Council tax will soar by up to £3,600 under SNP 'mansion tax' plans

Council tax will soar by up to £3,600 under SNP 'mansion tax' plans describes a Scottish Government consultation from the SNP that would raise council tax bills for an estimated 15,000 properties. The proposal targets homes with open market values above £1 million, creating a new band I for £1 million to £2 million homes with an average annual charge of £4,770, about £720 more than current levels. Properties above £2 million would fall into a new band J averaging £7,650, roughly £3,600 higher than the current band H. The consultation expects local authorities to receive only an additional £12 million to £16 million per year, while opponents warn the change could deter wealthy investors. Scottish Finance Secretary Jenny Gilruth said Scotland’s wealthiest must “contribute a bit more,” and Craig Hoy argued the plan could damage the wider housing market. It would use assessments by independent Scottish Assessors, using recent comparable sale data rather than 1991 valuations.