Council Tax

bjrockchick

I followed all the steps to the Claiming Back Council Tax system, and have come against a brick wall.

When I tried to find out my council tax band, I had to contact the VOA through the email, and they got back to me saying our house was in Band B.

I wrote my local VOA, requesting a review, saying that I had contacted the head office and been told that we were in Band B, but were paying for Band C.

I recieved a reply, and it said (not word for word): "I've completed review & taken into consideration points you raised. I do not agree that a different band should apply & won't alter the valuation list entry. This is why I have reached my decision. The council tax band is based on the amount the property might have fetched if it had been sold on the open market on 1/4/03. There is no right to appeal my decision.

Has anyone else come across this? If one part of the company says I'm in one band & another part a different band, shouldn't there be something I can do?

The house was bought in 1981 for £17,000. And I think it's been "classed" as Band C since we started paying for Poll Tax.

If you can help, please get back to me, thank you.

caveat_emptor

Your council tax band will be on your Council Tax demand. Is your council tax band consistent with other identical houses nearby? If it not you would have grounds for appeal. I can't understand the bit about 'The council tax band is based on the amount the property might have fetched if it had been sold on the open market on 1/4/03'. My understanding is that the Council Tax band was set at the time of the last revue (1991 I think) and it won't have changed since then even on houses with significant extension and won't be rebanded until the next review (who knows when). You can get Council tax info for neighbourhood on the VOA website.

Maisie

Look at the 'council tax discussion' thread. There's lots of good information on there.

Council tax banding was based on house prices for April 1991. Council tax came into operation in 1993 so the voa have it wrong there saying it was for house prices in 1993.

You will have to find prices for similar houses to yours in 1991 (look at library archived records - estate agents sale prices - etc.) for evidence of house value if you are in a higher band to others.
First of all find out what band you are really on. Your c/tax statement for this year should show it .

The letter voa sent (except for the 1993 house prices bit) sounds like a standard letter they send out and you have to gather enough evidence to prove them wrong. It's not always easy. Some of us have been battling with voa for months.
HTH

Maisie

WELSH_BIRD_3

...if you live in Wales. There has been a re-valuation of Welsh properties. This re-val took place on the 01.04.05 but in accordance with Council Tax legislation the Band will be based on what it would have 'realised on the open market' or...sold for...two years previous to the re-val date...01.04.03.

In England Bands are based on the value of the property in 1991...1993 is when Council Tax started.

If you look on the VOA website you will find your Council Tax Band there. If you have already appealed then your reasons mustn't have been 'valid' reasons to appeal. Look at their web site you will find out how to make an appeal and the grounds on which you can make an appeal.

Must say, the letter is pretty final...'no chance of appeal' so soon.

HTH