MARTIN Lewis has revealed a check that could see Brits receive a £3,200 council tax rebate – here’s how to claim.
The Money Saving Expert warned those living in England and Scotland they could be entitled to £1,000s in tax refunds.
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Council tax bands range from A to H and are based on the value of your property in 1991.
Band A homes are those which are sold for less than £40,000 in 1991, while those in H sold for more than £320,000.
But, Martin Lewis urged homeowners to re-value their properties as Brits discover they are paying more than they should.
In one case, a family were awarded an eye-watering £3,200 after challenging their band.
Helen explained she had originally been rejected, after questioning why her council tax was so steep.
“Then I discovered that the much larger house next door was in the same band,” she wrote to MSE.
“Eventually they agreed to reassess. We’re now £3,177 better off – hurrah.”
The pleased homeowner urged people “don’t accept the first rejection”.
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CHECK IF YOU’RE ELIGIBLE
The first step in reclaiming council tax is finding out whether you’re eligible.
New Government statistics revealed 28 per cent of people who tried to get a reduction to their band between 2022 to 2023 were successful.
Martin Lewis suggested several ways you can discover if you’re in the wrong category.
An easy way is to ask a neighbour what band their property falls into, but if this isn’t possible don’t worry.
You can find the information online, on Gov.uk if you live in England, or the Scottish Assessors’ Association if you reside in Scotland.
If you uncover many of your neighbours or residents in the area are in a lower band, you could have a claim.
But – before raising the issue to the council it is important to complete a Valuation Check.
VALUATION CHECK
If you discover other houses on your street are in a less-expensive tax bracket, it doesn’t mean yours will be lowered.
In one case, a resident contacted their council and they raised the value of every other house instead.
To prevent the same happening to you, make sure to value your house first.
This can be done on free house price websites such as Zoopla and Rightmove.
Or, locate the last sale of the property, or those similar to your neighbours and check both date and price.
With these figures, homeowners can compare it to what the value was in 1991 – when tax bands were created.
A manual checker can also be used, the Nationwide House Price Calculator.
CHALLENGE YOUR COUNCIL TAX BAND
If you are sure you have completed the Valuation Check, and believe the property sits in the wrong band, you can challenge it.
In England, this is done by contacting the Valuation Office Agency and explaining your case.
More information is available on the Gov.uk website.
Alternatively, if you’re living in Scotland, go to the Scottish Assessors’ Association.
Enter your postcode in the Council Tax Bands section on the homepage.
There is an option to “Make a proposal” which allows you to appeal your band.
Homeowners have three months to appeal the decision if their challenge is rejected.
But, if it is accepted, residents should get a backdated rebate from when they moved in.
This comes as Martin Lewis also revealed a saving account with an “eye-watering” interest rate and urged households to take action.
Plus the Money Saving Expert shared a warning to drivers to make an important move now – or pay more.
Meanwhile, adult earners discovered how to receive a pay rise worth £100,000s thanks to the MSE.
