STRUGGLING families are facing £2,000 council tax charges from next April amid a country-wide bills hike, a study has claimed.

Local authorities are able to increase fees by a maximum of 3 per cent – without having to hold a local referendum – to fund key services, including social care.

Struggling families are facing £2,000 council tax charges from next AprilCredit: Getty – Contributor

As it stands, the average Band D council tax rate in England is £1,898.

Out of the 309 council tax districts, 104 make residents fork out more than £2,000 for their Band D bill.

But, if all councils increase their charges by 3 per cent, 154 districts would be charging above the £2,000 mark, Daily Mail analysis revealed.

It comes as Rishi Sunak’s budget saw Brits clobbered with the highest taxes since the Second World War.

The Government’s own economic forecasters at the Office for Budget Responsibility say the total amount raised in council tax will be a third higher in 2026/27 than in 2019/20.

And receipts will be £12.1billion higher in five years than seven years earlier.

That means the average household will have to stump up £435 extra.

Boffins at the OBR said: “Net council tax receipts continued to rise in 2020/21 despite the pandemic (by 6 per cent) and are expected to continue to rise at similar rates across the forecast period.

“By 2026/27, we expect receipts to be £12.1billion (33 per cent) above their 2019/20 level.

“This largely reflects policy measures allowing councils to increase the adult social care precept on council tax bills, over and above the almost two per cent increases in core rates included in our baseline forecasts.”

And ministers have refused relentless calls from campaigners including Marcus Rashford to keep the £20-a-week uplift to the rate hiked during lockdown.

But the Chancellor vowed to CUT taxes before the next election in his budget on Wednesday.

Bullish Mr Sunak told the nation: “My goal is to reduce taxes. By the end of this Parliament, I want taxes to be going down not up.

What council are most-likely to see £2,000 Band D bills

Several councils are currently charging residents under the £2,000-per-year mark for their Band D bill.

But with councils able to increase their charges by 3 per cent, 154 districts are at risk of price hikes.

Both Blackpool and Cheshire West currently charge £1,998, making it the first in the firing line for the hike.

Next are Sheffield and Warwick, with both currently charging £1,996.

Following closely behind are Arun on £1,995, South Norfolk on £1994, Stroud on £1,993, South Ribble on £1,991 and Wokingham with £1,989.

“I want this to be a society that rewards energy, ingenuity and inventiveness. A society that rewards work.”

Mr Sunak’s surprise rabbit from the hat was a boost to Universal Credit to allow claimants to keep more of the cash they earn through working.

Mr Sunak will cut the taper rate from 63p – slashing it by 8 per cent to 55p while also raising the Work Allowances by £500.

Mr Sunak said the changes to come in “within weeks” and will save a couple renting a home with two children £1,800 every single year.”

Council tax cuts are available for those on low-incomes, people claiming certain benefits, those caring for others as well as other circumstances.

There are other specific circumstances that allow you to get a discount on your council tax bill, including disabled people, carers, students and people living alone.

You could also look into changing your council tax band.

Experts estimate that up to 400,000 properties are still in the wrong band – meaning loads of people are probably paying more than they need to.