Full list of 28 places in UK where council tax will skyrocket to over £3,000 a year – check your area
COUNCIL Tax is expected to skyrocket in 28 UK locations to over £3,000 a year.
Council tax is an annual fee you pay to your local council. The cost is set by your council and goes towards funding local services.
That means you could pay more or less depending on where you live.
New figures gathered by the Taxpayers’ Alliance show which local authorities will have band D bills averaging over £3,000 a year by 2030.
This is assuming the same referendum cap is used for the next four financial years.
In addition, councils must also raise bills by the maximum amount in the upcoming tax year.
But it is important to note, this does not include authorities that were given special dispensation to increase the referendum cap.
These councils, such as Bradford, have been given the same caps as others in their class.
On the whole, residents across the UK will be impacted differently.
For example, the first council to cross the £3,000 band D threshold by 2030 will be Rutland.
Rutland will also have the highest tax bill, standing at £3,221.
Meanwhile the lowest will be Wandsworth at £1,106.
By 2030, inner London boroughs will average £1,994, while outer boroughs will average £2,553.
District councils will charge an average of £2,806, while unitary authorities will charge around £2,825.
Now for the 28 councils with band D bills over £3,000.
Full list of 28 places where council tax will hit over £3,000 a year
- Rutland
- Nottingham
- Dorset
- Gatsehead
- Bristol
- Lewes
- Wealden
- Newark
- Sherwood
- Hastings
- Oxford
- West Devon
- Liverpool
- Rother
- Durham
- Cornwall
- Eastbourne
- Bassetlaw
- Walsall
- Rushcliffe
- Hartlepool
- Broxtowe
- Reading
- Ashfield
- Gedling
- Pendle
- Middlesbrough
- Mid Devon
- Mansfield
The increase in council tax bills reflects the growing financial pressure on local authorities.
Inflationary costs and increasing demands for public services are among reasons for the tax hike.
To reiterate, the assumptions in this analysis balance on the notion that the referendum caps will remain unchanged for the next four financial years.
That being said, Parish council precepts are estimated based on 2024 to 2025 averages so actual figures may be higher.
What council tax support is available?
THERE are several ways you can get discounts and reductions on your council tax bill.
In some cases, you can even get the bill completely wiped with a council tax reduction.
Factors such as your household income, whether you have children, and if you receive any benefits, will influence what you get.
To apply, visit https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction.
You’ll need your National Insurance number, bank statements, a recent payslip or letter from the Jobcentre, and a passport or driving licence when filling out the details.
Below, we reveal all the ways you can get discounts or a reduction on your bill:
Single person discount
If you live on your own, you can get 25% off your council tax bill.
This also applies if there is one adult and one student living together in a property, or if there is one adult and one person classed as severely mentally impaired in the home.
If you live with someone who doesn’t have to pay council tax, such as a carer or someone who is severely mentally impaired, you could get a larger reduction too, of up to 50%.
And, if you live in an all-student household, you could get a 100% discount.
Retirees
Pensioners may also find themselves eligible for a council tax reduction.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit element of Pension Credit, you could get a 100% discount.
If not, you could still get help if you have a low income and less than £16,000 in savings.
And a pensioner who lives alone will be entitled to a 25% discount too.
Low-income households
If you are on a low income or receiving benefits, you could be eligible for a reduction on your council tax.
Whether you are eligible will vary depending on where you live.
You could also get a deferral if you’re struggling to pay your bill, or you can speak to your council about setting up a payment plan to manage the cost.
But one thing to remember is if you are struggling you should contact your council as early as you can.
Check if you can claim a council tax refund
Over three million households are owed a combined total of £544million in council tax refunds, according to a Sun investigation last month.
The average refund due is around £178, but some could be owed as much as £3,659.
Sun Money submitted a Freedom of Information Request to all 349 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales to find out just how much taxpayer money our councils are sitting on.
You can check to see how much cash your local authority might be sitting on by searching for your council in our tool.
It’s surprisingly easy to overpay your council tax, and millions of us do.
One of the main reasons is moving house.
Council tax is usually billed annually, from April to April, but paid in instalments.
This means you’re always paying some of it in advance.
Therefore, if you move out before the year’s end, you’ll likely be due a refund for the remaining months.
Another reason for over payments is a change in your property’s council tax band.
If the band is lowered, you’re due a refund for the over payments made at the higher rate.
Finally, forgetting to cancel your direct debit after moving out can lead to continued payments and further over payments.
Finding out if you’re owed a council tax refund is easier than you think.
Many councils have online claim forms available on their website
To find your local council’s site, visit gov.uk/find-local-council.
While some forms can be lengthy, claiming online is often the quickest way to get your money back.
If you’ve recently moved, you’ll likely need your old council tax reference number, which you can find on a previous bill.
If your council doesn’t have an online form, or if the form seems too daunting, you can contact them directly by phone, email, or live chat.