#council-tax

#council-tax

Warwickshire county council has been warned by its executives that anything less than a 5% maximum council tax increase will put its financial viability at risk. In a report published on Thursday, the council's board said anything below a 4.99% council tax rise the equivalent to a 1.75 a week increase on a band D property is a riskier financial strategy that would threaten the medium-term sustainability of the local authority.

The gap means the council is considering raising council tax by almost 5%, while looking for extra income and spending cuts elsewhere. Council leader Dominic Twomey said the council's situation was incredibly difficult. He pinned the blame on 14 years of austerity and a lack of funding for local government. The council launched a public consultation on its spending yesterday (Wednesday 10th) as it begins work to set next year's budget.

Pensioners, particularly those who are continuing to work after they have reached retirement age will be amongst the biggest losers from the various tax rises the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves is expected to announce. Many of the tax changes that have been rumoured in the run-up to this Budget could impact pensioners in particular. The so-called 'mansion tax', which might increase the council tax charges on people who own properties in council tax bands F to H,

The document states that the Reform administration is currently working on a "planning assumption" that bills will rise by 5%, which would add around 80 a year to the annual mid-range Band D rate. But it also warns the council is under "significant financial pressure", with the authority planning to make widespread cutbacks and ask the government for Exceptional Financial Support of 43m to help balance the books.

The past few weeks, we have seen a bewildering parade of policies emerging from Treasury sources. These include reforms to inheritance tax, replacing stamp duty with a national proportional property tax for homes worth more than 500,000, replacing council tax with a local proportional property tax levied on house values up to 500,000 with a minimum annual bill of 800 paid by the property owner, and a potential capital gains tax (CGT) on primary residences valued at more than 1.5m.

The government is considering a new national property tax to replace stamp duty on homes valued over 500,000, shifting tax obligations from buyers to sellers.

Brent's arrears amount to a staggering 92.2m, according to the latest government figures. Councils across London are owed 1.4bn in unpaid council tax, the Ministry for Housing reports.

Londoners owe 1.4 billion in unpaid council tax, an increase of 11% in just one year, emphasizing the severe impact of the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.

Everyone deserves a fair chance, and that means ensuring support is in place when people need it most. It is never an easy decision to change the support we offer, but...we must face the reality that with decreased funding to local councils following a decade of austerity...

In the UK, many individuals unaware of potential council tax exemptions for those diagnosed as severely mentally impaired (SMI) can check eligibility for discounts.

Residents will continue to pay the lowest council tax in the country, and we will continue to listen to you and deliver on your priorities.