Speaking on the latest episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV, the MoneySavingExpert.com founder discussed how to challenge your council tax band
Martin Lewis has explained how thousands of people may be able to lower their council tax bill – after one viewer won back almost £6,000.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV, the MoneySavingExpert.com founder discussed how to challenge your council tax band.
Up to 400,000 people in England and Scotland are estimated to be in the wrong council tax band – if this is you, you may be able to get your bill lowered, as well as a backdated payment for money that you’ve overpaid.
But you need to do your research first – if it turns out that your neighbours are in too low of a band, you could end up putting up council tax for your entire street.
Martin explained there are two checks, and the first is to see what council tax band your neighbours are on. If you’re not on friendly terms, then the good news is, you don’t need to ask them, as you can find out this information online.
He said: “Compare your band with neighbours in similar or identical homes. You don’t have to ask them. In England and Wales you can go to GOV.UK, in Scotland you go to SAA.GOV.UK.
“If your house is in a higher band than people in identical homes, you may be in too high of a band. Equally, they may be in too low a band, which is what the second check helps you realise.”
The second check is the valuation check. Martin explained that council tax bands are based on property values in 1991, so you need to find out what your property was worth back then.
He said: “Sounds complicated, but there are free online tools that will do this for you. Only consider challenging if you pass both of the checks, because otherwise, you could ask, they could put your neighbour’s band up, and they won’t like you very much.”
MoneySavingExpert has a free calculator tool to help you work out your 1991 value, as well as a table on what band you should have been put in.
Once you’ve done these checks, if you think you’ve got a good case on your hands you can contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales.
For home in Scotland you’ll need to contact the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) to submit your challenge.
Martin heard from one viewer called Ian, who shared his success story. He said: “After watching your programme, I decided to question my council tax banding and ask to be reassessed.
“After living in my current house and paying band D since 1994, they finally changed it to band C and I received just short of £6,000. What a result.”
