Simple check that could help you claim back thousands of pounds – the rules you need to know
A QUICK check could reveal whether you’re paying too much on an essential household bill and due a refund.
Council tax has gone up for millions across the UK this month piling pressure on families.
But there is one quick check which could reveal whether you are paying too much on the bill.
Houses are in council tax bands based on the value of the property and determine how much you pay each month.
But the valuations were done based on prices from decades ago, so in some cases are incorrect.
If you find out you are in the wrong council tax band, you can put in a challenge with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) which may correct it.
Not only will it correct what you pay moving forward, you will get a refund on the overpayments made since you moved into the property.
Combined, it might be worth thousands of pounds which could come in more than handy.
The VOA recently said it expects to see more than 10,000 more council tax band challenges than usual over the next three months.
If you think you’re paying too much for your council tax, now might be the best time to do something about it.
Bear in mind though, you may challenge your council tax band and find out you are paying too little, which would see the bill rise.
It could also see your neighbours council tax rise as well.
How to check if you’re in the wrong band
If you live in England or Wales, you can check your council tax band on the gov.uk website.
Just enter your postcode and it will bring up your council tax band as well as everyone else’s on your street.
If you live in a similar type of property as your neighbours but you’re in a higher council tax band, this could indicate that you’re in the wrong band.
In Scotland, you can check via the Scottish Assessors Association.
Another thing you need to check is how much your property was worth when the council tax bands came in.
The MoneySavingExpert website has an online calculator tool you can use.
Bear in mind, property valuations were done at different times for households in Wales versus England and Scotland.
Council tax bands are based on how much a property was worth on April 1, 1991, for England and Scotland.
In Wales, they are based on prices on April 1, 2003.
How to challenge your council tax band
You can challenge your band through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association (SAA) in Scotland.
Gather together evidence showing you’re paying more – this could be having addresses of similar properties to yours in a lower band, for example.
If the VOA agrees that your property is in the wrong band, it will contact you to let you know it will be changed.
If you disagree with the VOA’s ruling, you can appeal your case – but only if you’ve been told that you can when you get the decision.
You must appeal within three months of your decision – to do this, get in touch with the Valuation Tribunal Service.
If the Valuation Tribunal agrees with you, it will get the VOA to change your band – and your bill will change.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing squeezeteam@thesun.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories