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The Welsh Assembly Government have not, at this stage, issued any Press Releases etc re the 2005 Council Tax
Revaluation. An announcement has been made at the relevant Committee. We may begin to receive some
initial general enquiries and the Questions and Answers set out below will hopefully enable any such queries to
be answered.
Q: Why is there a need for a revaluation of council tax bands?
A: When taxpayers enquire about the council tax they are often surprised that the bands are based on 1991 values.
Revaluation will make the bands more representative of house prices and will reflect property inflation since
1991. For the 2005 Revaluation a common valuation date of 1 April 2003 (known as the Antecedent Valuation
Date (AVD)) will apply to all Welsh homes from 1 April 2005 until the next revaluation.
Q: Will the existing bands change?
A: The Welsh Assembly Government will be looking at the bands. They hope to publish them by the summer of
2003.
Q: Will council tax bills increase as a result of the revaluation?
A: The purpose of revaluation is not to increase the overall yield from council tax. By allocating homes to bands
representing their value on 1 st April 2003, the tax burden can be redistributed. This will maintain the fairness
and credibility of the council tax system. The impact on any individual home will not be able to be ascertained
until the new bands are known and the Assembly and Billing Authorities have reached decisions on the amounts
payable per band per billing authority from 1 April 2005.
Q: My home has been extended since 1991, will it move to a higher band?
A: Not necessarily. It really depends on the new value of your home in relation to the new band values. The value
of the new bands will have increased so even if you have extended your home it might not move up a band.
Who will value my home?The valuation is straightforward and will be conducted by VOA staff.
Q: Will my home be visited in person?
A: Although in the vast majority of cases it is unlikely that your home will be visited, regulations do permit a
power of entry, provided permission is sought in advance. In such cases the VOA employee must, if required,
produce his or her authority.
Q: When will the revaluation take place?
A: The VOA will start the revaluation after 1 April 2003 and will continue the exercise until late summer 2004.
They will place all Welsh properties into valuation bands according to their valuation on 1 April 2003. The
VOA might revalue your home in June 2004 but to ensure fairness a common valuation date of 1 April 2003
will apply to all properties.
Q: When and where can I see the new valuations?
A: Draft lists of new property values will be available for inspection from September 2004. The final date will be
confirmed by regulations approved by the Welsh Assembly Government. Draft lists will be available for
inspection at your local billing authority and on the internet at www.voa.gov.uk
Please remember that values in the draft list may change before April 2005.
Q: When will the new bands take effect?
A: The new bands will take effect on 1 st April 2005. The band to which your property is allocated will be used to
calculate your council tax bill for the 2005/2006 financial year.
Q: Can I appeal about my new band?
A: Yes, but not until 1 April 2005. A form for this purpose will be available from the VOA from 1 ST April 2005. If
the VOA are unable to agree your appeal, a Valuation Tribunal will hear the appeal.
It doesn’t cost anything to make an appeal unless you choose to pay someone to represent or assist you. Please
remember that the tribunal can place your property in a lower or higher band or leave it unchanged. Your local
council will send you more information about how to appeal with your council tax bill.
Q: Can I get help to pay my council tax?
A: Your local Billing Authority is responsible for the collection of council tax. Information regarding rebates can
be obtained by contacting the council tax benefit section of your local Billing Authority
Q: Where can I get more information about council tax?
A: Additional background information is provided with your tax bill. A free booklet explaining who has to pay the
tax and the range of reductions discounts and exemptions which can apply is available from local councils or:
Local Government Finance Division,
Welsh Assembly Government,
Cathays Park,
Cardiff. CF10 3NQ.
Information is also available on the internet www.wales.gov.uk
Q: Why is there going to be a Council Tax Revaluation in Wales 2 years earlier than in England?
A: The decision was made by the Assembly.
In September 2000, the Assembly asked the people of Wales about possible changes to the system of local
Government finance. In respect of council tax there was overwhelming support not to disturb the present
system by making major changes. It was recognised if council tax bands were not revalued the council tax
system would run the risk of losing credibility. There was also a call for regular council tax revaluations.
The Welsh Assembly Government has responded by commissioning a revaluation of all Welsh homes, and
council tax bands, to take effect on 1 st April 2005. Revaluation will then take place at regular intervals of
between eight and ten years. So after April 2005 the next revaluation could be in April 2013, 2014 or 2015.
If there are any questions asked which cannot be answered please seek advice from the Group VO concerned.
10 April 2002
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