Mom reveals 6 ways you can cut your council tax bill — and who gets a 100% discount

Finance expert Lynn Beattie, who runs Mrs Mummypenny’s finance blog, explains six different ways you can cut your council tax bill. The average council tax bill for a Band D house in England has just risen by 3.5%

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Ms MummyPenny outlines ways you can save on your council tax

April is the first month of the new council tax year – and if you’re struggling, there are ways to lower your bill.

You can choose to pay in ten or twelve monthly installments, but I prefer the ten-month method as it feels like I’m saving money with no payment during those challenging post-Christmas cost months.

Council tax is an important bill that everyone must pay to your municipality to pay for local services such as refuse collection, police and fire services.

Most of us will have seen an increase in this essential bill. mine is up 7% – the biggest percentage increase I’ve ever seen.

Also, an indication of the importance of council tax as a primary law. Failure to pay can quickly lead to bailiffs at your door, fines and even jail time.

That means if you’re struggling to pay your bills, that needs to be prioritized. Here are some ways you can lower your council tax bill.

£150 council tax refund

Hopefully you have now received your £150 credit to your bank account.

A government payment to counter rising energy prices. Personally, this only pays for two months of my direct debit increase.

Worried about paying your council tax bill? Let us know: mirror.money.saving@mirror.co.uk

Later this year, in October, the Government offered a further £200, but that payment will be a loan that you will have to pay back over five years via your energy bill. We have yet to figure out what else the government could do to help with the cost of living crisis.

This £150 credit is only available to people living in council tax brackets A to D and is automatically credited when you pay by direct debit. The credit should be in your bank account by the end of April.

If you’re not paying by direct debit, visit your local government’s website and fill out a form. Don’t miss out on this €150.

Individual discount – 25% discount

As a single adult, you get a 25% discount on council tax. This applies to me and I’ve made sure to take advantage of the discount once I’m a single parent.

This also applies if you live with other non-taxable adults, e.g. B. People over 18 in full-time education, some adults in apprenticeships and some carer roles.

This discount is frustrating for single people or parents like me who still have to pay 75% of a bill instead of the 50% it would be for a couple, a single tax.

Benefits and Discount for Low Income – Up to 100% discount

Depending on your circumstances, income and the benefits you receive, you may be eligible for council tax support from your municipality.

Each municipality has different rules and it may be a zip code lottery, but it’s definitely worth checking to see what discounts are available in your situation.

Go to your local government website, search for Council Tax Support and check the criteria. Read more about this discount here.

Check credits on old council tax bills

If you’ve recently moved, check your tax accounts from the previous address, you may have some credits there that you weren’t aware of.

A friend recently discovered a credit to two old addresses that she had forgotten. An unexpected bonus.

Check your council tax class

Your council tax banding is based on your home appraisal from 1991 – a long time ago. Check the other similar houses on your street to see that they are all in the same banderole.

If not, you can apply through your local council and contest the change in your local tax banding. Simply visit your local authority’s website for an application form.

You can also apply for a council tax credit if something has changed to reduce the value of your home.

This includes things like modifications to a home for the disabled, or maybe a freeway has been built nearby, or a cell phone tower.

Section 13A Council tax write-offs

This is a little known way to potentially write off your council tax debt if you are in extreme financial trouble.

This usually applies in the rare instance of an uninhabitable property, but also during times of financial difficulty. It’s by no means a certainty, so look at other reduction methods first.

You must apply through your local government and provide supporting evidence including an income and expenditure statement, pay stubs and bank statements to show that the debt cannot be repaid. You can read more about it here.

If you are struggling with debt and/or priority bills, please contact debt free charities such as Citizens Advice Bureau, Step Change and National Debtline.