Council Tax Band Checker
Find out what your council tax band means, see the typical 2025/26 bill for bands A to H, and learn how 1991 property values set the band on your home — then check the official band on GOV.UK.
Band checker
Pick your band and region to see a typical bill.
Find your exact band by postcode on GOV.UK.
What a council tax band actually tells you
Your council tax band is a shorthand for how much your home was thought to be worth on a single day more than thirty years ago. In England, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) placed every dwelling into one of eight bands, lettered A to H, according to its estimated open-market value on 1 April 1991. That date has never changed, which is why a brand-new flat built in 2024 is still banded as if it had been sold in 1991. The band itself does not set a pound figure — instead it fixes a proportion of your council's Band D rate, and each local authority sets its own Band D charge every spring.
Band D is the benchmark. A Band A home pays two-thirds (67%) of Band D, while a Band H home pays exactly twice (200%) as much. Knowing your band plus your council's Band D rate gives you the bill.
How the 1991 valuation worked
When council tax replaced the deeply unpopular Community Charge (the "poll tax") in 1993, the government needed a quick way to value 22 million homes. Rather than survey every property individually, valuers used estate-agent knowledge and "beacon" properties — typical homes in an area whose value was known — to band streets in bulk. This is why two near-identical houses on the same road can occasionally sit in different bands: the original banding was a rapid, broad-brush exercise. Because the values are frozen at 1991, regional house-price changes since then are not reflected, which is one reason council tax is often described as a regressive and out-of-date tax.
Typical bills by band in 2025/26
| Band | 1991 value | Proportion of D | Typical bill* |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 67% | £1,520 |
| B | £40k–£52k | 78% | £1,773 |
| C | £52k–£68k | 89% | £2,027 |
| D | £68k–£88k | 100% | £2,280 |
| E | £88k–£120k | 122% | £2,787 |
| F | £120k–£160k | 144% | £3,293 |
| G | £160k–£320k | 167% | £3,800 |
| H | Over £320k | 200% | £4,560 |
*Based on the England average Band D of £2,280. Your council's rate will differ.
How to challenge your band
If you suspect your home is in too high a band, you can ask the VOA to review it — but do your homework first. Compare your band with similar neighbouring homes using the free GOV.UK band checker, and check what your home would have been worth in 1991 using historic sale prices. A challenge is free, but the VOA can move your band up as well as down, and it may reband neighbours too, so only proceed when the evidence is strong. For independent guidance on the process and on Council Tax Reduction if you are struggling to pay, Citizens Advice is a reliable source, and Turn2us can check whether you qualify for help with the bill.
Frequently asked questions
How were council tax bands decided?
English bands were set on what a property would have sold for on 1 April 1991. The Valuation Office Agency placed each home into one of eight bands, A to H, based on that 1991 open-market value.
What council tax band is my house in?
You can find your band free of charge by entering your postcode on the GOV.UK council tax band checker, or by looking at a recent council tax bill.
Which is the cheapest council tax band?
Band A is the lowest band and pays the least council tax. It applies to homes valued at up to £40,000 at 1991 prices and pays two-thirds of the Band D rate.
Can I challenge my council tax band?
Yes. If you think your band is too high you can ask the Valuation Office Agency to review it. Compare your band with similar neighbouring homes first, because a review can also raise a band.
Are council tax bands different in Scotland and Wales?
Yes. Wales has nine bands (A to I) based on 2003 values, and Scotland uses 1991 values with its own band multipliers. This checker focuses on England.