A mini-guide to Council Tax

A mini-guide to Council Tax

Council tax is an essential levy charged by the local councils to fund local services, such as road maintenance or rubbish collection. Council taxes are yearly charges, which usually spread over ten monthly payments. Paying council tax in given installments will grant you a tax break in your bill in the early months of the year. 

How much council tax costs you depends on your council tax band. It usually looks at your property’s value to put it in a suitable category from A to H. You will usually need to pay council tax if you are above 18 and own or rent a dwelling. There is a requirement to pay 100 percent council tax if you have two or more adults living in your house. If you live with your spouse or partner, paying the bill will be the responsibility of you two. 

However, you can get a 25% discount on your council tax if you live alone or there is nobody else in your house as an adult. There is also a possibility to receive a fifty percent discount if no-one lives in your home, including yourself, as an adult. 

Local councils count people as liable adults who are 18 unless they are on an apprentice scheme, a student nurse, or a full-time student in college or university. Likewise, you are not a liable adult if you are below 25 and getting funds from the Skills Funding Agency. You are severely mentally impaired, or you are a diplomat. The council does not count you as a liable adult if you are a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council. 

You can save yourself on council tax if your property is an armed force accommodation or used by full-time students. If your property is an annexe and used by your children, there is no council tax payable on you. .Blogs like https://newlineconstruction.co.uk/blog/how-to-avoid-paying-council-tax-on-an-empty-property can be handy in knowing about your chances of getting a discount.