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Your Questions

Questions about Banding of Council Tax


1.What is Council Tax Banding?
2.Who decides what my Council Tax band is?
3.How can I find out what band my house falls under so I know what my Council Tax is?
4.How can my house be valued at 1991 prices when it was not built then?
5.How can I appeal against my Council Tax banding?

Questions about Payments


1.How do I know how much Council Tax I have to pay?
2.When is my Council Tax due?
3.Why is Council Tax payable over 10 months?
4.When are the two months that Council Tax is not normally collected?
5.How do I pay my Council Tax through the bank?
6.I pay my Council Tax by Direct Debit.  Can I change the number of months I pay over?
7.Why have you sent me a reminder to pay my Council Tax, when I pay regularly by standing order every month?
8.How do I pay my Council Tax by post?
9.Can I pay my Council Tax in person?
10. Can I pay my Council Tax over the phone?

Benefits / Discounts


1.Am I entitled to Council Tax Benefit?
2.Can I claim a discount or exemption on my Council Tax?

Other Questions


1.What is Council Tax used to pay for?
2.Why do I have to pay Council Tax when I don’t use all the Council’s services?
3.I own a property and rent it out.  Who should advise the Council Tax Office when my tenants move?

About Banding of Council Tax

1.  What is Council Tax Banding?
All residential properties are given a Council Tax band, by the valuer from the Assessor's Office, based on the estimated value of the property at 1991 prices.  Even if your property wasn't built then, it is still assessed on 1991 prices.  How much Council Tax you pay depends upon the band your property has been given.

2. Who decides what my Council Tax band is?
The Assessor for Central Scotland, not the Council, carries out valuations on properties.  If you have an enquiry about your Council Tax band, please contact: - The Assessor for Central Scotland, Hillside House, Laurelhill, Stirling, FK8 2NA. telephone 01786 892200 or The Assessor for Central Scotland.

3. How can I find out what band my house falls under so I know what my Council Tax is?
The Assessor for Central Scotland carries out valuations on properties; their website has details of the valuation band your property falls into.  If you know the band of the property check out the charges for this year – click link to Charges 08/09  for details of how much you will be due to pay.

4. How can my house be valued at 1991 prices when it was not built then?
The Council Tax band applied to any house is based on an examination of the prices of all comparable houses sold at, or about, 1 April 1991.

5. How can I appeal against my Council Tax banding?
The Council does not set your Council Tax band.   This is set by The Assessor for Central Scotland so you should contact them directly if you wish to appeal against your Council Tax banding.

About Payments
1. How do I know how much Council Tax I have to pay?
You should receive your Council Tax bill every year in March.  If you know the band of the property, you can check out the charges for this year – click link to Charges 08/09.

2. When is my Council Tax Due?  
Your 10 monthly instalments are due on the 15th of each month from April to January, unless you pay by Direct Debit, or come to a special arrangement.

If you pay by Direct Debit, you can chose to pay weekly; fortnightly; four weekly or monthly.  Monthly payments can be made over 10 months on 1st or 17th of the month; or over 12 months on 1st, 17th or 28th of each month.

If you pay by post, with the swipe card at a Post Office, or at a shop displaying a Paypoint or Payzone logo, you need to allow 5 working days for the instalments to reach your account.

You can, if you wish, increase your Council tax Payments each month, pay before the date you are due, or even pay all of your Council tax at once.  You must make sufficient payments to cover the instalments billed by the date they are due.

If you don’t pay an instalment or part of an instalment by the 15th of each month, we will send you a reminder asking for payment within 7 days.  If you don’t pay in 7 days, you will lose your right to pay by instalments and you will have to settle the full outstanding balance for the year in a lump sum.  For more details, call Customer Services 01786 443210 between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday (3.30pm Wednesdays); for local rate calls from Crianlarich, Inveruglas, Killin, Lochearnhead, Mugdock and Tyndrum, dial 0845 277 7000; for Minicom dial 01786 464599.  Or   at .

3.Why is Council Tax only payable over 10 months?
The Council Tax payment year is over 10 months whereas the charges cover every day of the year.  The 10 monthly payment year allows councils a two month period for preparation and issue of the bills for the next year.

4.When are the two months that Council Tax is not normally collected?
Providing you pay over ten months, starting in April, and you are up to date with your payments, you will not have to pay during February and March.

5.How do I pay my Council Tax through the bank?

Pay by Direct Debit Online Now
If you have a bank account, Direct Debit is the easiest way to pay.   You can choose to pay:

  • Over 10 months on the 1st,or 17th of the month (May to February)
  • Over 12 months on the 1st, 17th or 28th of the month (April – March)
  • 4 weekly on a Friday
  • Fortnightly (every second Friday)
  • Weekly (every Friday)

6.  I pay my Council Tax by Direct Debit.  Can I change the number of months that I pay over?
Yes, you can chose to pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit over either 10 or 12 months.

Get more details from Customer Services   at or phone 01786 443210 between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday (3.30pm Wednesdays); for local rate calls from Crianlarich, Inveruglas, Killin, Lochearnhead, Mugdock and Tyndrum, dial 0845 277 7000; for Minicom dial 01786 464599.  Please have your bank account details to hand when you get in touch.

7. Why have you sent me a reminder to pay my Council Tax, when I pay regularly by standing order every month?
Standing orders must be renewed with your bank every year.  If you have not renewed your standing order, you will receive a reminder to do so.  Check with your bank to ensure your standing order has been set up to make your Council Tax payments every month at the correct rate.

8. How do I pay my Council Tax by post?
Please cross your cheque or postal order and make it payable to ‘Stirling Council’ and send it to:

Customer Services
Viewforth
Stirling
FK8 2ET

Write your name, address and payment reference number (shown on your bill) on the back of your cheque/postal order.

9. Can I pay my Council Tax in person?
Yes, you can pay at Viewforth, Stirling or at a local Council office.  Please take along your plastic card or your council tax bill.  Payments can be made by cash or Switch/Delta.  It is Council policy, not to accept payment by credit card.

10. Can I pay my Council Tax over the phone?
Yes. Please phone with your debit card details  0845 277 7000 (24 hours including public holidays).

Benefits / Discounts

1. Am I entitled to Council Tax Benefit?
Council Tax Benefit helps people on a low income pay their Council Tax bill; it can help you pay all or part of your Council Tax.  If you think you may be due benefit, you should apply now as normally benefit can’t be awarded for the time before you apply.  If you applied before but didn’t qualify, contact us again because Council Tax increases and changes to the benefits system may mean you might now qualify for benefit.  Council Tax Benefit does not cover any water or waste water charges which you are due to pay along with your Council Tax.  For more details click Council Tax Benefit (link here to new Council Tax Benefit page), contact Customer Services on 01786 443210 between 8.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday (3.30pm Wednesdays); for local rate calls from Crianlarich, Inveruglas, Killin, Lochearnhead, Mugdock and Tyndrum, dial 0845 277 7000; for Minicom dial 01786 464599.  Or   us at .

2. Can I claim discount or exemption on my Council Tax?

Discount

You may be able to get a discount of 10%, 25% or 50% depending on your circumstances

  • 10% - where it is no-one’s sole or main residence, for example, a second home or a property classed as ‘long term empty’ or a vacant furnished let between tenants
  • 25% - only one person 18 years or older living in the property where it is their main home
  • 25% - only one person counted; others are not counted due to their special circumstances (see below)
  • 50% - all residents are not counted due to their special circumstances (see below)
  • 50% - a purpose built holiday home or a second home with planning restrictions that prevent it being lived in all year round
  • 50% - a property that has been unoccupied for more than 12 months and a new owner can’t occupy it because it has to undergo major works to make it habitable.

The following people are not counted due to their special circumstances – skill seekers; certain apprentices (there is an upper wage limit); certain full time students; certain student nurses; recent school leavers; people who are classed as ‘severely mentally impaired’; certain carers; long term hospital and care home patients; members of religious communities.

Exemption

Properties occupied solely by full time students, or people who are classed as ‘severely mentally impaired’, are exempt.

Also exempt are unoccupied properties which are:

  • unfurnished (for 6 months from the date last occupied)
  • undergoing major structural works (for up to 12 months from the date last occupied – even if by a previous owner)
  • the responsibility of a deceased person’s estate (up to 6 months after the Grant of Confirmation)
  • the previous resident owner or tenant is in long term care (hospital, nursing or residential care home)
  • former resident owner providing care elsewhere
  • unfurnished agricultural property
  • manses awaiting a minister
  • occupation prohibited by law.

Other Questions

1. What is Council Tax used to pay for?
Council Tax is a local tax which helps pay for the services which the Council provides such as education, social services and refuse collection.   It also provides funding for the Police, Fire Brigade and Assessor.

2. Why do I have to pay Council Tax when I don't use all the Council's services?
The Council Tax is a contribution to the overall provision of services and is not a direct charge based upon usage.

3.  I own a property and rent it out.  Who should advise the Council Tax Office when my tenants move?
As the owner of the property, it is up to you to advise us, within 21 days, of tenancy changes; otherwise you will be liable to pay the Council Tax.