What is council tax? How to use in English

Discover the meaning of council tax in English, its pronunciation, and how to use it correctly in real-life situations. See examples and easy memorization tips.

Definition & pronunciation of council tax

council taxnoun
thuế hội đồng
/ˈkaʊnsl tæks//ˈkaʊnsl tæks/

Where does the word council tax come from?

The term "council tax" does not have a lengthy etymology. It originated in the United Kingdom as a replacement for the previous property-based tax known as the Community Charge, which was introduced in 1990 as part of local government reforms. The label "Community Charge" was unpopular with the public since it was seen as too similar to the now-abolished Poll Tax, which had proved increasingly unpopular due to the lack of a direct correlation between the amount paid and the services received. The resulting term "council tax" was intended to be clear, simple, and descriptive, emphasizing the relationship between the tax and its collecting authority, the local council.

Example of vocabulary council taxnamespace

My monthly council tax bill is increasing by 3% this year.
I received a reminder letter about my unpaid council tax and now face a penalty fee.
The town council has proposed a new council tax scheme for the upcoming year.
As a homeowner, I am responsible for paying council tax to my local authority.
The council tax for my apartment is due on the 1st of April and needs to be paid in full to avoid penalty charges.