Council tax bands explained
Your band depends on what your home would have sold for on a fixed date long ago: 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland, 1 April 2003 in Wales. Each council sets one Band D charge a year, and every other band is a fixed fraction of it set in law.
What each band costs on average in 2026/27
| Band | England | Scotland | Wales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,594£159 a month | £1,102£110 a month | £1,522£152 a month |
| Band B | £1,860£186 a month | £1,286£129 a month | £1,776£178 a month |
| Band C | £2,126£213 a month | £1,470£147 a month | £2,029£203 a month |
| Band D | £2,392£239 a month | £1,653£165 a month | £2,283£228 a month |
| Band E | £2,923£292 a month | £2,172£217 a month | £2,790£279 a month |
| Band F | £3,454£345 a month | £2,687£269 a month | £3,298£330 a month |
| Band G | £3,986£399 a month | £3,238£324 a month | £3,805£381 a month |
| Band H | £4,783£478 a month | £4,051£405 a month | £4,566£457 a month |
| Band I | – | – | £5,327£533 a month |
Official average Band D for each nation, multiplied by each band's share. Monthly over 10 payments. Scotland excludes water and sewerage. Your own council can be far above or below the average.
Bands in England
Eight bands, A to H, based on values on 1 April 1991. Band H pays twice Band D and three times Band A.
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| Band B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| Band C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| Band D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 1 |
| Band E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| Band F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| Band G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| Band H | over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Bands in Scotland
Eight bands, A to H, based on values on 1 April 1991. Since April 2017 bands E to H pay a larger share of Band D than in England.
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | up to £27,000 | 240/360 |
| Band B | £27,001 to £35,000 | 280/360 |
| Band C | £35,001 to £45,000 | 320/360 |
| Band D | £45,001 to £58,000 | 1 |
| Band E | £58,001 to £80,000 | 473/360 |
| Band F | £80,001 to £106,000 | 585/360 |
| Band G | £106,001 to £212,000 | 705/360 |
| Band H | over £212,000 | 882/360 |
Bands in Wales
Nine bands, A to I, based on values on 1 April 2003 (Wales revalued in 2005 and added Band I). A revaluation planned for 2028 was paused in October 2026.
| Band | Value on 1 April 2003 | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | up to £44,000 | 6/9 |
| Band B | £44,001 to £65,000 | 7/9 |
| Band C | £65,001 to £91,000 | 8/9 |
| Band D | £91,001 to £123,000 | 1 |
| Band E | £123,001 to £162,000 | 11/9 |
| Band F | £162,001 to £223,000 | 13/9 |
| Band G | £223,001 to £324,000 | 15/9 |
| Band H | £324,001 to £424,000 | 18/9 |
| Band I | over £424,000 | 21/9 |
How to check your band
Your band is printed on your council tax bill. To check any home's band, or compare it with neighbours:
- England and Wales: the Valuation Office Agency's Check your Council Tax band service on GOV.UK.
- Scotland: the Scottish Assessors website.
Challenging your band
In England and Wales you can formally challenge a band if you've been paying council tax on the home for less than 6 months, if the Valuation Office changed the band in the last 6 months, or if the home or the area has physically changed. Otherwise you can ask for a review by showing up to five similar homes nearby in a lower band, or sale prices from the valuation period (1989 to 1993 in England, 2001 to 2005 in Wales). Decisions take up to 4 months for a challenge and up to 12 months for a review. GOV.UK: challenge your council tax band.
In Scotland challenges go to your local Assessor rather than the Valuation Office; a new taxpayer can propose a change within 6 months of becoming liable. Appeals go to the First-tier Tribunal for Scotland (Local Taxation Chamber).
A review can leave your band unchanged or even move it up, and you must keep paying your current bill while it's looked at.
Changes on the way
- England: from April 2028 a High Value Council Tax Surcharge of £2,500 to £7,500 a year is planned for owners of homes worth £2 million or more, on top of council tax (GOV.UK).
- Scotland: the Scottish Government has consulted on two new top bands, I (£1m to £2m) and J (over £2m), from April 2028 based on 2026 values. Nothing has been legislated yet.
- Wales: the revaluation of all homes planned for April 2028 was paused on 20 October 2026 (Welsh Government).
Questions
What are council tax bands?
Every home is put in a band according to what it would have been worth on a fixed date: 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland, 1 April 2003 in Wales. Your council sets a Band D charge each year and every other band is a fixed fraction of it, so a Band A home always pays two-thirds of Band D and a Band H home in England pays twice Band D.
How do I find out my council tax band?
In England and Wales use the Valuation Office Agency's free "Check your Council Tax band" service on GOV.UK. In Scotland use the Scottish Assessors website. Your band is also on your bill.
How much is Band D council tax?
On average £2,391.52 a year in England, £2,283.08 in Wales and £1,653.44 in Scotland (before water and sewerage) in 2026/27. Each council's figure is on its page.
Can my band go down if I challenge it?
It can, but it can also stay the same or go up, and the Valuation Office (or the Assessor in Scotland) may look at similar homes nearby too. You must keep paying while it is reviewed.
Band values and shares from the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (sections 5 and 74) and the Council Tax (Substitution of Proportion) (Scotland) Order 2016. Challenge rules from GOV.UK.