Are you paying too much Council Tax?

Council tax bills have increased yet again. But many households could be in the wrong band and paying too much!

Council tax bandings are based on property valuations made in 1991. If your property is incorrectly valued, like an estimated 5 per cent of households you could be in too high a band and paying more council tax than necessary. Bandings could also be out of date where properties have been converted into flats.

So in these challenging economic times, it's worth checking your council tax band and claiming any discounts you are entitled to.

Lower your tax band

There is a free “check and challenge” guide for lowering your council tax band at www.moneysavingexpert.com/council.

A key step is to find out if your band is higher than that of neighbours in similar properties. This can be confirmed online at no charge via the government’s Valuation Office Agency: www.voa.gov.uk.

You could also calculate what your property might have been worth in 1991 and see if that figure is lower than the values given for your band.

If these checks point to you being in too high a band, you could get a reduction by appealing to the VOA. Some households have succeeded in getting properties moved down by two bands, cutting bills by hundreds of pounds a year and reclaiming as much as £5,000 for past overpayments.

Get a discount

There are also a range of council tax discounts and exemptions available if you meet certain criteria. Visit www.direct.gov.uk for a guide.