COUNCIL TAX BILLS SOARING - OFFICIAL

First published by: This is Money

Council Taxpayers are taking a hit well above the rate of inflation, according to Government figures out today

The Liberal Democrat MPs immediately slammed the news as being another hidden tax rise from the Government. The figures show that the average Council Tax increase for a band D home in England occupied by two adults will be 6.8 per cent in 1999/2000. The band D level is £798, a rise of £51 on 1998/99.

And the shire counties are taking the largest hit, with rises above those imposed by traditionally high spending councils In London, although many of these have cut services massively to keep bills down.

Average band D Council Taxes in shire areas will be £792, in London £731, and in the Metropolitan areas £878. These figures do not take account of any reductions for Council Tax benefit or transitional relief for reorganised areas.

The average Council Tax bill in England will be £656 in 1999/2000. This figure is lower because most homes are in bands A to C, and discounts go to single people and second home owners. In shire areas it will be £666 in 1999/2000, in London £669 and in Metropolitan areas £621.

Larger than average increases are coming in Torbay, Devon, with a 17 per cent rise and Herefordshire where the rise is 10.8 per cent. Bills in Milton Keynes are also going up by 10 per cent - but only after a referendum of voters backed the rise as being better than huge cuts in local services.

Liberal Democrats said that Tory councils were putting up tax by more than anyone else, but they also warned: "The Chancellors Budget has forced councilors of all parties to tax more but provide less. Increases in Council Tax are a massive hidden Labour tax rise."

If your bill has risen dramatically you'll probably want to challenge it. The bad news is that this is now very difficult, and appeals against valuations of properties or against being put in a higher tax band are rarely successful.

Council Tax valuations are based on what the property would have sold for on April 1, 1991. There was a spate of appeals before the initial cut-off date in April 1993.

Now it usually takes a major change, such as a motorway being built near a home and seriously cutting its value, to get a change in the valuation.

READ WHAT: ERIC PICKLES ‘SECRETARY OF STATE’ SAYS ABOUT OVER-CHARGED COUNCIL TAX

ARE YOU PAYING TOO MUCH COUNCIL TAX - COUNCIL TAX CHECKER