Council tax is the annual charge you pay to your local council for services like bin collection, roads, police and fire. How much you pay depends on which band your property falls into — and that band is based on what your home was worth on 1 April 1991.
Yes, 1991. The valuations have never been updated in England. A property worth £35,000 back then might be worth £300,000 today, but it's still taxed on that 1991 figure.
Here's everything you need to know about the bands, what they cost and how to check yours.
Every residential property in England is placed into one of eight bands based on its open-market value as of 1 April 1991.
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Band D is the reference point. If your local Band D rate is £2,100, then a Band A property pays two-thirds of that (£1,400), while a Band H property pays double (£4,200).
The average Band D council tax in England is around £2,100 per year, but it varies massively depending on where you live. Some London boroughs charge under £1,500. Parts of Nottinghamshire, Dorset and Durham charge well over £2,200.
Your bill is set by your local council, plus your county council, police authority and fire authority. They each add their own charge, and it all gets rolled into one bill.
Use our council tax calculator to estimate your bill based on your band and location.
If you're the only adult living in your property, you get 25% off your council tax bill. You need to apply to your local council — it doesn't happen automatically. If a second adult moves in, you need to tell the council or you could be hit with a backdated bill.
Full-time students don't count as adults for council tax purposes. If everyone living in a property is a full-time student, the property is completely exempt — you pay nothing. If you live with someone who isn't a student, you won't get the full exemption, but the non-student may still qualify for a single person discount.
If you're on a low income or claiming benefits, you may be able to get help with your council tax through your local council's support scheme. Every council runs its own scheme, so the rules differ depending on where you live. Apply directly through your local council's website.
Go to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website and enter your postcode. It'll show you the band for every property on your street. You can also see what your neighbours are paying, which is useful if you think your banding might be wrong.
If you're buying a property and want to understand what council tax you'd pay, check the band before you commit. You can also use our property value calculator to estimate your home's current market value.
If you think your property is in the wrong band — maybe similar homes on your street are in a lower band, or your property has been significantly altered — you can appeal to the VOA for free. There's no charge to challenge, and your band won't go up as a result of you asking (though the VOA can change it in either direction if they review it).
Common reasons to challenge: your property was converted into flats, you've compared with similar properties nearby, or there's been a recent sale that suggests the 1991 value was lower than the band implies.
Be aware that the process can take several months, and you'll keep paying the current rate until a decision is made.
Enter your band and location to see a breakdown of what you'll pay this year.