How do I find my Council Tax band?

What is your Council Tax band, and how much Council Tax should you be paying? Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Modern suburban family houses with car on driveway

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

Council Tax is the money you pay your local council for the services they provide in your community. But how do you work out your Council Tax, and who decides how much you owe? Let’s take a look. 

What is a Council Tax band?

Your Council Tax band determines how much Council Tax you pay. The band you’re in depends on the value of your property at a certain point in time. This is why, for example, homes in the same street often pay the same – or very similar – Council Tax rates, but homes a few streets away might be in a different band. 

Council Tax bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). 

What are the Council Tax bands?

It all depends on where you live in the UK. 

England 

  • There are eight property bands in England and Scotland (from band A to band H). 
  • The bands are based on how much your property was worth in April 1991 (i.e. how much you could sell the property for back then).
  • Band A is the lowest category for homes worth up to £40,000 back in 1991. At the other end of the scale, band H covers homes that were worth over £320,000. 

Scotland

  • Again, there are eight bands from A to H. The values are slightly different, though. 
  • Band A covers homes worth up to £27,000. Homes worth over £212,000 fall into category H. 

Wales

  • The bands are based on a property’s sale value in April 2003, not 1991. 
  • Homes fall into one of nine bands from A to I. 
  • Homes worth up to £44,000 fall into category A. If your home was worth over £424,000 in 2003, it’s in category I.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland uses domestic rates, not Council Tax bands. Check out the nidirect.gov.uk website for help working out your property rates. 

New builds

For homes built after 1991 (or 2003 in Wales), assessors compare the property to similar homes in the surrounding areas to find the right band. 

How do I know which Council Tax band I’m in?

It’s easy to find your Council Tax band. 

  • If you’re in England or Wales, simply follow the step-by-step guide on the gov.uk website. 
  • For Scottish homes, visit the Scottish Assessors website and type in your postcode to view a list of properties with their relevant bands. 

You can also ask your local council to tell you your Council Tax band.

What if I don’t agree with my Council Tax band?

First, compare your band to that of your neighbours’. If your properties are similar but you’re paying more than your neighbours and you think this is wrong, you can request a band review. 

England

Contact the VOA and explain why you think your Council Tax band is wrong. Reasons include:

  • The VOA made the wrong valuation at the outset
  • the property has been substantially changed
  • Changes in the surrounding area have affected the property’s rateable value 

You can always appeal the decision if the VOA reject your proposal.

A word of caution: there’s a chance you’ll end up in a higher tax band than you’re in right now, which means you’ll actually pay more in Council Tax. Be aware that this is a possibility before you ask for a review. 

Wales

Welsh homes were all revalued in 2003, so errors are fairly unlikely. However, you can still request a review. 

Scotland

In Scotland, find your local assessor on the Scottish Assessor website and request a band review. They can often do this informally and get back to you quickly. 

You can ask for a formal review if you moved into the property less than six months ago, or you recently received word that your band is changing. Your local assessor can give you the form for this.

Remember: if you ask for a review, you could end up paying more Council Tax than before. Bear this in mind before challenging a decision.

Can I get a Council Tax discount?

Maybe. If you can’t change your band, you might be eligible for a discount if: 

  • You’re a student living alone or with other students 
  • You live alone or with under-18s
  • You receive Pension Credit. Check with your local authorities to see if you’re eligible.

If you’re on certain benefits or a low income, you might qualify for a Council Tax reduction, but it depends on your circumstances. 

Takeaway

Your Council Tax band determines how much Council Tax you pay. It’s easy to find out your Council Tax band and you can apply to get it changed if there are reasonable grounds to do so. Just remember that if you apply to change your band, you could end up paying more Council Tax. 

If you’re worried about paying your tax bill, or you’re struggling with debt and want to apply for help with your Council Tax, contact your local council or HMRC for more information. You can also reach out for debt advice

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

More on Personal Finance

Note paper with question mark on orange background
Personal Finance

Should you invest your ISA in a model portfolio?

Which model ISA portfolios offer both high performance and low fees? Hargreaves Lansdown, Interactive Investor and AJ Bell go under…

Read more »

Economic Uncertainty Ahead Sign With Stormy Background
Personal Finance

Is it time to exit emerging markets investments?

Investors may well be sitting on losses from emerging markets funds. Is it worth keeping the faith for a sustained…

Read more »

Personal Finance

Share trading? Three shares with turnaround potential

Share trading has been difficult in 2022, but which companies have turnaround potential? Jo Groves takes a closer look at…

Read more »

Man using credit card and smartphone for purchasing goods online.
Personal Finance

Revealed! Why Gen Z may be the savviest generation when it comes to credit cards

New research reveals that Gen Z may be the most astute when it comes to credit cards. But why? And…

Read more »

Environmental technology concept.
Personal Finance

The 10 best-performing sectors for ISA investors

The best-performing sectors over the past year invested in real assets such as infrastructure, but is this trend set to…

Read more »

Road sign warning of a risk ahead
Personal Finance

Recession risk ‘on the rise’: is it time for investors to worry?

A major global bank has suggested the risk of a recession in the UK is 'on the rise'. So, should…

Read more »

pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Personal Finance

1 in 4 cutting back on investments amid cost of living crisis

New research shows one in four investors have cut back on their investing contributions to cope with the rising cost…

Read more »

Image of person checking their shares portfolio on mobile phone and computer
Personal Finance

The 10 most popular stocks among UK investors so far this year

As the new tax year kicks off, here's a look at some of the most popular stocks among UK investors…

Read more »