Council Tax Band Checker
This tool retrieves live council tax band data directly from the VOA (Valuation Office Agency) for England and Wales, and Scottish Assessors for Scotland. Enter your postcode and optional house number to see the exact band assigned to any UK property.
How council tax bands work: Every residential property in England, Scotland and Wales is assigned a council tax band. England and Scotland use bands A (lowest) to H (highest), set on estimated property values as of 1 April 1991 and never revalued nationally since. Wales has nine bands, A to I, based on values as of 1 April 2003 after its 2005 revaluation. Band D is the reference rate — all other bands are a fixed ratio of Band D.
Band multipliers (relative to Band D): A = 6/9 • B = 7/9 • C = 8/9 • D = 1 • E = 11/9 • F = 13/9 • G = 15/9 • H = 18/9
Annual charges vary by local authority. Each council sets its own Band D rate every April. A Band E property in Sutton pays a different amount to a Band E property in Manchester — this tool uses published 2026/27 Band D rates for all UK councils to calculate your estimated annual and monthly charge.
Scotland: All 32 Scottish councils use bands A–H, but rates are set by Scottish councils and are significantly lower than England on average (typically £1,200–£1,650/yr for Band D). Wales uses nine bands (A to I, with Band I the highest) based on 1 April 2003 values, with rates set by Welsh councils.
Can you challenge your band? Yes — if you believe your property was incorrectly valued in 1991, or similar nearby properties are in lower bands, you can appeal to the VOA (England/Wales) or Scottish Assessors. A successful challenge can save hundreds of pounds per year and the saving is backdated to when you moved in.
Estimates only — insurance and utilities vary by property and usage. Mortgage assumes capital repayment. Full loan detail in our Mortgage Repayment Calculator · borrowing power in the Affordability Calculator.
Compare live mortgage rates free (Mojo) →- Similar nearby properties are in a lower band
- Your property was incorrectly valued in 1991
- The property has been significantly altered since valuation
A successful challenge can save hundreds per year, backdated to when you moved in.
Read our step-by-step appeal guide →Or check the official VOA appeal page directly.
Council Tax by City
Birmingham · Manchester · Leeds · Sheffield · Liverpool · Bristol · Nottingham · Newcastle · Cambridge · Oxford · Brighton · Leicester · Coventry · Exeter · York · Norwich · Portsmouth · Southampton · Reading · Plymouth · Edinburgh · Glasgow · Cardiff · Swansea · Sutton · Croydon · Bromley · Barnet · Wandsworth · Westminster · Camden · Islington
Council Tax by Band
Band A · Band B · Band C · Band D · Band E · Band F · Band G · Band H
Discounts & Special Situations
Student exemption · Second homes · Empty property · Disabled reduction · Council Tax Support · New builds · Wales council tax guide
Frequently asked questions
Enter your postcode above and click Check council tax band. The tool looks up your property directly from the VOA database (England/Wales) or Scottish Assessors and shows your band — A through H — along with your annual and monthly charge based on your local authority's 2026/27 rates.
You can appeal your council tax band if you believe it is wrong. Common grounds include: similar properties nearby are in a lower band, the property was incorrectly valued in 1991, or the property has been structurally altered since valuation. In England and Wales, apply through the VOA portal. In Scotland, contact your local assessor. A successful appeal saves money from the date you moved in — not just going forward.
No. Council tax bands in England and Scotland are based on estimated property values as of 1 April 1991 — over 30 years ago (Wales was revalued in 2005, using 1 April 2003 values). This means a property worth £500,000 today might be in the same band as a similar property worth £150,000 in 1991. There has been no national revaluation since, which is why some properties are incorrectly banded.
Yes — this is one of the most useful ways to use this tool. Enter the postcode of any property you are considering buying to see its council tax band and estimated annual charge before you make an offer. Council tax is an ongoing cost that significantly affects affordability, especially for higher-banded properties in expensive local authority areas.
Each band pays a set proportion of the Band D rate. Band A pays 6/9ths of Band D (the lowest), Band H pays 18/9ths (double Band D). For example, if Band D is £2,392/yr in your area: Band A = £1,595/yr, Band C = £2,126/yr, Band E = £2,924/yr, Band G = £3,987/yr. The exact amounts vary by local authority since each council sets its own Band D rate every April.
Each local authority (council) sets its own Band D rate every April, subject to government limits. The rate reflects local spending needs, including social care, waste collection, policing (via the police precept), and fire services. This means two identical Band D properties in different councils can have annual bills that differ by over £1,000. Use this tool to compare rates across different postcodes.