Overview

• The UK government will soon launch a council tax consultation for England as ministers consider reforms to the decades-old system
• Council tax bands in England and Scotland remain based on provisional drive-by valuations carried out in 1991
• Up to 400,000 homes may be in the wrong band, making their owners eligible for thousands of pounds in backdated refunds
• One homeowner recently reclaimed £14,000 after successfully challenging their band through the Valuation Office Agency
• Martin Lewis advises checking your band against similar neighbours and following a step-by-step challenge process to avoid unintended band increases