Theresa May has welcomed the progress being made to reduce monthly council tax bills in the local area. Council tax has been reduced or frozen for everyone in the Maidenhead constituency, and new Government rules will now allow payments to be spread over 12 months rather than 10. This move will lower average band D council tax instalments by an average of £24 per month for 10 months, particularly helping those on fixed incomes such as pensioners.
The new right to choose to pay in 12 monthly instalments comes into effect from April. Local taxpayers just need to contact their council to request the change. Households can continue to pay in 10 instalments over the year if they wish. This comes on top of Government funding to freeze council tax for the third consecutive year, and the introduction of local referendums to veto high council tax hikes.
Since the current Government came to office, council tax has fallen by 1.7% in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead and has been frozen in Wokingham Borough. The Government has already announced support for local authorities in England to help them freeze council tax in 2014-15 for a third year and assist in keeping bills down. A freeze in council tax in 2013-14 would represent a real terms cut of around two per cent.
Commenting, Theresa said: “By making it possible for taxpayers to pay over 12 months rather than 10, households will be able to bring down their monthly outgoings. This will be particularly beneficial for pensioners who are on a fixed income. This is a welcome move and comes on top of the progress that has already been made in reducing council tax bills, thanks to the work of our local councillors and funding from central government.”
