What Are Council Tax Bands?
Simply put: Council tax bands group homes by their value. Band A homes are the cheapest, Band H homes are the most expensive. Your band determines how much council tax you pay.
In England and Scotland, property values are based on what homes were worth on 1 April 1991. In Wales, they're based on values from 1 April 2003.
Council Tax Bands in England & Scotland
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 (67%) |
| B | £40,001 - £52,000 | 7/9 (78%) |
| C | £52,001 - £68,000 | 8/9 (89%) |
| D | £68,001 - £88,000 | 9/9 (100%) |
| E | £88,001 - £120,000 | 11/9 (122%) |
| F | £120,001 - £160,000 | 13/9 (144%) |
| G | £160,001 - £320,000 | 15/9 (167%) |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 (200%) |
What Does "Ratio to Band D" Mean?
Councils set a "Band D" rate as the baseline. All other bands pay a percentage of this. For example, if Band D is £2,000/year, Band A pays £1,333 (67%), and Band H pays £4,000 (200%).
Council Tax Bands in Wales
Wales has 9 bands (A to I) based on property values from April 2003:
| Band | Property Value (2003) | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £44,001 - £65,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £65,001 - £91,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £91,001 - £123,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £123,001 - £162,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £162,001 - £223,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £223,001 - £324,000 | 15/9 |
| H | £324,001 - £424,000 | 18/9 |
| I | Over £424,000 | 21/9 |
How to Check Your Council Tax Band
You can check your band for free using government websites:
Can You Challenge Your Band?
Yes! You can challenge your band if you believe it's wrong. Common reasons include:
- 1Similar properties are in a lower band
Compare with identical properties on your street
- 2Your property has reduced in value
Due to physical changes to the local area
- 3You've just moved in
New residents can challenge within 6 months
- 4Part of your home is now a business
You might pay business rates on part of it instead
Warning
If you challenge your band, it could go UP as well as down. Only challenge if you're confident your band is too high. You can't withdraw once you've started the process.
Real World Example
Let's say your council sets Band D at £2,000 per year. Here's what each band would pay:
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