MSE Poll: Is it time to revalue Britain’s council tax bands?

It would be better to define more bands for Council Tax: iirc, a Band H property's council tax is capped at 3x that for a Band A.

It would also be better to require councils to offer 10 and 12 monthly payments by direct debit instead of just 10 "because that's what the law says and screw what will help our taxpayers."

Houses have been improved and changed since the original bands were implemented.

Even things like the location dictated the band. So now you have daft things like 3 bed houses in Band A because they were in a run-down area and had no indoor bathrooms, being done up and the area becoming sought after.

The fairest system was kicked into touch many years back - and probably the most (only?) sensible thing the Thatcher administration ever came up with - the Community Charge (aka Poll Tax).

Large households with several earners would have paid their fair share of the associated costs - unlike now, when those large households pay no more than two adults pay.

No there doesn't need to be a revaluation of Council tax bands, this would be a waste of time and money. What we need is a fairer way of collecting taxes. As the value of a property doesn't reflect the owners ability to pay a local income related tax would be by far the best option.
Second best would be a cap set to ensure that no one pays more than a set percentage (say 8 or 10%) of their take home pay or income on council tax. A cap is also needed to ensure that those whose income is below a certain level are exempt. For example ESA £6,000/ year. These people are supposed to be non tax payers but the government is shifting the collection of tax from Income tax and NI to Council tax so those with the lowest incomes are hit the hardest. The burden of tax is moving from the tax payer to the non tax payer, and non tax payers are usually non tax payers because they have a low income.
There are other inequalities that need ironing out too. For example single occupiers should receive a 50% discount not 25%, currently they are subsiding everyone else. And those with certain mental health problems are currently exempt from having to pay as they are unable earn an income yet those with physical health problems so also not able to work or earn an income do have to pay, without any discount. That's unfair. This can easily mean loosing £1,000 (band A) or more for higher bands from a benefit of under £6,000 to start with.
Lastly everyone within a local council district should pay the same. Currently the system is again deeply unfair, even laughable. The amount charged depends where parish boundaries fall and as towns and villages have grown over the years that often means that neighbours can be paying significantly different amounts for the same services. Differences can easily be £140 or more for people who share the same town and facilities. This needs to change. Theresa May keeps saying her election mantra of 'A fairer Britain that works for all' so where is it and how is she doing it |? Benefits frozen since 2014 whilst living costs rise, council tax up etc etc etc. Just words Theresa.

Nope - I'm with the Doc on this one. The Community Charge was the fairest (or at least the least unfair) principle but it got shouted down by public opinion and the politics of envy. I remember the argument being led by "It's not based on the ability to pay!" So should the supermarkets start charging different prices for bread then?

The link between the nominal value of the house and the occupants ability to pay is loose, outdated and massively distorted by the housing market in many areas. My house is worth 4x what it was when I bought it - has my salary improved 4 times? No. Have the services provided by the council improved 4x? Hell No!

Local Income Tax might work - if it's transparent and has a link to both the services provided/consumed. Which would in turn create a better turnout at local elections.