MILLIONS of households are facing potential council tax bill hikes this year and some could end up paying an additional £104 a year.
Households in six council areas across the UK may be forced to pay more in council tax from as early as this April.
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Last year three councils issued 114 notices which essentially informs the Government they cannot achieve a balanced budget and may need to hike taxes, such as council tax, to make up for any shortfalls.
Already this year several councils have announced they are struggling with huge gaps in budgets that must be filled.
It looks like many councils will be pushing that burden onto their residents with some announcing plans to increase council tax as soon as April this year.
Teignbridge, Devon
In the district of Teignbrige, Devon Households may be expected to pay an additional 11 pence a week more in council tax, according to the BBC.
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A final decision on the potential rise will be made in March and residents are encouraged to share comments on a budget survey which is listed on the council website.
Suffolk County Council
In Suffolk, Suffolk County Council is proposing a council tax rise of 4.99% as well as additional cuts totalling an estimated £65million.
The rise would see an average household in Band D pay an additional £75 a year.
A final decision on the entire council’s budget will be made next week January 11.
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Dorset Council
In Dorset, the local council is proposing a rise in council tax of 5% local media reports.
The county already has one of the highest council tax rates in the country.
It means households with properties in Band D will be paying over £2,000 a year for the first time.
Buckinghamshire Council
Buckinghamshire Council has proposed a council take a rise of 4.99%, the move would see households with properties in Band D paying an additional £1.69 per week.
Local media reports full proposals for the council’s 2024/2025 budget will be presented to the council’s scrutiny committee next week.
Southend City Council
Southend City Council will also require its residents to pay more in council tax.
With a proposed council tax rise of 4.99%, the average Band D household will have to cough up an extra £80 a year.
A public consultation has been launched to analyse all proposals for the council’s 2024/2025 budget and results will be presented to the council’s scrutiny committee next week.
Newport City Council
Newport City Council in Wales is considering a staggering 8.5% increase in council tax for its residents.
Claiming that it needs to fill a massive hole in its budget, the increase would see households paying an additional £1.50 to £2.01 every week.
Checking you are in the right band
Properties across the UK are put into a band from A to H, which informs how much you pay.
You can find what band you are in by checking with your local authority or on the postcode checker.
MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis has recently warned that 100,000 households in the UK are in the wrong band.
It’s worth using the council band checker tool to see what band properties along your street are in.
If they are in a lower band than you are, you could successfully make a challenge and get yours lowered.
You can challenge your band through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) in Scotland.
Martin reckons you could save between £100 to £400 if your property is in the wrong band and there’s a chance you could be backdated right up until the tax began in 1993.
How to save money on council tax
Several circumstances could make you exempt from paying council tax or mean you are entitled to a discount.
If you are permanently living in a care home or hospital, you won’t have to pay your council tax bill.
If you are a student you are exempt from paying council tax, if everyone in the property is a student no council tax needs to be paid.
If at least one person in the household is a student a discount may be applied.
Anyone with a “severe mental impairment” also doesn’t need to pay council tax this could be Dementia or Alzheimers.
Again if one person in a household has a qualifying condition a discount may be applied.
You will need to apply for any exemption through your local council.
You can find what council area you fall under by using the Government’s council locator tool.
Council tax discounts
You can get a 25% discount on your council tax if you are the only person living in a home.
The same discount will be applied if you are the only person living in the home who qualifies to pay council tax.
You should be able to find more detailed lists of who is classed as disregarded on your local council’s website.
Council tax reductions
You can get your bill slashed if you or someone in your home is classed as “substantially and permanently disabled” and one of the following applies:
- there’s a room in the property which is used to meet your needs (such as for dialysis or the storage of health equipment)
- there’s a second bathroom or kitchen designed to meet your needs
- there’s enough space in your home to allow wheelchair access
If the above criteria is met, your council tax bill is reduced to the next lowest band.
If you are already in band A, your bill is reduced by a sixth.
You will need to contact your local council to submit these circumstances.
In England and Wales, councils offer residents council tax reductions based on their own criteria, but you might be able to get a 100% discount depending on your circumstances.
In most cases, you’ll be offered a reduction if you’re on benefits such as Universal Credit or a low income.
Households in Scotland can get a reduction if they are on a lower income. You can find out more on the Scottish Government’s website.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
