How do I find out the Council Tax band?

• Look at the Council Tax bill, or
• Look online at gov.uk, or
• Visit the local authority’s offices, where the list is kept for public inspection. Sometimes a list is also available in libraries.

Are any properties exempt?

There are many classes of exempt property, though the interpretation of whether a property qualifies for exemption is open to local interpretation.

Who pays Council Tax?

The liable person is liable to pay Council Tax. Usually a person living in the property will be the liable person, but sometimes it will be the owner even if he does not live at the property.

The owner will be liable even if he/she does not live at the property if:

• The property is in multiple occupation
• The people in the property are all under 18 years old
• The people in the property are asylum seekers and are not able to claim benefits including Council Tax benefit
• People who are staying there temporarily and have their main home elsewhere.

Discounts

The Council Tax you pay may be reduced if you can benefit from the scheme for disabled people or Council Tax Benefit, or a range of discounts. A discount is available where there is only one adult living in the property. Some occupiers may be disregarded, for example:

• Persons aged under 18
• Persons living in the property temporarily and who have their main home elsewhere
• Prisoners, etc.
• People who are severely mentally impaired
• Full time students
• Long term hospital patients or care-home residents
• Care workers and live-in carers
• Members of a religious community
• Members of visiting armed forces and their dependants

This is not an exhaustive list of persons who qualify for discount – for a complete list you should contact the local authority or Citizens Advice Bureau or go online.‍

Appeals

Appeals can be made about a range of issues about Council Tax.

• Appeal to the Valuation Office about the band in which the property is placed or whether or not the property should be on the valuation list, or, in the case of a mixed-use property, how much is residential and how much is not.
• Appeal to the Local Authority about who is the liable person, exemption, discounts, and reduction schemes.

There are strict time limits for making an appeal. Generally this is six months from the time the appellant became the liable person.‍

Sundry matters

• If you live permanently in a hotel you will not be liable for Council Tax
• If you live in a stationary caravan you will pay Council Tax. If you have a fixed caravan as a holiday home you may pay business rates Towing caravans kept at your home will not be liable for Council Tax
• If you have a second home, many local authorities are now applying a surcharge to the Council Tax, in some cases doubling the tax.

What are business rates?

• A system of local taxation
• Collected by the local authority
• A tax on commercial property including most furnished holiday lettings, levied on the occupier
• Applies to commercial property only
• Applies a percentage to a valuation

Each local authority maintains a list of all the commercial property in its area. Each property is given a valuation as at 1st April 2015. Discounts are given for small businesses including furnished holiday lettings.

---