Martin Lewis fan shares how they got an £8,500 refund from their council – you might be eligible too
A MARTIN Lewis fan has revealed how she got an £8,500 refund from her council – we clarify how you might be entitled to the free money.
The girl acquired the cash as a council tax rebate after discovering she was paying too a lot.
The quantity of council tax you pay is predicated in your band, however you can problem it if you suppose you are on the mistaken one.
If you are, you can get a reimbursement for any overpaid council tax and pay much less transferring ahead.
The girl defined in moneysavingexpert.com’s newest e-newsletter: “Thanks sooooooo a lot for the recommendation relating to mistaken council tax bands in your present a few weeks in the past.
“We have had a refund going again to 1993 from our native council of £8,500!!!
“We are now a band less (F to E), so also pay £30 less each month – meaning I can afford an extra glass of bubbly.”
What is council tax?
Council tax is an annual charge you should pay to your native authority to fund native companies resembling bin collections and libraries.
If you stay in England, the quantity you pay is predicated the worth of your own home on April 1, 1991.
Each residence falls below a unique band. These are:
- Band A – as much as £40,000
- Band B – £40,001 to £52,000
- Band C – £52,001 to £68,000
- Band D – £68,001 to £88,000
- Band E – £88,001 to £120,000
- Band F – £120,001 to £160,000
- Band G – £160,001 to £320,000
- Band H – over £320,000
The bands are completely different if you stay in Wales and are based mostly on the worth of your property on April 1, 2003. These are:
- Band A – as much as £44,000
- Band B – £44,001 to £65,000
- Band C – £65,001 to £91,000
- Band D – £91,001 to £123,000
- Band E – £123,001 to £162,000
- Band F – £162,001 to £223,000
- Band G – £223,001 to £324,000
- Band H – over £324,001 to £424,000
- Band I – greater than £424,000
But the worth of your own home is only one issue used to determine how a lot council tax you pay.
If a property will increase in measurement it might transfer to a better band when it’s bought on to a different purchaser.
You might additionally change council tax bands in case your native space has bodily modified, for instance if a brand new grocery store has been constructed.
How to problem your council tax band
You can problem your council tax band by first discovering out which one you are literally in.
You do that by checking along with your native authority or on the Government’s examine your council tax software.
You’ll want to offer proof you imagine you are within the mistaken code although.
For instance, you might have to search out out what council tax bands your neighbours are in as if theirs are decrease than yours, yours might have to be lowered too.
If you stay in England or Wales, you can problem your council tax band on-line on the Government’s web site.
If you don’t have entry to a pc you can name the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) as a substitute. You can contact them on:
Valuation Office Agency
ctinbox@voa.gov.uk
03000 501 501 (England)
03000 505 505 (Wales)
If you stay in Scotland, you submit your problem to an assessor based mostly in your native Valuation Joint Board or council.
Remember, when getting your council tax re-banded, you might finish being moved to a better, not decrease, band.
This will see you having to pay extra, not much less, transferring ahead.
However, you can attraction your case inside three months of receiving a choice if you suppose it’s mistaken.
You’ll have to get in contact with the Valuation Tribunal Service and if it agrees along with your case it’ll get the VOA to alter your band.
Do you have a cash downside that wants sorting? Get in contact by emailing money-sm@information.co.uk
.