April council tax increase: How to apply for support, how bands are calculated - how much more you’ll pay

People across England are due to see their council tax increase by around 5% across most local authorities at the start of April 2023. This is set to add to the struggles of households, who are already fighting against a cost of living crisis.

It was announced during Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement that councils would be able to increase tax by up to 5% without a vote or referendum. Since the announcement, plans have been finalised at local authorities up and down the country to skyrocket council tax at a time when inflation is already at a 40-year high.

Various boroughs in London are set to receive the biggest increase in council tax, with Croydon Council recently approving a controversial 15% hike. Councils across the rest of the country are largely sitting at around the 5% mark, but this does vary.

A council tax increase on top of soaring energy bills and the rising price of an average weekly grocery shop is financially restricting families.

Here is everything you need to know about the April council tax rise and how you can apply for support.

How to check how much council tax is going up by in your area

In order to find out how much council tax you will need to pay in April 2023, you must first know which council tax band you are in. All you need to do is enter your postcode on the government website, click on your address and you’ll find out which letter tax band (A-H) you have been assigned.

As tax bands represent the amount of money you will spend on council tax, you will then need to understand what your council tax code means. Visit the website of your local council, and if you do not know which local council you come under visit the finder on the government website.