Council Tax 2024/25

You can email benefits@ashford.gov.uk and ask for an explanation of how your council tax reduction has been calculated.

You can email benefits@ashford.gov.uk and giving details of the information that is incorrect, and the council will look at your claim again.

You can email benefits@ashford.gov.uk giving details of why you disagree with the calculation, and the council will look at your claim again.  If your claim remains unchanged and you still disagree with the decision you can appeal. You must send it directly to the Valuation Tribunal. More details on how to appeal can be found on our Appeals webpage.

You can notify us by completing our change of circumstances form.

You can also email benefits@ashford.gov.uk.

You can take a photo of your evidence and email it to revenues@ashford.gov.uk for Council Tax evidence, or benefits@ashford.gov.uk for benefits evidence. Alternatively, benefit documents can be uploaded on our website.

Please visit our Welfare Intervention Officers webpage.

You can request that you pay your Council Tax over 12 monthly instalments rather than 10. We may be able to offer you some lower instalments for a short period until your financial circumstances improve (this will mean any remaining instalments will be higher to catch up). Each situation will be looked at by a member of the revenues team. Email any request to revenues@ashford.gov.uk.

Instalments are due on the first of the month so if you’d like to make payments later in the month, you’d need to pay in advance. For example, if your Council Tax instalment is due 1 April, and you get paid on 25 of the month then you’d need to make your 1 April instalment on 25 March. However, if you need to discuss your individual circumstances, email revenues@ashford.gov.uk.

Please check your bill where it says how much each instalment is. Your bill will state how you are due to pay. If it tells you that the instalments are collected by Direct Debit you do not need to do anything as we will automatically change your payments to make sure the right amount is taken.

If you do not currently pay by Direct Debit and you would like to, please visit our Council Tax Information page.

Yes. Sign up to e-billing on our website.

In respect of council tax, a 'precept' is a charge collected on behalf of Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council, The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and our parish councils.

We collect the council tax on behalf of all these authorities. Please see our Council Tax Information leaflet [pdf] 7329KB. For information about how your council tax is calculated and divided between these authorities.

You cannot appeal against the general levels of council tax set by the council each year. However if you disagree with the Council Tax band your property is in, you can appeal to the Valuation Office. If you disagree with the amount of discount or exemption, or council tax reduction you have been awarded, you can also appeal. In the first instance to us and then if you are still not satisfied you can go onto appeal to the Valuation Tribunal. Find out more on our queries and appeals page.

The council tax is a priority bill that must be paid by everyone who is liable. If the council tax is not paid as and when it is due, recovery action will be taken which could mean costs being added to your account. Visit our If You Don't Pay On Time page for more info.

The economic landscape over the past year has resulted in high inflation, increasing interest rates and a cost of living crisis. This is a time of increased costs for residents, businesses within the borough, and Ashford Borough Council which is not protected from these external factors. If we didn’t increase council tax we’d have to cut vital services as the funding is simply not there.

Properties that have been empty and unfurnished for a total period of one year or more will attract a 100% surcharge from 1 April 2024. This effectively means the council tax bill will be double. Once a property has been empty for 5 years, the surcharge is 200%. Once a property has been empty for 10 years the surcharge is 300%. There is more information on our Long Term Empty Premium Charge page.

Council Tax Reduction (CTR) was set up when Council Tax Benefit was abolished in 2013. This was part of the welfare reform changes introduced by the government to support individuals and families who need financial help most and encourage people to get back into work. Since April 2013, working age claimants have not received full payment of Council Tax. Visit our Council Tax Reduction page for more information.

Depending on your personal circumstances, you may be eligible for a discount on your council tax, for example, if you’re the only person over 18 living in your home or if you’re a full-time student. In some cases, you may be eligible for council tax support or exempt from paying council tax at all. Visit our discounts and exemptions web page for more information or to make an application.

Information about all aspects of council tax - including how to pay, telling us about changes to your circumstances and discounts and exemptions is available on our dedicated council tax web page.