Council Tax Question.

HJH_2

Hi,
I am new on here, and not sure if I am on the right board, but here's my question.
I have lived in my home for 6.5 years, we bought it new and have always paid council tax under band D. I have now found out that we should have been paying under band B, so for 6.5 years I have been paying too much council tax. I have written to them but have been told that it will take 3 months to give me an answer. The woman on the phone did say she thought I should have queried it straight away if I thought I was paying too much and probably won't get a refund. This dosen't seem fair to me, as I am sure that they would backdate it if I had paid less than I should all that time.
Does anyone know how the system works? I have estimated I have paid about £1600 too much over the years.
Thanks for you help.

Robert_Sterling_3

What evidence convinced you that your property should be in band D?

HJH_2

Hi,
My property was built in 1998, and we paid £72,000. Its a two bedroom terrace with no garage. I am under the impression that houses are valued at what they would have cost in 1991. They told me they had my house down as being built in 1988, not 1998. The house certainly would not have cost £72,000 in 1991 had it been built. Also, my parents and brother also have houses in the same area, 3 bedroom with garage, and worth more than mine, but they are only a band C.
Could be wrong, but this dosen't seem right to me.
Thanks for your help.

Robert_Sterling_3

I googled this up

You should appeal within six months of becoming the owner.




This is not legal or financial advice.

HJH_2

Oh, thank you for your reply. Thats a shame, was hoping for a nice cheque in the post.
Thanks anyway.

dougk_2

This will also provide you with more information.

http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/index.htm

oramgepekoe

HJH

If you believe that you have a good case then submit an appeal. Don't worry that if it's more than 6 months since you bought the house. If you look on the VOA site under 'Can I appeal' you'll see that you will be classed as having an 'invalidly made proposal'.

On the 'Invalidly Made Proposals' page the last paragraph states 'We have a duty to ensure that all council tax bands contained within the Valuation List are correct. Even if your 'proposal' is not accepted as having been validly made and the appeal process has ended, we will investigate your representations and alter the Valuation List if we believe it is required'.
'http://www.voa.gov.uk/council_tax/invalid_proposals.htm


A couple of years ago when I first found the VOA site I saw that my house was in a higher band than similar ones, including the semi we are attached to! Despite having lived there several years I submitted an appeal online. I got a letter back a couple of weeks later to say that I'd an invalidly made proposal but that they had a duty to ensure that the Valuation List was correct and would investigate the case. It took nearly a year to be resolved but my council tax band was lowered and I got awarded 6 years of overpayments. I didn't have to go to court or anything, I just submitted a list of other similar properties in my street that were in the lower tax band. As my house has never been extended it was easy to compare it to other non-extended properties.

As your house is a terrace, what band are the other houses in the terrace?