Martin Lewis says make these 4 checks now which could save thousands | Personal Finance | Finance
Martin Lewis has flagged four things Britons should check to ensure they’re not overpaying on council tax. The Money Saving Expert listed four “crucial reductions to explore” in the latest issue of the MoneySavingExpert newsletter on Tuesday.
The first thing he flagged to check is that Britons are in the right Council Tax band. According to Money.co.uk: “Most homes in England and Scotland were put into council tax bands in 1993, and have not been reassessed since.” It means you may be able to lower your bill and get a refund.
But in a post on X, Lewis warned: “You only have six months to make a formal challenge, after that it’s much trickier.” The personal finance guru provides a step-by-step guide to check and challenge your tax band on the MSE website.
He also calls on Britons to check whether they’re eligible for discounts, which you can get if you’re single, a student, or have physical or mental health disabilities.
You can enter your postcode and check which discounts you may be entitled to on the Government’s website.
Tenants may also be entitled to Council Tax Support (also known as a Council Tax Reduction) if they’re on low income, or claim benefits. Depending on your circumstances, your bill could be reduced by as much as 100%.
Lewis previously warned that up to £1,500 per year in Council Tax support is being “missed by possibly 2.25m people”
According to gov.uk, you can apply if you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.
What you’re eligible for will depend on various factors, including:
- where you live, as each council runs its own scheme
- your circumstances (for example income, number of children, benefits, residency status)
- household income, including savings, pensions and your partner’s income
- whether your children live with you
- whether other adults live with you
You can enter your details and apply on the government website here.
Lastly, Mr Lewis urges people to check whether they may have overpaid council tax in the past, as they may be able to get a refund.
This can occur for various reasons, including if you paid for your Council Tax in advance but moved out early, or you forgot to cancel a payment. You may also be able to get a retrospective discount due to your property being rebanded.
You can check whether your local council has a refund form online, though if you don’t have a reference number you may need to ring or email your council.
If you are not sure which local authority you were paying council tax to, you can check here.
