I’m not a fan of getting post. No one sends me a nice letter and, even on my birthday, I don’t get that many cards, and the ones I do get are hand-delivered. The postman/woman obviously doesn’t like me very much as all they deliver are bills – constantly asking for more money here and more money there.
Then, in the last week, like millions of people up and down the country, my council tax bill for the year landed on my doormat.
Wages haven’t gone up but our statement shows an increase in our charges from last year.
This could start to cause mild panic as you try to work out how to cut back on the current, already stretched, budget. However, before you start trying to cut back on other expenditures, there may be a few things that you could do to pay less on your council tax bill.
Pay Less Council Tax
Getting a discount
Council tax is calculated based on two adults living in a home so if you live on your own you get 25% off.
If you live with other people who aren’t classed as “adults” you’ll also get a discount. For instance, if you live with children or students. Contact your local council for full details and to see if you can get the discount.
If no one in the house if an “adult” – so you’re all full-time students, for instance, you can get a 100% discount.
If someone living in the house is disabled, and the house has been adapted to meet their needs, you are also able to claim for a discount and pay less council tax.
No one home
If you have a second home or have a house empty as it needs repair or is empty, your council may give you a discount of up to 50%.
However, each council makes its own rules and some councils have taken it the other way. Birmingham City Council obviously wants as many homes to not be empty, thus trying to reduce homelessness and the need for housing. So, they now charge 150% council tax for empty properties, property that needs repair or second homes.
Having a reduction
If you’re on a low income or are claiming certain benefits, you may be eligible to pay less council tax and claim for a reduction, sometimes, up to 100%. Whether you are unemployed or working and whether you own your own home or rent, you still may be eligible.
The way calculations are done vary from council to council so it’s best to contact them directly.
Split the payments
As standard, you’ll be given your bill showing the payments split into 10 instalments but that doesn’t mean you need to pay it over 10 months.
You can ask to split the payments over 12 months so the amount is a bit lower.
This may help you spend out a little less each month and be able to budget the same each month but, if you could stretch to pay over 10 months, you have 2 months payment free. Just imagine what you could do with the cash?
Paying the right amount
Council tax calculations are based on property prices in April 1991 and are split into bands. Band A is the lowest and it goes up to Band H.
Valuation Office Agency (VOA) are the ones who make the decisions on where your property (both whether you rent or own your home) sits in the banding.
You can check with the VOA where your home and others around you sit in the valuation list
It may be that everyone else in the road is a band C but your property sits in a band D. But is that right? Is your home bigger? Have you had an extension and the rest of the road hasn’t? If not, there may be a chance to get a reduction.
If you are totally sure that your property should be lower then you need to put the request in formally and ask them to check the banding.
However, if there may be a reason your home does sit in a higher banding or could sit in an even higher one. The VOA could move your home into a higher banding, meaning you will need to pay more so make sure you do the research first!
This is free to do and quite easy. There are companies who offer to do this for you but they take a cut of the amount that could be refunded to you. Be careful with scammers.
Don’t struggle alone
A problem shared and all that. If you are having trouble keeping up with the payments, you really need to speak to someone. First, contact your council and explain. I have done this and they have been polite and have worked a new payment plan.
Council tax is a priority debt and if you don’t pay, you could end up being taken to court and having bailiffs knocking at your door.
Please, please, don’t let it get that far. Why not contact someone like National Debtline who’ll be able to give you unbiased advice.
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The Council Tax scheme with these discounts sounds a bit more generous than the Rates scheme in Northern Ireland. No single person discount here!
Oh really, I didn’t know that. Are the rates in Northern Ireland similar to the UK?
More great advice SD. Will definitely add this to my Financial Ed lessons for students going to Uni. http://www.libralearning.co.uk
Thanks Jackie, it’s surprising how many students don’t know this stuff. I’ve just had a good look at your site and I must say, I love what you’re doing.
I’m going to be writing a series on financial education for children in the not so distant future so watch out for that.
We pay over 12 months, I don’t like it when everyone says “there our free months” in Jan and Feb, there not they just squash it all in to 10 months instead of 12. Twelve months is easier to budget for so 12 it is!!
I agree. There shouldn’t be any stigma to paying over twelve months instead of ten. The same goes for car insurance although many insurances charge a premium if spread out compared to paying in one lump sum.
Call out from Canada again.
They do the same thing here in Canada so I opted out of the automatic withdrawal from the city. And pay it to them direct payment 12 months a year , mind you for this to work you have to have all your money in by October each year here. So I just up the payment each November by 5 dollars and start again. So I can budget for 12 months a year.
Also am idea for you.
When you eat oranges wash and jest it before you peel it. Leave the zest on a plate to dry, it takes a day. Use in your baking for sweets and breads save the 6 dollars a pound. Works on lemons too.
Folk in receipt of benefits now have to pay 25% of their council tax whereas they never used to. Consequently, families have to be thriftier than ever. Times are hard and people need the realistic message to watch every penny
Here in Scotland I pay weekly as that’s how I get played you can ask your council if this is possible. I know you are paying the same but does not feel as bad in smaller payments.
Hi Liz, that’s a great idea. I suppose its a psychological thing in that you know you’re paying the same amount but, split into smaller amounts makes it seem easier to deal with.
in Australia we don’t pay council tax. I think the UK should do likewise.
An old article but still holds true – for all council tax has been around for years too many still don’t understand what they can claim regarding a discount or an exemption. I’m forever telling people what they can claim and aren’t getting.
I’d also echo the advice regarding court summons, I’ve dealt with too many people at court over the years who could have avoided the situation.