Council tax rebanding horror story...
22 March 2005, 10:45 PM
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Council tax rebanding horror story...
Originally Posted by http://www.pressbox.co.uk/Detailed/24979.html
COUNCIL TAX REBANDING INCREASES - THE REAL STORY
The following is a statement from Christine Melsom, founder of the UK-wide IsItFair Campaign, regarding the imminent effect of property revaluation and rebanding in Wales, and also the potential future impact on households in England and Scotland, where property revaluations will take effect in two years time.
"There is rapidly growing concern about the effect of the property revaluation and rebanding in Wales, which comes into effect from 1 April. Now that most Welsh Councils have announced their increases we know that one in every three households across Wales face massive increases in their Council Tax bills from next month.
"We were led to believe that the 'ups' would be balanced by the 'downs' in the Wales rebanding exercise. Now the cat is well and truly out of the bag!
"For every FOUR houses that have been moved up in the property bands, only ONE has moved down.
"Every household that has been moved up by just one band faces an increase of between 12% and 33% from 1 April based on Council announcements to date.
"Even worse, many houses in property hotspots have been moved up by two or three bands - for these people the increases are so high (some are over 70%) that the Welsh Assembly has instructed Councils to stagger them over 2 or 3 years!
"The people of Wales have been used as the guinea pigs for the revaluation and rebanding exercise, and many people who are already struggling to pay their Council Tax bills will now face even greater hardship as a consequence. How can we be expected to believe politicians who are telling us that fears of a similar effect from the revaluation in England and Scotland are unfounded?
"The present system of Council Tax is regressive - the less income you have, the higher the percentage of your income you have to pay in Council Tax. Many people now pay far more in Council Tax than they pay in Income Tax. The first essential step must be to stop using property value as the basis for this tax. Past or present value of property should be irrelevant to the calculation of tax for local services.
"We want a fairer system for everyone that takes account of their ability to pay. This will never be achieved by continuing to patch up the present system with revaluations, rebanding, increased means testing, or any form of discount.
"The present system of Council Tax must be scrapped and replaced by an income related tax which would spread the burden more fairly. In addition to making the tax fairer it would completely eliminate any need for property revaluation, means testing or discounts."
Sad thing is many of these people will probably go and vote Labour in the election, then soon after (when its too late) realise Gordon Brown has well and truely shafted them
Last edited by Petem95; 22 March 2005 at 10:48 PM.
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23 March 2005, 10:18 AM
#10
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A mate is horrified his has gone up by about £300. I'm quite lucky in that they've banded my house in a lower price bracket than it should be. The house opposite me is going for £120,000 but the banding for the houses is C and below £91,300.
Not sure what it is overall but I'm only paying an extra few pounds a month thank god.
Tempted to vote Liberal tbh. I like their idea even though they probably won't work and they are unlikely to get into power so I can't be blamed for whoever does win
Don't like Blair and when my GF shook hands with Howard she leaned over to me and whispered "Who the hell is this!?" - classic comment IMHO.
Not sure what it is overall but I'm only paying an extra few pounds a month thank god.
Tempted to vote Liberal tbh. I like their idea even though they probably won't work and they are unlikely to get into power so I can't be blamed for whoever does win
Don't like Blair and when my GF shook hands with Howard she leaned over to me and whispered "Who the hell is this!?" - classic comment IMHO.
23 March 2005, 10:40 AM
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Originally Posted by EddScott
Tempted to vote Liberal tbh. I like their idea even though they probably won't work and they are unlikely to get into power ...
23 March 2005, 12:20 PM
#12
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Originally Posted by OllyK
Go to their website and see how much you will be paying with their alternative to Council Tax, it may change your mind!
23 March 2005, 12:29 PM
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Well Kennedy (lib Dem Leader) in an Interview with Radio 4 yesterday admitted that at least a quarter of people would be *much* worse off by the local income tax method......
And if you like cars/driving you dont even want to think about voting lib dem....
And if you like cars/driving you dont even want to think about voting lib dem....
23 March 2005, 12:58 PM
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Originally Posted by EddScott
All I can find is a PDF on their Local Income Tax. Can't find anywhere that can indicate what difference it would make.
I'll have another dig when I get a chance and see if I can find it.
23 March 2005, 01:01 PM
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Just found it:
http://www.axethetax.org.uk/calculatelocaltax.php
Local Income Tax:
£1,594 per year.
Current Council Tax:
£900 per year.
It's worse than I remembered it, it's a 77% increase for an average wage earner, nice!
http://www.axethetax.org.uk/calculatelocaltax.php
Local Income Tax:
£1,594 per year.
Current Council Tax:
£900 per year.
It's worse than I remembered it, it's a 77% increase for an average wage earner, nice!
23 March 2005, 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr Hu
Well Kennedy (lib Dem Leader) in an Interview with Radio 4 yesterday admitted that at least a quarter of people would be *much* worse off by the local income tax method......
And if you like cars/driving you dont even want to think about voting lib dem....
And if you like cars/driving you dont even want to think about voting lib dem....
Labour are soo much better as they say an equal number of house will move down to the number moving up, bt what does the eveidence point at??? 1 in 4 pay more...
So who do you think it is better to vote for, the ones who are open and tell the truth or the ones who lie and then do almost the same anyway????
I wopuld rather be stabbed in the front than in the back...
23 March 2005, 01:20 PM
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Council tax should not be a tax at all. You are paying for local services, much in the same way as you pay for your gas/electric/water etc. People would (rightly) get very annoyed if they thought they were paying twice as much for their electric as people elsewhere, why should counil service charges be any different? i.e. everyone should pay the same.
The current system is not transparent enough for people to be able to assess whether they get value for money or not. A local income tax (Liberals) would be a nightmare as it would just be an excuse to push taxes even higher and would penalise those who have worked hard to make something of themselves.
Gordo
The current system is not transparent enough for people to be able to assess whether they get value for money or not. A local income tax (Liberals) would be a nightmare as it would just be an excuse to push taxes even higher and would penalise those who have worked hard to make something of themselves.
Gordo
23 March 2005, 01:48 PM
#24
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WooHoo! - after posting earlier about my council tax bill of £1906.... I would be £1,200 BETTER OFF under the local income tax.....
Blimey
that could buy a lot of votes.....
Blimey
that could buy a lot of votes.....
23 March 2005, 01:50 PM
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I think, we should all pack up r scoobies and make a huge convoy across europe,
ending in southern spain whilst singing ve va la espania. And say bollocks to politics!!!!
(mrs carlos)
ending in southern spain whilst singing ve va la espania. And say bollocks to politics!!!!
(mrs carlos)
23 March 2005, 02:01 PM
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Currently on my own
council tax (after 25% discount) is £860 I think
local income tax is £760
HOWEVER, me & the missus are moving in together in a few months and the figures would then be:
council tax - £1075
local income tax £1700
So well, over £600 worse off! And that's assuming that the local income tax for multiple occupants isn't each!!!
council tax (after 25% discount) is £860 I think
local income tax is £760
HOWEVER, me & the missus are moving in together in a few months and the figures would then be:
council tax - £1075
local income tax £1700
So well, over £600 worse off! And that's assuming that the local income tax for multiple occupants isn't each!!!
23 March 2005, 02:06 PM
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Don't be fooled by the 'initial' or 'indications' of what the liberal local tax might be. It will be much higher in practice, particularly as they raise it over time (or rather, the pretend locally elected officials do) to fund wonderful socialist ideals.
