Lead Story
Scottish Budget 2026: Mansion tax via new council tax bands confirmed
Two new council tax bands were announced for properties valued at over £1m, due to come in by April 2028.
Council Tax
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Stratford-on-Avon Council launches consultation on second homes tax
By making second homes more expensive, the council hopes more properties will return to the local market.
News
Reeves considers replacing Stamp Duty with new property tax, reports suggest
Chancellor Rachel Reeves is considering major reforms to the UK’s property tax system, including scrapping Stamp Duty for buyers.
News
Council Tax increases over 25% could strain borrowers, warns Target Group
Melanie Spencer said: “It’s early days but if these reforms proceed as planned, some boroughs could lose more than 70% of their current Government grant."
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Empty homes tax failing to reduce vacant properties, says EBI CEO
Rainbow said: “The empty homes tax was meant to be a deterrent. It’s turned out to be little more than background noise."
News
Birmingham faces largest Council Tax rise as bills soar nationwide – Go.Compare
Council Tax bills in England are set to rise by a total of £2.1bn this financial year.
Featured
Council Tax bills surge by £7.3bn in just four years, research reveals
Research from Go.Compare found that Birmingham has seen the largest jump in costs across all eligible properties, totalling an extra £136.8m during this period.
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Council Tax burden on poorer households continues to rise, says Resolution Foundation
Rising Council Tax bills and falling support are making the tax increasingly resemble the Poll Tax it replaced, with poorer households spending a growing share of their income on it, according to new research from the Resolution Foundation.
Scotland
Council Tax reform in Scotland must address outdated property valuations – IFS
More than half of properties in Scotland are now in the 'wrong band' when comparing current values to the 1991 assessments.
News
Council tax arrears reach £6bn as StepChange calls for reform
Council tax arrears in the UK have reached £6bn as of March 2024, prompting StepChange Debt Charity to call for reforms in debt collection practices and better support for vulnerable households.
News
Scottish Borders Council increases Council Tax on second homes
Scottish Borders Council approves a 200% Council Tax increase for second homes, effective from 1st April 2024.
News
Investors to be hit with higher tax bills in 2024, says AJ Bell
AJ Bell shared its household finance predictions for the new year, commenting on Capital Gains Tax and the cost-of-living crisis.