Council tax bands explained (England)
Your band depends on what your home would have sold for on 1 April 1991, not what it's worth today. Each band pays a fixed fraction of the Band D bill.
The bands and their 1991 values
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Fraction 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 |
How to check your band
Search your postcode on GOV.UK's check your council tax band service. Compare your band with similar houses on your street. If yours is higher than near-identical homes, that's a reason to look more closely.
Can I challenge my band?
You can ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) to review it, but be careful: the band can go up as well as down, and it can affect your neighbours too. A useful check is to take what a similar home sold for recently and roughly convert it back to 1991 prices with a house price index tool. If it comes out clearly in a lower band, it may be worth asking.
Living alone? You may get 25% off. Use the single person discount calculator.
Wales uses 2003 values and has an extra Band I. Scotland uses different fractions for Bands E to H. This page covers England. Source: GOV.UK council tax bands.
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What is the average council tax band?
Band D is the reference band. In England most homes are in Bands A to C, and each band pays a set fraction of the Band D charge (Band A pays 6/9 of it, Band H pays twice as much).
Why is my band based on 1991?
Homes in England haven't been revalued since council tax started in 1993, so bands still use what a property would have sold for on 1 April 1991.
Can my council tax band go up if I challenge it?
Yes. The VOA can raise a band as well as lower it, so check similar homes and rough 1991 values before asking for a review.
Related calculators & guides
Council tax April 2027 · Council tax discount · Energy price cap Jan 2027 · Meter reading → £ · Split bills with housemates · 50/30/20 budget · Rent affordability · Take-home pay