How Much Is Council Tax In Aylesbury?

According to a news report Why young families are flocking to buy in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire Aylesbury is one of the main attractions for young  UK families looking to settle in a town with affordable housing, good schools and ease of access to London. Residents will find one-room apartments in the area at a price of £ 160,000 while a three-bedroom house is easily available for a price range between £ 350,000 and £ 400,000. 

How Much Is Council Tax In Aylesbury?

Council bands in Aylesbury Town run as follows:

  • Band A £1,292.98 
  • Band B £1,508.48 
  • Band C £1,723.97 
  • Band D £1,939.47 
  • Band E £2,370.46 
  • Band F £2,801.46 
  • Band G £3,232.45 
  • Band H£3,878.94

On average, most houses on Aylesbury belong to Band D. If you think your property has been banded incorrectly, contact the Valuation Office Agency or your local council Contact Us – Council Tax

Residents can pay their council tax through any of the following methods:

  • Online direct debit
  • Online card payment
  • Internet banking
  • Standing order
  • Telephone payments
  • Barcoded bill

Click here for web links to your chosen mode of payment Council tax payments | Buckinghamshire Council

What Happens To Council Tax If My Address Changes?

There are different answers to this, depending upon the circumstances. While we will analyse each specific situation in detail, as a general rule, it is advisable to inform your local council office of a change in address 21 days in advance; even if this change of address is going to be temporary. If you have not been able to do that and have already moved into another place, you must inform them immediately.

The main reason for this is that as a result of the change in address, you may be eligible for a lower or higher council tax band. If you do not inform your local council of your change in residence, your council tax may be billed incorrectly. The other reason is that you must clear your council tax dues prior to a change of address so that you do not have to face the dire consequences of council tax arrears such as court summons and magistrate visits.

Once you inform the council office of your change in address, it takes them around 20 days to process a new council tax bill, depending upon any major changes such as change of valuation band for your house or change of council district or the addition/subtraction of council tax benefits if there is a change in your personal circumstances as well along with a change in address.

If you were claiming benefits prior to the change in address, you will also be required to inform the benefits team of your local council.

We will now analyse the two main situations under change of address:

Situation 1: You are new to a council district and this is the first time that you are applying for council tax 

You must contact your previous council office that you have left the premises and inform them of your new address so that if there were any dues or advance payments, those may be adjusted to your account. You must inform the council office in the area where you have moved so that they may start sending you council tax bills as per schedule. In case of a delay in informing either of them, outstanding dues may start to gather and you might end up paying large amounts in lump sum.

If you were on Housing Benefit or were claiming a discount on your council tax bills due to personal circumstances, you must inform the new council authorities of these details. 

Simultaneously, you must also inform your bank of your change in address in case (a) you were making council tax payments through Direct Debit and (b) have now moved to another council district and would be required to make payments to another account than before.

Situation 2: You have changed your address but you are within the same council district as before

You need to inform your local council office of the change in address so that future bills are sent to your new home. In case this change of address brings with it a change in your personal situation or the valuation band is different for your new home, you may experience a change in the amount of council tax bill that you were paying earlier.

For instance, if you were a single occupant and have moved in with a partner you will lose your single occupancy discount. Similarly, if your previous residence was classed at a lower valuation band such as B or a C and you have moved to a property with a higher market value and an elevated valuation band such as D or E, it will impact the amount of council tax bills that are due upon you.  

In most cases, all that you have to do is fill an online form on your council’s website and share relevant supportive evidence with the authorities. 

Can I Move To A New House With Council Tax Arrears?

Yes, there is no legal restriction on a council tax debtor to move to new premises with arrears due towards their previous council. 

However, the debt will still remain in their name and will not be transferred to the new owners or tenants. This means that if you have council tax arrears and you move to a new house, you will not only be paying council tax for the new property but will also be obliged to clear your dues concerning the previous premises as well.

The best way to proceed in such a situation would be to inform your local council of your intention to move and work out a mutually agreed payment plan so that after your move to the new premises, the number of your tax bills due do not inflate. 

You can search for your local council’s website by typing your postal code in this weblink Find your local council

Why Do I Have To Pay Council Tax?

Council tax is a mandatory tax applicable upon residents of properties in England, Scotland and Wales. The amount of tax charged depends upon the value of one’s property as per qualifications assigned by the Valuations Office Agency (VOA). 

Council tax is paid to local council offices to enable them to provide community-based services that improve the overall quality of life for residents. It pays for services including the following:

  • Fire protection and police
  • Roads and street lights
  • Garbage collection and recycling
  • Schools and community halls
  • Parks and recreational centres
  • Elderly care

When Does Council Tax Run From?

Council Tax bills are payable from the start of the financial year in April with 10 monthly instalments concluding in January. While councils maintain February and March as tax-free months to collect payments that were not made in time; those liable to pay council tax bills may request their local council for 12-month instalments to make payments convenient by reducing the amount of each instalment.

Through the next few paragraphs, we will explore various areas of interest concerning Council Tax Bills, including the following:

  • the nature of a council tax bill
  • assessment of properties for council tax
  • annual collection of council tax
  • council Tax debt and its consequences
  • forecasted changes in council tax

What Does Your Council Tax Bill Tell You?

Essentially, your council tax bills indicate the following three areas:

  • the total amount due for the entire year
  • how the annual amount has been worked out by the local authorities
  • the dates are payments will be due

A standard bill is spread over 10 monthly instalments that run between April and January. However, if residents find it difficult to make timely amounts as per the monthly amount that is due, they can request their local council to divide this annual tax into 12 instalments; thus, reducing the size of the monthly instalment.

It must be remembered that you may not receive the same amount of council tax bill as another person living in your council. This is a property-based tax that varies depending upon the value of the property. 

Also, each council designs their council tax scheme. This means that your bill may be different as compared to another individual living in a different council. You can click on this link to contact your local council Find your local council – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

How Are Properties Assessed For Council Tax?

Council tax applies to properties used only for residential (not commercial or business) purposes. Based on the value of the property, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assigns one out of eight bands to determine the total amount of council tax due on the residents. Council tax bands can be found here How domestic properties are assessed for Council Tax bands – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

This value is based on the assumed market value of the said property on April 1 1991 in England and April 1 2003 in Wales. There are no adjustments made for inflation or a rise in housing prices during this time.

In addition to this, the Valuation Office Agency considers the following factors when assessing a property:

  • location
  • size
  • character
  • layout
  • change in us

Conclusion: 

Council tax in Aylesbury is as affordable and on the mean range of Band D as are properties in residential areas. This, coupled with good schools and the close proximity to London have made it an attractive area in recent times for young families to settle in.

When it comes to council tax payments, the over-arching rules that generally apply across the UK are the same for Aylesbury too. Residents may simply click on the council’s website to learn more about modes of payments for their council tax bills, services provided by local authorities or raise any council tax-related queries.

FAQs: How Much Is Council Tax In Aylesbury?

How much is council tax band E Aylesbury?

With around 11, 655 properties qualifying for Band E, the council tax for this band is estimated at £ 1,896, while the average (mean) council tax rate in the area is £1,636.

Which council does Aylesbury come under?

Aylesbury comes under the Buckinghamshire Council in southeast-central England.

How do I contact Buckinghamshire Council?

There are many ways to contact Buckinghamshire Council. You can click on their website Contact the council for a webchat, fill an Online Form call at  0300 131 6000 or visit them in person.

Do I pay council tax in February?

According to a regular council tax payment schedule, there are 10 monthly instalments that run from April to January. Unless you have requested 12 instalments instead of 10, you are not required to pay council tax in February.

How much is council tax in Chalfont St Peter?

Council tax bands for Chalfont St Peter are as follows: 

Band A 1,315.57 

Band B 1,534.83 

Band C 1,754.10 

Band D 1,973.35 

Band E 2,411.88 

Band F 2,850.39 

Band G 3,288.92 

Band H 3,946.70

References:

Council Tax | Buckinghamshire Council

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