Martin Lewis' Guide to Council Tax

Hundreds of thousands of homes across England and Scotland are thought to be in the wrong council tax band, but no political party is pledging to do anything about it. Martin Lewis explains how people can check and challenge their council tax band, and answers your questions.

Broadcast on 26/06/24

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[Aarrenrhonda]

Because so many people overpaid for homes during a period when interest rates were low, I believe there will be a housing crisis because these people are in debt. If housing prices continue to fall and, for whatever reason, they can no longer afford the house and it goes into foreclosure, they will have no equity because they will not make any money if they sell. I feel that many people will be affected by this, especially given the predicted mass layoffs and fast rising living costs.

[cyprusman]

You are taxed to death in the UK ! Our village Council tax is only €170 a YEAR and we get our bin emptied twice a week !

[mal]

Make it a true progressive tax, £500k house and a £10millon house and you’re paying the same council tax in most areas. In some London boroughs monthly council tax is less than up north?! The middle class are being ripped off and the rich who already use tax avoidance schemes are laughing

[daviniarobbins]

Actually if there are 2 adults in a home paying council tax that is effectually a 50% discount if you share the council tax bill. It is unfair on people who live alone.

[adams]

I am on a middle terrace flanked by 3 bedroom houses yet were in the same band...thanks to Martin received £1500 back and a lowered band.

[Antieverything-vpcb]

My advice to Martin would be, Cancel your direct debit and when the council write to you demanding payment, ASK FOR AN INVOICE.

[thebeneficiary]

All mp don’t pay council tax they claim expenses for it…the irony…

[johnchoice]

Council taxes are too high. They keep putting it up every year. How can anyone agree with this?

[ramsaymcewan]

there's no liability to pay council tax

[changaman]

Just stop paying it. You're under no legal obligation to even pay it anyway. I haven't paid it for years, i keep asking them for the contract I supposedly signed and my legal obligation to pay. They never reply, all they do is hire a room within the magistrates court and then send out a fake summons/liability order (liability orders ceased in 2003) then it gets passed to an enforcement agent, they cant do anything so then it goes back to the council. The amount of times i've even rang up the magistrates court to ask if i have a court summons in my name and they always tell me i don't have one. Its all a complete scam. More and more people are starting to wake up. Haven't paid water and utilities for years either. LOOSE THE FEAR!!!!

[garethhodgkinson]

What a massive com council tax is, outrageous to empty the bin once a week.

[ox]

I think my council tax is extortion. £278 a month for doing what.

[johnchoice]

Even IN the correct band, it's still TOO HIGH!

[markQ]

Illegal tax no obligation to pay it show me the contract never paid it never will same as my self assessment not paid that for 3yrs no Law to pay tax show me the Law to pat tax April Fools

[nikki-qmwz]

Do away with bands & just everyone pay £50 we pay enough tax 😮

[ElectricPharmacy]

stopped thinking about council tax 2 mins and 40 seconds in...thanks Susanna a lot of people have been waiting years for that lol

[kennethknight]

what about where you have a basic 1947 house but some neighbours have built extensons and built into the loft which makes their homes more expensive

[ianbarnes]

I have twice had a council tax band lowered, so it does work if you appeal, but... in Somerset you only have 6 months after moving in.

[travelwell]

They’ve had plenty of time to sort out the council tax bands. I don’t care which government happens to be in power, the local councils could reevaluate whole areas when people have challenged it.
The council offices are already overworked. It’s taken me 4 weeks to get a recalculation and after this they are going to be completely overrun.

[over-engineered]

I had a brand new 3 bed house re-banded from E to D in 1998, but they left all the other identical houses on the estate on band E, so I suspect all those houses are still paying too much!