How do council tax bands work?
Council Tax bands are used to decide how much Council Tax you pay. They’re based on the value of your home at a certain point in time, and each property is placed into one of several bands (A to H in England and Scotland, A to I in Wales). The higher the band, the higher the Council Tax.
How Council Tax bands are decided
Council Tax bands are based on your home’s assessed market value on these dates:
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England and Scotland: Property value as of 1 April 1991
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Wales: Property value as of 1 April 2003
Even if your home was built later, its value is estimated as if it existed on those dates.
Band ranges by country
| Country | Bands | Based on property value at: |
|---|---|---|
| England | A–H | 1 April 1991 |
| Scotland | A–H | 1 April 1991 |
| Wales | A–I | 1 April 2003 |
You can check your property’s current Council Tax band here:
👉 Check your Council Tax band (England & Wales)
👉 Check your Council Tax band (Scotland)
How much each band pays
The amount charged for each band varies between local councils. Each council sets its own rates every year, so two homes in the same band can pay different amounts depending on where they are.
Your Council Tax also includes charges for local services (like waste collection and education), which your local authority manages.
If you think your band is wrong
You can challenge your Council Tax band if you believe it’s incorrect — for example, if similar nearby homes are in a lower band.
Here’s how:
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England & Wales: Challenge your Council Tax band – GOV.UK
Key takeaways
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Council Tax bands are based on property value, not income.
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Bands differ slightly across England, Scotland, and Wales.
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You can check or challenge your band online if you think it’s incorrect.