The number of people who pay council tax and how many are eligible for reductions is set to be defined in Wokingham Borough.

The amount of council tax you pay varies depending on where you live.

Unlike in Bracknell Forest, Wokingham Borough Council’s budget proposals -and decision on whether to maintain, reduce or increase council tax- have not been finalised yet.

But those who struggle to pay their council tax can apply for relief as part of the borough’s Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS).

The scheme costs the council £4.1m in funding it would have received if the scheme did not exist.

Last financial year in 2021/22, the scheme reduced council tax collections by £4m, therefore an extra £100,000 in council tax reductions is envisaged for 2022/23.

You can apply for a council tax reduction if eligible on the council’s website here. 

The reduction in tax collected has increased because the ‘council tax base’ has increased, from  72,206 recorded in October 2021 to 74,946.3 for the coming financial year.

That’s an increase of 2,740 properties paying council tax.

The council tax base is calculated as the number of tax Band D equivalent homes liable for council tax after discounts and exemptions.

The council also has the power to reduce the amount residents pay, even to zero, through giving them ‘Section 13a awards’ which are granted to poorer residents who may struggle to pay council tax.

The number of residents receiving s13a awards has gradually been increasing.

33 awards were granted in 2020/21, costing the council £14,286.

More recently, a total of 40 households received s13a awards, costing £16,063.85 – an increase in cost of £1,777.85.

Made with Flourish

You can apply for a discretionary section 13A tax relief here: https://www.wokingham.gov.uk/council-tax/discounts-and-exemptions/discretionary-section-13a-relief/

There are no proposed changes to the council tax reduction scheme, which is set to be agreed at a full council meeting on Thursday, January 20.

 

Councillors will also appoint an external auditor Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) to look into the council’s accounts for the five-year period from 2023/24.

Council tax went up by 4.9 per cent in the 2021/22 financial year, close to the five per cent maximum. Any tax higher than that would have to go to borough residents in a referendum.