We'll guide you through the origins of the Council Tax system. This will help you understand how this rushed implemented system lead to many properties being misvalued.
Whether you rent or own your home in England, Scotland or Wales, you need to pay Council Tax based on the estimated value of the property you live in. Since 1993, owners and renters alike have been forced to pay for their local services in this way.
The idea behind the tax is simple: the more expensive your home is, the more Council Tax you pay. Unfortunately, the execution of the tax isn’t always successful. This is because a lot of homes are valued using incomplete or obsolete information. As a result, they end up in the wrong band — and the individual is forced to pay more than they should.
Before you can apply to the Value Office Agency (VOA) for a Council Tax reduction and rebate, you need to know the property band that applies to your home. These bands were assigned in 1991 for England and Scotland, and 2003 for Wales.
Check your latest Council Tax demand to see which band the VOA has placed your home in. If you believe you’re in the wrong band — and paying too much tax — you can appeal. But you’ll need to provide evidence. Click the link below to see if you’re paying too much Council Tax. If you are, you can appeal for a reduction and a rebate with our detailed evidence report.
If you’re the owner or leaseholder, you’re legally liable for Council Tax. The estimated value of your property determines which band your property is placed in. And that dictates how much you pay every year.
But there are exceptions. Not everyone has to pay their entire Council Tax bill. And some people don’t have to pay anything.
For example, you’ll get a 25% discount if you live on your own or alone with a child. You might be entitled to a 50% discount if there are no adults living in your property. And if everyone in the home is a student, there’s no Council Tax to pay.
The rollout of Council Tax back in 1993 was, at best, chaotic. The entire banding system was put together hurriedly by the UK Government because of the spectacular failure of the Community Tax — commonly referred to as the Poll Tax at the time.
As a result of this chaotic approach, many properties were misvalued and placed in the wrong band. If you believe your property falls into this category, you might be owed thousands of pounds. The only way to secure a Council Tax reband and recoup the money you’re owed is with a successful appeal to the VOA — backed up with a detailed evidence report from YourShed.