Rt Hon MS, Cabinet Secretary for
Finance and Welsh Language: Today, I am launching a consultation on the
Welsh Government's proposals to improve the council tax appeals
process in Wales, as a contribution to meeting our Programme for
Government commitment to a fairer council tax.
The Welsh Government has previously consulted on ambitions for a
fairer council tax, and the Local Government Finance
(Wales) Act 2024subsequently approved by the Senedd confirms
that council tax will be redesigned in 2028. As we prepare for
those changes, I am also considering where other parts of the
system can be improved in the meantime to ensure its continued
effectiveness.
We heard from previous consultations how the appeals framework
could be improved and we have been working with local government,
the Valuation Office Agency and the Valuation Tribunal for Wales.
The proposed changes seek to make the appeals process
streamlined, more effective and easier to navigate. We propose to
enable the Valuation Office Agency to provide taxpayers with more
of the property information they hold for council tax bandings
earlier in the process, improving transparency and enabling
taxpayers to make informed decisions sooner. We also propose to
remove the current automatic forwarding of appeals to the
Valuation Tribunal Wales without taxpayers being active in that
decision, giving taxpayers the choice of whether to progress to a
tribunal hearing or not.
The appeals process is a fundamental aspect of a fair tax system
and reviewing the current framework is an important element of
council tax reform. Improvements will ensure that the framework
remains fit for purpose.
The consultation sets out the Welsh Government's proposals and
asks for views. It will run for 12 weeks from 10 January to
3 April 2025. I look forward to considering the contributions
received.
