Council tax check that could reveal if you are owed money

Council tax check that could reveal if you are owed money It could be worth logging into your council tax account and looking at the balance to see if you have fallen into credit Council tax bills have climbed again this year, but before assuming all the money is heading out of your account, there is one quick check worth making to see whether some could actually be coming back. Council tax is one of those bills most of us pay without giving it much thought. The direct debit goes out every month and, unless something changes dramatically, we tend to leave it alone. But it could be worth logging into your council tax account and looking at the balance. That's because it is possible for a council tax account to fall into credit, meaning your local authority could be holding money that may be refundable to you. There are several reasons this can happen, including moving home, overpaying, having a discount applied retrospectively or successfully having your council tax band changed. And while some refunds happen automatically, you shouldn't assume yours will. GOV.UK advises people who have paid too much council tax and haven't received an automatic refund to contact their local council. Why could your council tax account be in credit? One of the simplest explanations is moving house. Council tax is calculated according to your liability for a particular property. If you've already paid ahead when you move, you could end up with a credit once the final bill is calculated. Discounts and exemptions can also be applied retrospectively. For example, someone who becomes entitled to the 25% single-person discount could find that their account is adjusted after they have already made payments. The same can happen if Council Tax Reduction is subsequently awarded or if a property's council tax band is successfully changed. Money expert Jasmine Birtles says it's worth checking rather than assuming the figures have automatically sorted themselves out. She said: "Council tax is one of those payments that disappears from our bank accounts every month and most of us don't look at it again. "But people's circumstances change. They move home, become entitled to discounts or have adjustments made to their bills, and that can sometimes leave an account in credit. "It only takes a few minutes to log in and look at the balance. If you see a credit and don't understand why it's there, contact your council and ask whether you're entitled to have it refunded." How to check Find your latest council tax bill or log into the council tax section of your local authority's website. Look for your account balance and any recent adjustments. Don't panic if the way the balance is displayed isn't immediately obvious. Councils don't all present online accounts in exactly the same way, so contact the council tax department if you're unsure whether a figure represents a genuine credit. If you have overpaid, GOV.UK says you should contact the council if you haven't automatically received the money back. You can find your local authority through the Government's council finder. It's also worth checking whether you are missing a council tax discount or reduction, particularly if your household circumstances have changed. Give your bill a five-minute MOT Don't stop at the balance. While you have the bill in front of you, check the name and address are correct, that any discount you expect is showing and that the council tax band matches the band listed for your property. The average Band D council tax bill in England for 2026/27 is £2,392, so getting a reduction wrong can make a substantial difference over the course of a year. The single-person discount is one of the best-known examples. If you're the only adult counted for council tax purposes in your home, you can usually get 25% off. There are other circumstances in which people may qualify for discounts, reductions or exemptions, however, so don't assume the full bill is necessarily the correct one. Jasmine adds: "With a bill this big, I wouldn't put it completely on autopilot. I would check it at least when the new bill arrives and whenever something significant changes in the household. "People are very good at shopping around to save £20 on something they buy, but sometimes forget to check the bills that cost them thousands of pounds a year." What about your council tax band? You can also check that your home is in the correct council tax band. In England and Scotland, council tax bands are still based on historic property values, and it is possible to challenge your band if you have evidence suggesting it is wrong. This is one area where you shouldn't simply fire off a challenge because you think your bill looks expensive. Before doing anything, check how council tax band challenges work and compare your property with similar homes nearby. A challenge can result in the band being reviewed, so you need evidence rather than simply hoping for a reduction. What happens to credit? Having a credit showing doesn't necessarily mean the council will immediately transfer that exact amount into your bank account. The council may need to check your account first, and outstanding council tax liabilities can affect what happens to the balance. Refund procedures also differ between local authorities. That makes the safest approach remarkably simple: check the balance, and if it appears that the council owes you money, ask for it. And don't cancel your council tax direct debit simply because you think you've overpaid. Council tax is a priority bill, and falling into arrears can have serious consequences. Anyone having difficulty paying should speak to their council about support rather than simply stopping payments. There is also help available if household bills are becoming unaffordable. Jasmine said: "The point isn't to stop paying anything. It's simply to check you're paying what you should be paying. "If there is £20, £100 or more sitting in an account that you're entitled to have returned, I'd much rather see that money back in someone's bank account than forgotten about." For once, checking a household bill might reveal something rather nicer than another price increase. - This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Council tax rules, discounts and refund procedures can vary between local authorities. Check directly with your council before taking action. [Image text:] t maand ofEngland 20 Sugfaus? k of Fngland CoBanhor Council Tax Bill 20 Annual Bill