Council tax what will i pay

If you do not, you could get a fine. To help us improve GOV. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Cookies on GOV. UK We use some essential cookies to make this website work. Accept additional cookies Reject additional cookies View cookies. Hide this message. Home Housing and local services Council Tax. Some property is exempt from council tax altogether. It might be exempt for only a short period, for example, 6 months, or indefinitely.

Nobody under the age of 18 can be a liable person. Couples living together will both be 'jointly and severally liable' - this means they are responsible as a couple but also individually. This is the case even if there is only one name on the bill and applies if the couple is married, cohabiting or in a civil partnership. No one is under an obligation to make a payment until they are issued with a bill in their name or, if they are jointly and severally liable, with a joint taxpayers' notice.

Usually, the person living in a property will be the liable person, but sometimes it will be the owner of the property who will be liable to pay. If only 1 person lives in a property they will be the liable person.

If more than 1 person lives there, a system called the hierarchy of liability is used to work out who is the liable person. The person at the top, or nearest to the top, of the hierarchy is the liable person.

Two people at the same point of the hierarchy will both be liable. You can check if you can pay less council tax. The council can charge you an 'empty homes premium' if your home is empty and unfurnished for 2 years or more - you pay this on top of your council tax. It doesn't matter if you furnish or occupy the home for short periods in those years.

The council will consider the home empty until you furnish and occupy it for more than 6 weeks in a row. If your property is already exempt from council tax, you won't be charged the empty homes premium.

You also won't be charged the premium if your property is:. Council tax bills should be sent out in April. You have the right to ask to pay in 12 instalments instead. Local councils might accept weekly or fortnightly payments. Some might also offer a reduction in the total bill if it is paid all at once, at the beginning of the year.

You should read our advice about dealing with Council Tax arrears. You will need to provide evidence to prove that your council tax band is wrong - you can find out what evidence you need on GOV.

If the VOA agrees to review your band they will write to you, usually within 2 months, to let you know their decision.

You can find out how to challenge your council tax band on GOV. Where a band is deleted and the structural alterations are completed, the property will then be banded as a new property, reflecting all extensions and improvements. The new band may be higher than the one which was deleted. Council tax is a property-based tax payable on most domestic properties such as a house or flat but can include a houseboat, caravan or a granny annexe.

The council tax charge is set by local councillors and depends on how much money is needed to run local services and how much is given to the council by central government. One bill is sent to each household detailing the council tax charge for the forthcoming year.

The band of the property determines the level of tax each household pays. There is an increase of 9.