#council-tax

#council-tax

Back in April, Newham Council got special permission to raise its council tax by 8.99 percent - nearly double the normal increase cap of 4.99 percent - in order to help it swerve bankruptcy. As Newham faces more 'difficult decisions' and a £53 million funding gap next year, a new report suggests that it could ask for permission to increase its council tax by the same amount again.

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.

The Conservative councillor mentioned that the funding gap is tied to rising demand and inflation, necessitating consideration of charges for non-statutory services like green waste collection.

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.