Household Bills
Council Tax Bands Explained: How Your Band Is Set and What You Pay
Every home is in a council tax band set from its value on a fixed past date: 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland, 1 April 2003 in Wales. Your council sets the charge for each band every April, and every band pays a fixed share of Band D.
- Bands A to H (A to I in Wales)
- Usually ten instalments a year
- A review can raise a band too
Keeps the council, the amount and the bill with the rest of your household costs.
Your council tax
- Band
- From your bill
- Council
- From your postcode
- Next bill
- Each April
Example. Your own details appear once you add them.
The full guide
Council tax is a tax on the home, paid to the local council. Every home is in a band, set from what it would have been worth on a fixed date in the past, not what it is worth today. The council sets the amount for each band every April, so two homes in the same band in the same council area pay the same.
How the band is set
- England: eight bands, A to H, from the home’s value on 1 April 1991, set by the Valuation Office Agency.
- Wales: nine bands, A to I, from the value on 1 April 2003, also set by the Valuation Office Agency.
- Scotland: eight bands, A to H, from the value on 1 April 1991, set by the local Assessor.
- Northern Ireland: no council tax; homes pay domestic rates instead.
The bands in England
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 | Share of the Band D charge |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | More than £320,000 | 18/9 |
The council sets a Band D charge and every other band is a fixed share of it, so a Band H home pays twice what a Band D home pays in the same area.
How to check your band
In England and Wales, search for your address on GOV.UK’s council tax band service; in Scotland, on the Scottish Assessors’ website. Your council tax bill also states the band.
How the bill is paid
The bill arrives once a year, around March, for April to March. In England and Wales it is usually paid in ten monthly instalments from April to January; you can ask the council to spread it over twelve. Most councils take payment by direct debit.
Discounts and exemptions
- A single person discount of 25% if you are the only adult counted as living there.
- Homes where everyone is a full-time student are usually exempt.
- Council Tax Reduction for people on a lower income, run by each council.
- Some people are not counted at all, which can bring a discount: the council decides who.
If you think your band is wrong
Compare the bands of similar homes nearby on the same service. You can ask the Valuation Office Agency (or the Assessor in Scotland) to review it, with your reasons. A review can leave the band where it is, lower it or raise it, so check similar homes first.
When you move
Tell both councils the date you move out and in. Council tax and water when you move covers it, and Moving Home starts from the new postcode and shows which council it belongs to.
How Wisemium helps
Add your council tax bill to Wisemium and it keeps the council, the amount and the bill with the rest of your household costs, so next April’s bill is something you can compare with this year’s. Wisemium does not set bands or decide discounts; the council and the Valuation Office Agency do.
Keeps the council, the amount and the bill with the rest of your household costs.
Common questions
What is council tax based on?
The band your home is in, set from its value on 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland and 1 April 2003 in Wales, and the amount your council sets for that band each April.
How many instalments is council tax paid in?
Usually ten monthly instalments from April to January in England and Wales. You can ask your council for twelve.
Can my band go up if I ask for a review?
Yes. A review can leave the band the same, lower it or raise it.
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