MILLIONS of households across dozens of local authorities are set to face council tax increases of up to 15.6% this April.
The average council tax rise is expected to be 5%, but in 29 local authorities, residents could face increases of up to £213 a year after some councils have been given permission to raise bills further.
On Thursday, councillors in Falkirk approved the largest council tax increase in the UK.
The rise means that the average Band D household in the area, including parish charges, will see their annual bill increase from £1,363.82 to £1,576.57 - a 15.6% hike, amounting to an additional £212.75.
The Band D council tax rate is the "average" or "benchmark" band in the UK.
Unlike in England, Scottish councils aren't subject to strict caps on annual increases, and several other councils have already announced rises of up to 10%.
These announcements will come as a significant blow to Scottish households, whose bills have remained frozen since the 2023/24 financial year.
For instance, East Lothian's 10% rise will see the average Band D bill increase from £1435.62 to £1,579.18 per year - an additional £143.56.
Despite stricter regulations on council tax increases in England, Bradford Council has been granted special permission to implement the highest rise in the country, with rates set to jump by 9.99% from April.
For the average Band D household in Bradford, their annual local council charge will climb from £1,701.86 to £1,871.89 – an increase of £170.
Meanwhile, households in the London Borough of Newham and the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead face hikes of 8.99% - an annual increase of £112.64 in Newham and £117.16 in Windsor and Maidenhead.
Several councils in Wales have also confirmed council tax increases of up to 9.5%, effective from next month.
For instance, households in Flintshire and Wrexham will face rises of this magnitude.
In Flintshire, the average Band D council tax bill will increase from £2,062.46 to £2,258.39 per year - a 9.5% rise, adding £195.93 to annual costs.
Similarly, in Wrexham, the average Band D bill will rise from £2,013.95 to £2,205.28 per year - also a 9.5% increase, equating to an additional £191.33 annually.
You can check to see if your council tax is rising by more than 5% using our handy tool below.
In England, local authorities can increase council tax by up to 4.99% each April without holding a referendum.
This is broken down into a 2.99% increase for general spending and a 2% precept for adult social care.
Any increase above this 4.99% limit requires a local referendum to gain public approval.
However, depending on your location, it is likely you will still end up paying more than the figures outlined in our table above, as these do not account for additional charges.
For example, if you live in London, you are required to pay the Greater London Authority (GLA) precept.
The Mayor of London has proposed a 4% increase in the GLA precept for 2025–26, which would add £18.98 to the average Band D council tax bill.
This would bring the total GLA precept to £490.38, which is applied in addition to the charges set by your London borough.
In areas governed by 'two-tier authorities', where responsibilities are divided between two councils, your council tax bill is split into two charges - one set by your county council and another determined by your district, borough, or city council.
The proportion of your bill allocated to each council varies depending on the authority, though county councils typically claim the largest share.
District councils are permitted to increase their portion of the charge by up to 3% annually without the need for a referendum
However, these charges have been excluded from our dataset.
In addition to the above charges, your council tax also includes contributions towards local police and crime commissioners, fire and rescue services, as well as any applicable town or parish council charges.
Councils typically finalise their council tax increases by early March, with the new rates coming into effect from April 1.
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 http://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.
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.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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