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Thousands Overpay Council Tax, Potential £141M Refunds Await

1/8/2026

38 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Martin Lewis says households facing rising bills in England and Wales should review their council tax bands.
Many bands are based on 1991 property values.
In Money Show Live, he shared a viewer's £6,000 refund as an example of potential savings.
He estimates about 400,000 households may be overpaying.
£141 million is owed across local authorities for overpaid council tax.

History

Historical Context

The UK introduced the Council Tax in 1993 to replace the unpopular Community Charge, which had sparked protests. This new system, based on 1991 property values, aimed to create a fairer local taxation framework. Currently, around 400,000 households may be overpaying, highlighting ongoing issues in property tax assessments and the need for reform in local taxation practices.

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Story summary

Martin Lewis says households facing rising bills in England and Wales should review their council tax bands.
Many bands are based on 1991 property values.
In Money Show Live, he shared a viewer's £6,000 refund as an example of potential savings.
He estimates about 400,000 households may be overpaying.
£141 million is owed across local authorities for overpaid council tax.

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