UK taxpayers are owed approximately £141 million after overpaying their council tax bills, with around 800,000 households eligible for a refund. An April hike increased the average council tax bill for a Band D property in England by £111 per year, bringing it to £2,392. However, you may be owed a council tax refund if you have paid more than you owe.
Why You Might Be Owed a Council Tax Refund
There are several reasons why you could be entitled to a refund. These include forgetting to cancel a payment after moving house or paying in instalments. Typically, council tax is paid to local authorities in 10 monthly instalments rather than 12, which can lead to overpayments if you move mid-year. For example, if you make ten payments covering April to March but move out in mid-February, you will have overpaid by almost two months. Another common reason is your home being in the wrong council tax band.
What Money Saving Expert Says
Money Saving Expert, the site founded by Martin Lewis, states: "Over 800,000 households are owed Council Tax. £141 million is owed across 349 local authority areas in England, Scotland and Wales. There are various reasons you might be owed. These include forgetting to cancel a payment and being due a retrospective discount because your old home has been rebanded. You're most likely to be able to claim if you've moved out of a council area since 1993 and weren't paying by Direct Debit."
How to Claim Your Council Tax Refund
If you think you may be owed a refund, you have two main options: check whether your old council offers an online claims form or contact the council directly. The simplest way is to search online for "[council name] Council Tax refund form". This will help you find out if you are owed and allow you to submit a claim easily.
