From April 1 council tax across the country is set to rise, and many have already received their updated bills for the new tax year.
But what do you really need to check and look out for on your bill?
Are there things you should keeping an eye on?
Here are a few things you should definitely read when you open your letter.
What is my account reference number?
The account reference is an eight digit number at the top of every council tax letter.
This is the number you need to use when corresponding with the council about your account or when paying online.
Check your band
The amount of council tax you pay depends on your 'band'. This is usually shown on the right-hand side of your bill.
It will be a letter from A to H, the higher the letter, the higher the amount you pay as it is based on the value of your property - the higher the value, the higher the letter.
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You can challenge the band if you think your property is in the wrong one.
Annual charges
The amount you need to pay will be displayed on the annual charges part of the bill.
This is usually broken down by the key services, such as the police and fire service.
It will then show you the installments that should be made and how much each one is, with the cost spread over the year.
Council tax discounts
You should always check if your household is eligible for a council tax discount.
For example, full students are exempt from council tax and would result in the bill being reduced.
Exempt properties
There are some properties that do not need to pay any council tax.
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A property may be exempt from council tax if:
- it is owned by a charity
- it is empty because someone has died
- it is unoccupied because the person who lived there now lives elsewhere in order to be cared for
- all residents are full-time students
- all residents are under 18 years old
- all residents have severe mental impairments
- it is lived in by diplomats
- the property is a self-contained ‘granny flat’ where a dependent relative lives
If you are struggling to pay your bill
You need to speak to the council immediately if you are having difficulties paying your bill on time. You can also get help and advice from a variety of debt charities, including StepChange Debt Charity , National Debtline and Citizens Advice .
What if I don't pay my bill?
The council considers Council Tax as a priority debt and failure to pay can lead to serious consequences.
Usually, the council will send you a reminder letter if you are 14 days late with a payment, but if you fail to pay they can demand the full amount.
If you still do not pay, you can be taken to court, the Mirror Online reports.
From here, the local authority can apply for a liability order; this may see them deduct money from your pay, apply for you to be made bankrupt, or instruct bailiffs to take your possessions and sell them in order to clear your debt.
Are you due a rebate?
As part of freedom of information requests to councils in the UK, Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis's colleague Callum Mason found that at least £230m has been overpaid in council tax.
If you have moved house since 1993 you could be entitled to a rebate.
Martin Lewis was keen to not waste the council's time and told people that they should look for the online refund form.
He said: "If you have moved house because many people pay a month ahead or a year ahead.
"You could be owed money if you have moved house since 1993, especially if you have moved outside of the local authority.
"And if you have paid by direct debit. You should go online and find the overpayment form if you can't find it, that is when you will have to call the council."
He told presenter Susanna Reid: "We don't have many case studies, as it is a new campaign by me and my team. But we have been looking at it, and it could be around £137 per person."
To find out more about the findings and the campaign and how to make a claim, visit Martin's website here.
