Community Charge

The Community Charge, introduced in the UK in 1989, was a system of local taxation designed to fund local government services. It required residents to pay a flat-rate fee based on their property’s value, regardless of income. The aim was to make local funding more equitable and transparent. However, it faced widespread opposition because many felt it was unfair, particularly to those on lower incomes, leading to protests and its eventual replacement by the Council Tax in 1993. The Community Charge is often referred to as the "poll tax" and remains a significant point of discussion in UK taxation history.