanie Garraway previously managed to save hundreds of pounds on her council tax bill by challenging her band.
How to save money on Council Tax
ONE of the biggest household bills you need to pay is Council Tax.
How much you pay will depend on the value of your home, but Senior Consumer Reporter Olivia Marshall explains how you can save.
Check for discounts
Not everyone pays council tax. If you have someone who’s living with you and they don’t count, you could get 25% off your bill.
This includes full-time students, people on certain apprentice schemes, a live-in carer looking after someone else and student nurses.
If you live on your own you can claim a discount of 25%.
You’ll have to apply for the discount on your local authority’s website and can check eligibility at gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction
Help for disabled people
People with certain disabilities can get a discount of up to 100%. This applies to anyone considered severely mentally impaired (SMI) which includes conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s or learning difficulties resulting from a stroke.
If you’re living with someone affected by SMI then you could qualify for a discount too,
To be considered, a GP needs to certify the SMI and typically they will need to be receiving at least one type of benefit such as attendance allowance or personal independence payments.
Again, you can check your eligibility or a family member’s and apply on your local council’s website.
If you’re on a low income
If you’re on a low income or benefits, you might be able to claim a council tax reduction of up to 100%. This means you pay no council tax at all.
You can apply if you own your home or rent, and if you are unemployed or working.
But the rules vary between councils so you will need to contact yours to find out what you can get.
Claim a refund
Hundreds of thousands of households should check to see if they can get a council tax refund after making an overpayment.
Anyone who has moved out of one area to another is likely to be entitled to a refund if they paid their council tax bill upfront.
If you failed to close your council tax account and did not pay by direct debit, the local authority is not able to refund you any cash owed.
Check with your local council to see if you are due cash back and how to reclaim it.
How to challenge your Council Tax band
If, like Martina, you think your home is in the wrong council Tax band, then you’ll need to place a formal challenge.
Contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) in Scotland to do this.
Gather together evidence showing you’re paying more – this could be having addresses of similar properties to yours in a lower band, for example.
If the VOA agrees that your property is in the wrong band, it will contact you to let you know your band will be changed.
It can take up to two months for the VOA to review your case.
But be warned – challenging your band might not work.
While you could get moved to a lower band and pay less, there’s also the chance the VOA could find you’re not paying enough.
This could mean you’re moved to a higher band – and your neighbours’ too.
If you disagree with the VOA’s ruling, you can appeal your case – but only if you’ve been told that you can when you get the decision.
You must appeal within three months of your decision – to do this, get in touch with the Valuation Tribunal Service.
If the Valuation Tribunal agrees with you, it will get the VOA to change your band – and your bill will change.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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