Appeals
If you think your Council Tax band is wrong
Council Tax bands, and which band applies to your property, are set by central government. To find out which band your property (or the one you are considering moving to) is currently set at, you can use the Check your Council Tax band tool on the GOV.UK website.
If you disagree with your property’s banding, you should contact the Listing Officer at the Valuation Office Agency, not St Albans City and District Council. You must keep paying your original Council Tax bill while your appeal is ongoing.
The Valuation Office Agency will be able to explain the reasons why they have given the current Council Tax band to your property. They will try and resolve your query and may conduct a more detailed ‘band review’ if they cannot answer your questions straight away.
You can contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) by phone on 03000 501 501 and online using their Contact your VOA tool.
The Valuation Office Agency will tell us if we need to change your Council Tax bill after their decisions. If your appeal is successful and you have paid too much Council Tax, you will be entitled to a refund.
If you think your bill is incorrect for another reason
You can appeal to the Council if you think your Council Tax bill is incorrect for another reason. But you must keep paying your original Council Tax bill while you appeal otherwise you may face recovery action.
If you wish to make an appeal you should write to us, giving your reasons why you think your bill is wrong to. Please write to:
The Revenues Service
St Albans City and District Council
Civic Offices
St Peters Street
St Albans
Hertfordshire
AL1 3JE
We will look at your account again and may ask you for more information to help us make our decision. We will make our decision within two months of receiving your letter.
We will either:
- decide that your bill is right, and explain our reasons for this
or - agree that your bill was wrong and send you a new bill and an explanation of the steps we have taken to correct it
Appealing against our decision
If you still disagree with your bill, or we do not reply within two months, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal Service. You can also call them on 0300 123 2035. You will need to explain:
- the decision you are appealing against
- why you disagree with our decision
You need to appeal within two months of receiving our reply or within four months of writing to us if we have not replied to you.
The Valuation Tribunal will tell us if we need to change your Council Tax bill after their decisions. If your appeal is successful and you have paid too much Council Tax, you will be entitled to a refund.
