If you think a Council Tax Support (also known as Council Tax reduction) decision is wrong you may be able to:

• Ask for an explanation
• Have the decision looked at again
• Appeal against the decision

This guide takes you through these options.

Applies to: England, Scotland and Wales.

Advice: If you need advice about a benefits or tax credits decision, you should contact a benefits adviser. You can use our Find an Adviser tool to find a local one

Important

You don’t have to ask for an explanation of the decision; you can ask to have the decision looked at again straight away.

You should ask for an explanation of the reasons for the decision if you don't know whether the decision is right or if you want more information to help you challenge the decision.

Action

Contact the local authority using the contact details on your Council Tax bill and ask for an explanation of the decision. If you can, it is a good idea to do this in writing and to keep a copy of what you sent.

If your first language isn't English, the local authority should provide an interpreter to explain the decision.

Time limits

There are strict time limits if you want to try to get a Council Tax Support decision changed. So, if you would like an explanation of the decision, you should ask for this as soon as possible.

If you still think the decision is wrong

You may be able to ask to have the Council Tax support decision looked at again, find out more on the next page.

If you think a Council Tax Support decision is wrong, you should ask the local authority to look at the decision again.

Action

Send a letter or an email to your local authority using the contact details on your Council Tax bill and ask them to look at the decision again.

Make sure you include the following details in your letter or email:

• Your name and contact address

• Your council tax reference number from your council tax bill

• An explanation of the reasons why you think the decision is wrong. Include any information, such as relevant dates, to support your reasons

• Any evidence that supports your reasons, such as copies of a letter from your doctor, a bank statement or a wage slip 

• Your signature. 

If you are sending a letter, you should try to send the letter to the local authority by 'recorded delivery' to make sure there is proof of when it was sent and also keep a copy of the letter.

A different decision maker will look at the decision originally made and the information you have provided and will decide whether the decision should be changed.

If they ask you for more information or evidence, you should provide this as soon as possible and let them know if there will be a delay.  

Time limits

In England and Wales, you have one month from the date on the original decision letter to ask for the decision to be looked at again. In Scotland you have two months.

If you missed the deadline for reasons out of your control, such as illness or bereavement, you may still be able to have your decision looked at again. If this is the case, when you write to the local authority, you should explain why your request is late.

Possible outcomes

You should receive a written response within two months.

If the local authority decide that the decision is wrong, it will be changed and you will get a new decision letter.

If they decide that they can’t change the decision, they will write to you to confirm this and tell you if you have a right to appeal against this decision.

If you still think the decision is wrong

You may be able to appeal against the decision, find out more on the next page.

An appeal is a way of telling the local authority that you think a decision is wrong.

You can appeal against a decision about:

• Whether you are entitled to Council Tax Support (Council Tax Reduction)

• How much you have been awarded under the local Council Tax Support scheme.

There are different processes for appealing depending on if you live in England and Wales or in Scotland.

Appealing against a Council Tax Support decision in England and Wales

In England and Wales, when you appeal against a decision, it will be looked at by an Independent Valuation Tribunal, which is completely separate from your local authority.

Action

You must make your appeal in writing.

If you appeal on the official appeal form, this can help you to give all the information that is needed.

In England:

You can get a copy of the appeal form or complete it online from the Valuation Tribunal for England website.

In Wales:

You can get a copy of the appeal form on the Valuation Tribunal for Wales website

Time limit

If you want to appeal, you have two calendar months from the date of the local authority’s final decision. This is the date shown at the top of your decision letter.

If the local authority has not replied to you with their final decision within two months, you can still appeal as long as no more than four months have passed since you wrote asking them to look at the decision again.

Late appeal

If you missed the appeal deadline for reasons out of your control, such as illness or bereavement, you may be given more time to appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why it is late.

The Valuation Tribunal will decide if you have a good reason for appealing late and if your appeal can be accepted.

The Valuation Tribunal

The Valuation Tribunal will decide if you are legally entitled to a benefit and can change a decision if they think it is wrong.

You can appeal against your council’s decision about:

• Whether you are entitled to a council tax reduction

• How much Council Tax Reduction the council has awarded you under the local scheme.

The Tribunal cannot hear appeals about the contents of the council’s scheme, only about the way the scheme has been applied to your individual case.
 
It is important to know that the tribunal could make a decision that leaves you worse off.

The tribunal cannot:

• Change the law

• Deal with administrative complaints, like delay or poor service​ (see complaints about your claim)

• Consider changes of circumstances which have taken place since the decision was made. However, you may be able to make a new Council Tax Support claim.

Appealing against a Council Tax Support decision in Scotland

Action

From 1 April 2023, any Council Tax Support decisions in Scotland are handled by the Local Taxation Chamber (part of the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland). Appeals previously submitted to the Council Tax Reduction Review Panel before 1 April 2023 will automatically transfer to the Local Taxation Chamber. If you’ve appealed before this date, you will receive further information about this transfer.

The Local Taxation Chamber can look at how your local authority calculated the amount of Council Tax Support you can get. The Local Taxation Chamber cannot look at administrative complaints, such as delays or poor service from your local council.

To appeal against a Council Tax Support decision in Scotland, you should complete an appeal form. You can download the appeal form (PDF: 246KB) and find further information on Council Tax Support appeals.

Time Limit

Your appeal must be submitted within 42 days of the date of the local authority’s reply telling you about its internal review decision. This is the date shown at the top of your decision letter.

However, if the local authority has not replied to you within two months of you asking it to review its decision, you can appeal to the Local Taxation Chamber.

Late appeal

If you missed the deadline for reasons out of your control, such as illness or bereavement, you may be given more time to appeal. When you appeal, you should explain why it is late.

The Local Taxation Chamber will decide if you have a good reason for appealing late and if your appeal can be accepted.

The Local Taxation Chamber

When it has received your appeal request, the Local Taxation Chamber will check your appeal form and register the appeal if they have all the information. They aim to register appeals within 14 days of receiving your request. They will contact you to make arrangements for your hearing and ask you to give further information if needed.

The Local Taxation Chamber will provide its decision in writing.
 
If you are not satisfied with the Local Taxation Chamber's decision, you can ask for it to be reviewed. You must do this within 14 days of the date that the decision was made, and you must give reasons for your request.
 
If the Local Taxation Chamber reviews their decision, they will decide whether a hearing is required. You should get specialist advice if you want to ask for the Local Taxation Chamber’s decision to be reviewed or apply for permission to appeal to the Upper Tribunal. You can use our Find an Adviser tool.

Updated: April 2023