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Council tax band checker
Work out which band a home would fall into from its value on the valuation date, and what the bill would be. Use it to sense-check the official band before you challenge it.
Likely band
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Enter a value to see the band.
- Last checked 25 October 2026
- Expert review pending
- How we calculate
How bands are worked out
Your band depends on what the home would have sold for on the valuation date, not what it is worth today. That date is 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland and 1 April 2003 in Wales. The bill for each band is a fixed fraction of the council’s Band D charge, set in law.
England
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Scotland
Scotland changed its ratios for bands E to H in April 2017, so higher-band homes pay more relative to Band D than in England.
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | up to £27,000 | 240/360 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | 280/360 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | 320/360 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | 360/360 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | 473/360 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | 585/360 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | 705/360 |
| H | over £212,000 | 882/360 |
Wales
Wales has a ninth band, I, for homes worth over £424,000 in 2003.
| Band | Value on 1 April 2003 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | up to £44,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | 15/9 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | 18/9 |
| I | over £424,000 | 21/9 |
Estimating a 1991 value from a recent sale
Few people know what their home was worth in 1991. The usual way to estimate it is to take a known sale price and scale it back using the house price index for your area:
1991 value = sale price × (index in April 1991 ÷ index at the sale date)
The UK House Price Index from HM Land Registry gives figures by local authority and property type. Use the same series for both dates. The result is only a guide: the VOA looks at the actual home, its size and its condition in 1991, not an index.
Worked example
A terraced house in England
A terrace sold for £285,000. Suppose the index for terraced homes in that council was 152.3 at the sale date and 31.8 in April 1991. The estimated 1991 value is £285,000 × 31.8 ÷ 152.3 = about £59,500, which is band C (£52,001 to £68,000).
If the council’s Band D charge is £2,280, band C costs 8/9 of that, which is £2,026.67 a year. With the single person discount it would be £1,520.
If the official band is D or higher, and similar terraces on the street are in C, that is a reason to ask the VOA to check it. The index figures in this example are made up to show the method. Look up the real ones for your area.
Before you challenge your band
- Look up the bands of similar homes on your street on the official list. That is the strongest evidence you can give.
- Remember the band can be moved up as well as down.
- Keep paying your current bill while the VOA or the Assessor looks at it.
Questions people ask
How do I find out my council tax band?
The official band for every home in England and Wales is on the Valuation Office Agency list, which you can search on GOV.UK. In Scotland the bands are set by the Scottish Assessors and listed on saa.gov.uk. Your bill also shows it. This calculator tells you which band a given value falls into, so you can check whether the official band looks right.
Can I challenge my council tax band?
Yes. In England and Wales you can ask the VOA to check your band, free of charge. It helps to show that similar homes nearby are in a lower band, or that the home would have been worth less on the valuation date. Your band can go up as well as down after a check, and neighbours’ bands are not changed by your request.
Why are bands based on 1991 values?
Council tax started in April 1993 using values on 1 April 1991. England and Scotland have never revalued. Wales revalued in 2005 using 2003 values and has legislated for its next revaluation, so check the Welsh Government’s current timetable.
How much is the single person discount?
25% off the bill if only one adult (18 or over) lives in the home. Some people, such as full-time students and carers, are not counted, so a home can qualify even with more than one adult living there. You apply to your council.
Does Northern Ireland have council tax bands?
No. Homes in Northern Ireland pay domestic rates based on an estimate of their capital value in 2005, billed by Land and Property Services. This tool does not cover Northern Ireland.