To think an annual property tax is incredibly unfair?

My issue isn't really with Council Tax itself it's with what it's paying for.

The majority of my Council Tax goes towards adult social care. Given that most of us are likely to need some form of care during our lives, I don't think it should be funded through a property tax.

We already have a national system for funding things everyone benefits from, such as the state pension through National Insurance. I'd rather see adult social care funded nationally in a similar way, with everyone contributing through NI or another national tax.

Once you've taken adult social care out of Council Tax, then we can have a proper discussion about whether Council Tax should be replaced or reformed.

As a single person, I also find the current system hard to justify. Using a simplified example:

• Council Tax on each house is £100.
• A single occupier pays £75 after the 25% discount.
• A household with two adults pays £100 in total, or £50 each.

Yet all three adults have the same entitlement to adult social care if they need it. In effect, the single person has contributed significantly more per person towards a service they have exactly the same right to receive.

I know this is a simplified example, but it illustrates the point. If we're funding services that benefit individuals, then every working adult should contribute equally towards them, regardless of how many adults happen to live in the same property.

I know the Community Charge ("Poll Tax") was deeply unpopular, but that was over 30 years ago and there were many reasons for its failure. The principle that every adult should contribute equally towards universal local services isn't necessarily wrong just because one implementation was.

That's why I'm not convinced a Land Value Tax solves the problem I'm describing. It changes what is being taxed the land instead of the property but it doesn't answer the bigger question of who should pay for adult social care. If anything, it still links the funding of a universal service to where someone lives rather than spreading the cost across the whole working population.

I assumed it was an additional tax to Council Tax as it has not been possible to update the latter as intended..

Local income tax, and for business a local tax based on turnover, would be the fairest I think. However I can imagine a whinging about the marginal rate of income tax it would bring.

Council tax is simple and one of the cheapest to collect. I think there should be higher bands introduced.

Yes I think the poll tax would be fairer. Everyone should contribute

Apologies if someone else has mentioned this already: lots of currently untaxed land, such as the large amount of undeveloped land builders are sitting on, would also be subject to LVT. The figure of 0.48% was chosen to be revenue neutral or slightly positive as against CT and stamp duty.

I agree. I detest the current council tax system. It doesn’t take into account ability to pay, or the number of occupants in a property.

Poll tax was deeply unpopular, but only (I think) with people who were never previously required to contribute. We all use the services, so why shouldn’t the tax be per capita?

A neighbouring bungalow now has 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 kitchens and is occupied by 3 wage earners and a pensioner. It was previously down banded to C from D for a disabled person. It hasn’t been re-banded since being extended under new ownership. My bungalow has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 1 kitchen and is band E. I am on my own now and mid-70’s. My CT is much higher despite the 25% reduction for single occupancy.

The LA is not interested in checking these anomalies.

I think part of the proposal is that renters won't have to pay, but the freeholder/landlord pays in respect of any rented properties they own. It's the same in some other countries that have a land/property tax.

However, given that without a doubt landlords will add the land tax onto the rent, in effect the renters will pay anyway!

Maybe there should be a cap on rent increases as a result of the land tax or something to prevent gouging by landlords. I haven't thought this through so cut me some slack here!

OP there’s only so much income can be taxed. It is progressive. Those with more valuable assets pay more. I agree that is right and fairer.

Those who will pay less will have more disposable income.

I tried calculating what I would pay under this new scheme based on the 0.48% quoted earlier. Based on the sale of a flat in my block nearly two years ago I would be paying much less than I currently do even taking into account the single person discount that I currently get.

Surely the government wouldn’t want this, depending how many others are in a similar situation the council would be losing so much money. I don’t know maybe my maths is wrong.

I based this on the assumption it was a replacement tax if it’s additional that makes more sense from the council money making point of view.

It should be a fairer system, however they do it, perhaps it should be a set price per square foot of property you own? I have a 4 bed house that costs less than a 3 bed house in the same area because mine is over 3 floors so we have less living space than a traditional 4 bed.

I worked out that in addition to the £2000 council tax I pay, I would also pay a further approx £1,800. to live in my 1 bedroom flat.

That would not necessarily work out cheaper. In fact it can be the reverse.

If I moved to London and bought a property in Westminster worth many times my current one I'd pay a lot less council tax than I pay now.

Agree, they’re not necessarily wealthy but house price inflation makes it look this way

switch on Home in the Sun and many of the the purchasers seem to be from the North?

Income has been too heavily taxed in recent years. Frozen personal allowances have led also to fiscal drag.

The problem is life for many these days is like playing monopoly when the board is already owned.

I like the proposal.

Many work hard, many don’t but renting families often have it the hardest. Not really fair they pay full council tax, whilst next door might own their house outright, be on means tested benefits and get council tax paid.

Inheritance too is not something that’s earned nor is increase in house equity or value. If wages are earned and fair game, those who have more assets should pay more.

There are winners and losers with every policy but for once, a progressive tax that could make things overall fairer. The millionaires can’t easily move a house abroad.

Stamp duty doesn't really affect downsizers who have lived in their house for a long time though does it. Are you forgetting the massive tax free income the ones sitting in the more expensive houses will have gained in equity from their house price rising?
It is more unfair on the ones taking their 1st step or step up as we will be paying tax on the sellers profit. Should be scrapped and replaced with a capital gains tax for all, at a different rate to those who buy for profit

Indeed, renters rents will go up (a lot in London) but the Landlord not the government will be blamed of course…Renting will become even more expensive, but owning will now be more expensive too!