What is council tax?
Council tax is an annual charge placed on a property in the United Kingdom. The money raised from this tax is used as a means of paying for local authority services and amenities. Council tax was introduced in the United Kingdom in 1993 under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and is designed to ensure that homeowners and tenants alike contribute towards the services they use in their area on a daily basis.
Using www.counciltax.info, you can calculate the rate of council tax you should be paying for your property depending on the band it is in, if you think you have paid more than you can opt for council tax reclaim. The value of your property will determine which band it comes under and there are 8 bands to choose from in England and 9 in Wales. The United Kingdom carries bands A-H while Wales has A-I. Council tax is not currently charged in Northern Ireland although they have their own system of rates.
Council tax is used to pay for amenities and services that you and other homeowners and tenants would use within your area. Here is a list of some of them.
- Schools
- Road maintenance
- Domestic refuge collection
- Street lighting
- Police and fire services
- Public transport subsidy
- Leisure centre facilities
There are other services depending on the local authority but the above are often the most commonly billed for. The council tax you pay monthly or annually is then split between the services that need it most in order to ensure their continued existence.
When it comes to paying your council tax, there may be exemptions or discounts that can be applied depending on your current status. For example, if you are a student or are unemployed you may be entitled to a reduction in your council tax for a period of time. Similarly, if you live alone you may be entitled to a 50% reduction in your rate of council tax.
www.counciltax.info can provide you with the information you need about council tax reclaim to understand which band your property is in and whether or not you are paying too much or not enough. We have a council tax refund calculator that will provide you with the information you need if you feel you are currently paying too much against your property then you can appeal for reclaiming council tax.
Using our online search facility, you can also establish the rate of council tax that is payable on a property you are proposing to buy. This is something many potential homeowners forget to take into consideration when buying a home, especially if it is their first home. Our search facility will allow you to search for and calculate the council tax due on a particular property anywhere in the UK right now.