Martin Lewis says UK households can be handed £7,500 council tax refund

Mr Lewis, the BBC Sounds and ITV star, says UK households can challenge their council tax bands and potentially save thousands of pounds from their bills.
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Martin Lewis says a fan was handed a £7500 refund after following his tip. Mr Lewis, the BBC Sounds and ITV star, says UK households can challenge their council tax bands and potentially save thousands of pounds from their bills.

One MSE fan has explained how they managed to receive a refund worth £7,500 in this week’s MoneySavingExpert newsletter. They said: "Martin, we challenged our council tax band earlier in the year after watching your show and doing the relevant checks on your website.

“Seven months later, it's been confirmed we've gone from Band E to Band D. We've also received our refund of overpaid council tax, a whopping £7,500.” If you think your council tax band is wrong, you could be paying more than you should.

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In England or Wales head to Gov.uk and contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) or in Scotland use the Scottish Assessors Association. You’ll be asked for evidence that your Council Tax band is wrong and need to give the information when you challenge.

Alternatively, put your postcode onto into the online tool at tax.service.gov.uk, select your address, and follow the link to see if you have grounds to challenge your band. The government states: "Council Tax bands are based on how much a property was worth on 1 April 1991, for England and Scotland or 1 April 2003, for Wales.

"You can challenge your Council Tax band if there has been a change that affects the property or you think your band is wrong. For properties in England and Wales, you submit your challenge to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA)."

You can propose a new band if there’s been a change that affects the property. But you must prove your property has changed - for example, it’s been demolished, split into multiple properties or merged into one, your property’s use has changed - for example, part of your property is now used for business or your local area has changed physically - for example, a new supermarket has been built.

You can also challenge your Council Tax band if there have not been any changes to the property recently but you think the band is wrong.