This would entail looking at the creation of new band/s beyond H for the most expensive properties. Currently, every home valued above £212,000 (1991 prices) gets hit with a band H, which can include anything from family homes to estates.
I think this is a step in the right direction, but what we really need in tandem is an update on these valuations. Using 1991 valuations in 2025 is ridiculous.
—
>Shona Robinson, the SNP finance minister, has backed the creation of a “progressive” system of council tax north of the border.
>The Scottish government said the consultation with local councils would help make the system “fairer”. If given the go-ahead, the new band would apply on properties worth £212,000 or more.
>Ms Robinson told Holyrood’s local government committee in March she hoped it would lead to agreement for “creating more bands within the system [that] would help make the system a bit more progressive, and be part of a wider set of reforms”.
…
>Ms Robinson added any changes to Scotland’s council tax system would be unlikely to come into force before the Scottish elections next year, and it would require a transition period.
…
>Critics of the UK’s council tax system have long argued that it is based on dated property values, but plans to reform the system have stoked fears of a disproportionate rise in the tax burden on homeowners in areas where prices have risen the most.
>Wales is currently evaluating ways to reform its council tax system, and was revealed last year to be using imagery obtained by satellites to decide which houses would be hit with higher council tax bills.
>A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Partnering with the convention of Scottish local authorities, we want to examine ways to make council tax fairer, which will help to continue to deliver better public services across Scotland.
>“By working closely with local authorities and listening to the public, we will be seeking a consensus on a local taxation system that is fairer, financially sustainable and fits a modern Scotland.”
Council tax is an extremely regressive nonsense so balancing it out after the 34 year lag would be nice.
‘Plots’
Gotta love that framing. Those darn Scots twiddling their evil mustaches and finding ways to pay for local services.
Taxing the rich? What is this socialism.
>Critics of the UK’s council tax system have long argued that it is based on dated property values, but plans to reform the system have stoked fears of a disproportionate rise in the tax burden on homeowners in areas where prices have risen the most.
>
This means that the owner of a £28million Belgravia townhouse with its own gym, swimming pool, cinema and lift, would pay less council tax than the owner of a £240,000 three-bedroom terrace in Oakham, a small town 25 miles from Leicester. The Belgravia property owner would pay £1,728 council tax a year for the Band H home, and the owner of the Oakham terrace home would pay £1,792 for the Band B property.
I think that shows the lunacy of the current system.
It’s fairer – the current ridiculous cut-off at £212k (1991 prices) is insanely skewed towards people in lower bands paying disproportionately more than someone in a £5m home.
BC in Canada has property tax based on a percentage of the value of the house – every property gets an [annual assessment](https://www.bcassessment.ca/Property/AssessmentSearch?bcalogin=1) that’s also made public. There is no limit on the top value. It’s around 0.27% just now – ironically the percentage has been dropping recently as property prices rise. A $500k house pays $1,346 (£727) – a $5m house pays $13,464 (£7,275) (2022 figures).
Older people who are asset rich, cash poor don’t get thrown out – they can defer the taxes due until the house is either sold or they pass away.
As a BTW – the Scottish Government ‘Plots’ – while the UK Governments do what – ‘Plan?’ – yeah, right!
~~The Scottish government said the consultation with local councils would help make the system “fairer”. If given the go-ahead, the new band would apply on properties worth £212,000 or more.~~
~~The introduction of a new band would likely impact areas with the highest house prices in Scotland such as St Andrews, North Berwick and parts of Edinburgh.~~
~~On what planet is £212,000 fairer, my area of west Lothian armadale/whitburn very much not a bastion of wealth a new build 3 bed terrace home you are talking £240,000 starting, for a new build 3 bed detached you are talking £280,000 often £300,00 plus ridiculous add on to this lbtt.~~
~~I know I am going to get hate for this but the middle class has been decimated, you get stomped on working hard and trying to get a better life not rich enough or poor enough to avoid the hammer.~~
Edit – my mistake on the valuations on current pricing, the system is stupid
Shona Robinson lol
I’m curious… Anyone have any idea what the residential property with the highest value in Scotland is ?
A lot of the more expensive places like castles might have some kind of get-out in that they’re “commercial” properties that are rented out for events or something, and the “private apartment” is only a fraction of the property.
Labour in Wales are consulting on similar sounding changes
Probably means Labour in Scotland will condemn this.
I’m telling you this country is finished. Squeezing every person to the brim. No incentive to work hard. Stop taxing people and families and find other ways to generate revenue. Fucking communist country.
Every property needs rebanded before introducing a new top rate, on today’s values, with new more appropriate bands, not values and bands from three decades ago.
Council tax just needs to be abolished. We pay tax already to the government, that should be enough.
About time this has been devolved for years yet they’ve only bothered to tweak them.
Love the use of the word plot, like it’s some dastardly nefarious scheme. If it means rich folks pay more,wire in!
FFS
**One extra fucking band???**
This is called making as minimal effort as possible. I wouldn’t even call this tweaking as that usually involves some work, not much but some
Here’s a couple of ideas
* double the current 8 to 16 then add 4 more at the top – 20 bands
* revaluation
As soon as I saw the word “plots”, I knew this would be a Telegraph headline; they’ve been using it anytime the government suggests that, maybe, the richest in society ought to contribute a bit more.
16 comments
This would entail looking at the creation of new band/s beyond H for the most expensive properties. Currently, every home valued above £212,000 (1991 prices) gets hit with a band H, which can include anything from family homes to estates.
I think this is a step in the right direction, but what we really need in tandem is an update on these valuations. Using 1991 valuations in 2025 is ridiculous.
—
>Shona Robinson, the SNP finance minister, has backed the creation of a “progressive” system of council tax north of the border.
>The Scottish government said the consultation with local councils would help make the system “fairer”. If given the go-ahead, the new band would apply on properties worth £212,000 or more.
>Ms Robinson told Holyrood’s local government committee in March she hoped it would lead to agreement for “creating more bands within the system [that] would help make the system a bit more progressive, and be part of a wider set of reforms”.
…
>Ms Robinson added any changes to Scotland’s council tax system would be unlikely to come into force before the Scottish elections next year, and it would require a transition period.
…
>Critics of the UK’s council tax system have long argued that it is based on dated property values, but plans to reform the system have stoked fears of a disproportionate rise in the tax burden on homeowners in areas where prices have risen the most.
>Wales is currently evaluating ways to reform its council tax system, and was revealed last year to be using imagery obtained by satellites to decide which houses would be hit with higher council tax bills.
>A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Partnering with the convention of Scottish local authorities, we want to examine ways to make council tax fairer, which will help to continue to deliver better public services across Scotland.
>“By working closely with local authorities and listening to the public, we will be seeking a consensus on a local taxation system that is fairer, financially sustainable and fits a modern Scotland.”
Council tax is an extremely regressive nonsense so balancing it out after the 34 year lag would be nice.
‘Plots’
Gotta love that framing. Those darn Scots twiddling their evil mustaches and finding ways to pay for local services.
Taxing the rich? What is this socialism.
>Critics of the UK’s council tax system have long argued that it is based on dated property values, but plans to reform the system have stoked fears of a disproportionate rise in the tax burden on homeowners in areas where prices have risen the most.
From another [article](https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/northerners-pay-more-council-tax-25917991)
>
This means that the owner of a £28million Belgravia townhouse with its own gym, swimming pool, cinema and lift, would pay less council tax than the owner of a £240,000 three-bedroom terrace in Oakham, a small town 25 miles from Leicester. The Belgravia property owner would pay £1,728 council tax a year for the Band H home, and the owner of the Oakham terrace home would pay £1,792 for the Band B property.
I think that shows the lunacy of the current system.
It’s fairer – the current ridiculous cut-off at £212k (1991 prices) is insanely skewed towards people in lower bands paying disproportionately more than someone in a £5m home.
BC in Canada has property tax based on a percentage of the value of the house – every property gets an [annual assessment](https://www.bcassessment.ca/Property/AssessmentSearch?bcalogin=1) that’s also made public. There is no limit on the top value. It’s around 0.27% just now – ironically the percentage has been dropping recently as property prices rise. A $500k house pays $1,346 (£727) – a $5m house pays $13,464 (£7,275) (2022 figures).
Older people who are asset rich, cash poor don’t get thrown out – they can defer the taxes due until the house is either sold or they pass away.
As a BTW – the Scottish Government ‘Plots’ – while the UK Governments do what – ‘Plan?’ – yeah, right!
~~The Scottish government said the consultation with local councils would help make the system “fairer”. If given the go-ahead, the new band would apply on properties worth £212,000 or more.~~
~~The introduction of a new band would likely impact areas with the highest house prices in Scotland such as St Andrews, North Berwick and parts of Edinburgh.~~
~~On what planet is £212,000 fairer, my area of west Lothian armadale/whitburn very much not a bastion of wealth a new build 3 bed terrace home you are talking £240,000 starting, for a new build 3 bed detached you are talking £280,000 often £300,00 plus ridiculous add on to this lbtt.~~
~~I know I am going to get hate for this but the middle class has been decimated, you get stomped on working hard and trying to get a better life not rich enough or poor enough to avoid the hammer.~~
Edit – my mistake on the valuations on current pricing, the system is stupid
Shona Robinson lol
I’m curious… Anyone have any idea what the residential property with the highest value in Scotland is ?
A lot of the more expensive places like castles might have some kind of get-out in that they’re “commercial” properties that are rented out for events or something, and the “private apartment” is only a fraction of the property.
Labour in Wales are consulting on similar sounding changes
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cglp252kyj0o
Probably means Labour in Scotland will condemn this.
I’m telling you this country is finished. Squeezing every person to the brim. No incentive to work hard. Stop taxing people and families and find other ways to generate revenue. Fucking communist country.
Every property needs rebanded before introducing a new top rate, on today’s values, with new more appropriate bands, not values and bands from three decades ago.
Council tax just needs to be abolished. We pay tax already to the government, that should be enough.
About time this has been devolved for years yet they’ve only bothered to tweak them.
Love the use of the word plot, like it’s some dastardly nefarious scheme. If it means rich folks pay more,wire in!
FFS
**One extra fucking band???**
This is called making as minimal effort as possible. I wouldn’t even call this tweaking as that usually involves some work, not much but some
Here’s a couple of ideas
* double the current 8 to 16 then add 4 more at the top – 20 bands
* revaluation
As soon as I saw the word “plots”, I knew this would be a Telegraph headline; they’ve been using it anytime the government suggests that, maybe, the richest in society ought to contribute a bit more.
Comments are closed.