Majority of households face maximum council tax | U.Okay.Finance News
Council tax payments elevated throughout England, Scotland and Wales on April 1, with households going through hikes of up to 9.99%. Councils are at present going through “severe funding shortages” and hovering price and demand pressures on native companies, resulting in a majority choosing a maximum rise.Nearly 9 in 10 (88%) of 153 upper-tier authorities in England will impose a 4.99% increase, the maximum quantity allowed, with out triggering a referendum, for these with accountability for social care. However, some councils, corresponding to Windsor & Maidenhead and Bradford, will see hikes of up to eight.99% and 9.99%. In Wales, council tax is set to increase by 4.5% to 9.5%; in Scotland, the rise will probably be at the least 8%.What is council tax?Council tax is levied on all properties in Great Britain (England, Scotland, and Wales), and it’s set by native authorities to pay for companies.This consists of issues like colleges, roads, libraries, assist for weak youngsters and adults, garbage collections, in addition to the police, fire companies, and different native companies.How a lot a family pays in council tax relies on what band their property is. Bands are decided based mostly on the worth of a particular person’s home, and these bands vary from A to H by the Valuation Office Agency.Today’s banding is controversially based mostly on the worth of a particular person’s home on April 1, 1991.
You can test how a lot your council tax will increase from April 1 utilizing our calculator.How to avoid wasting money on council taxCertain people might qualify for reductions or exemptions based mostly on their circumstances. A single-person low cost of 25% on the invoice applies if just one grownup lives within the property.If a family has more than one resident, however all besides one are disregarded, they might additionally obtain a 25% low cost. A 50% low cost applies if all residents are categorised as disregarded.According to GOV.UK, people are disregarded if they’re:
If the property has been tailored for somebody with a bodily incapacity, the council tax invoice may additionally be lowered. Additionally, people on low incomes or particular advantages may qualify for additional help by way of the Council Tax Reduction scheme.This scheme, run by particular person councils, can offer reductions starting from a small proportion to overlaying the total price of the invoice, relying on components corresponding to income, financial savings, and family composition. The full checklist of eligibility standards might be discovered right here, and people can use the Government’s online instrument to use.
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