Consultation launched on major council tax reform in Wales
Martin Shipton
The Welsh Government has launched a consultation seeking views on options aimed at redesigning the council tax system to make it fairer.
Council tax helps to fund the everyday essential services provided by local authorities which we all rely on – from schools to libraries, social care to street cleaning.
But the current system is 20 years out of date, and many have argued that it is unfair, with people living in homes in the lowest council tax bands paying a relatively higher amount of council tax in relation to the value of their homes, than people who live in higher value homes.
According to the Welsh Government, a key goal in making the system fairer is that the changes do not seek to increase the overall amount of council tax raised, and any redesign should raise the same amount of council tax across Wales as the current system would.
The consultation includes different potential approaches designed to make the tax fairer, including adding new council tax bands, changing the tax-rates charged for each band, and reviewing discounts and reductions.
The consultation also asks about the pace of change people would like to see. The earliest date for any changes coming into effect is April 1 2025. However, changes could be deferred until the next Senedd term, beginning in May 2026, or introduced in stages.
Revaluation
In parallel with this work, the Valuation Office Agency is preparing to carry out a proposed revaluation of all 1.5 million homes in Wales to ensure valuations are up-to-date and in line with current property values.
Under Welsh Government plans, revaluations would happen every five years to ensure people are paying the right amount of council tax in relation to the value of their property. This also provides an opportunity every five years to keep looking at the tax bands and tax-rates, with changes introduced to keep making the system fairer.
While property prices have generally increased, this does not mean that council tax bills will automatically rise. Many people’s bills would stay the same after reforms and some would fall.
The Welsh Government’s three proposed approaches are:
* Minimal reform – a revaluation of properties to check they are up-to-date but keeping the current nine bands and tax-rates. This would bring the current system up-to-date and result in a small move in the direction of fairness;
* Modest reform – a revaluation plus further reforms to the tax-rates charged for each band, to spread council tax more fairly. This means bills for households in lower band properties would fall, and bills for those in the highest band properties would rise. This would address both the outdatedness of the current system and also its unfair, regressive nature;
* Expanded reform – a revaluation plus further reforms including additional tax bands and changes to the tax-rates. This approach would see the number of bands increase from nine to 12, adding one band at the bottom for the lowest value properties in Wales, and two more bands at the top, for the most expensive properties valued at over £1.2m. This would be a decisive move in the direction of fairness.
Council tax also includes a detailed framework of support for people who need it, including support provided to low-income households through the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and a range of discounts and exemptions. Nearly half the households in Wales currently receive some form of discount or reduction on their council tax bill – and this will not change as a result of any reform.
Discount
The Welsh Government is also committed to retaining the one-adult discount and to keep the level of discount at 25%.
It does, however, propose to change the treatment of empty properties, removing the obligation on councils to offer a 50% discount on most empty properties (councils would maintain their discretion on caravans and houseboats, on homes where the owner has died and job-related dwellings), as well as improving the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, which currently helps nearly half of households in Wales..
In parallel, the Institute for Fiscal Studies has released an independent report, providing illustrative examples for how the three reform options could look in different parts of Wales and for different types of households.
Minister for Finance and Local Government Rebecca Evans said: “We are asking people to help us shape the future of council tax in Wales. Achieving a fairer council tax will be one of the single most beneficial actions this government can take towards making Wales a more equal nation. The benefits will be felt in the pockets of many households.
“This is not about raising more money from taxes and changes are not going to happen overnight. We see this very much as being a gradual process and that is why we are also asking for views on the pace of change.”
Work on the reform is being carried out in collaboration with Plaid Cymru as a part of the Co-operation Agreement between the Welsh Government and Plaid Cymru.
Outdated
Plaid Cymru Designated Member Cefin Campbell said: “It is widely recognised that council tax is outdated and long overdue for reform.
“This consultation is asking for the views of people across Wales on what a council tax could look like in the future and how we can make it fairer. While change is needed, it will take time meaning bills will not change immediately. We are consulting not only on what needs to change, but when the changes could come into place.”
The consultation closes on Tuesday February 6 2024.
Recently a report from Cardiff University’s Wales Governance Centre advocated scrapping council tax and replacing it with a system of local income tax, but that isn’t an option in the consultation.
The Welsh Government has concluded that scrapping council tax and replacing it with local income tax would be complicated and time-consuming and might be beyond its devolved powers. There are also concerns that income tax is easier to avoid than council tax, which has a high collection rate.
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Many here in Wales are already struggling to pay the current level of Council tax. As such there is little doubt, based on recent experience, any changes will be yet another burden on those least able to pay.
Can’t understand why so many dislike your comment. Any review of Council Tax will lead to an increase for almost all those currently paying that tax regardless of income or ability to pay. It will sting home owners, many of whom are already facing big mortgage increases unless on a long term fixed rate. Also anyone renting a residential property of any size will be in the line of fire and as we well know the cost of renting has risen alarmingly.
The challenge on empty properties needs to extend to retail properties, that could undergo conversion. Too many empty shops on the high streets that could become affordable homes.
Also, off-grid and energy efficient homes (Passivhaus for example) should get a sustainability discount to encourage transformation of older buildings and encourage better new builds.
Good thinking. Repurposing of empty shells should be a core policy of national government with funds allocated to local authorities and private developers to get cracking. Retail as we once knew it will not return. Too much being bought online and that’s how it will remain. Even suburban shop areas are in decline in a lot of places. Where they thrive leave well alone, but empties should be reshaped within 12-18 months or even earlier where an area has obviously lost its momentum.
The earnings threshold for paying full council tax is currently very low adding to the misery that is life in the UK right now. Any lowering of this tax should be welcomed. An increase in the earnings threshold would also help.
Why is the consultation NOT considering a system of Local income tax ? You must not tax a nominal value of a home in which is not actually liquid. The actual market value of homes can fluctuate very quickly in these unstable times. Any taxes should be based on the ability to pay with liquid cash. The Welsh government and local councils problem is the UK government is collecting Welsh income taxes, VAT and corporation tax earned in Wales and not returning the full value to Wales. This ‘UK reserve powers’ is out of Wales control and that is not… Read more »
Before I came to wales I lived in a large detached house. The council tax for that is lower than the bridgend tax for my small bungalow. The increase in council tax this year is les than 4% . Why do we have to pay for their mismanagement.
I used to live in Cambridgeshire