MB
Mustafa Bilgic Updated 20 February 2026 • 2025/26 rates
£2,171

Avg Band D England 2025/26

A–H

8 bands in England & Scotland

1991

Base year for England band values

Council Tax Band Calculator

Enter your band and region to estimate your annual bill

Council Tax Bands in England (2025/26)

England uses eight council tax bands (A through H), originally set based on estimated property values on 1 April 1991. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) set these bands when council tax was introduced in 1993 and they have not been nationally revalued since.

Band1991 Property Value RangeFraction of Band DEstimated 2025/26 Annual Bill*
AUp to £40,0006/9£1,447
B£40,001 – £52,0007/9£1,688
C£52,001 – £68,0008/9£1,930
D£68,001 – £88,0009/9 (reference)£2,171
E£88,001 – £120,00011/9£2,653
F£120,001 – £160,00013/9£3,135
G£160,001 – £320,00015/9£3,618
HOver £320,00018/9 (double D)£4,342

*Based on national average Band D rate of £2,171. Your actual bill will vary by local authority.

Why 1991? Council tax replaced the deeply unpopular Community Charge (Poll Tax) in 1993. The government chose 1991 as the valuation date as it pre-dated the property market crash of 1992. A promised revaluation in England was cancelled in 2005. England is the only part of the UK not to have been revalued since introduction.

Council Tax Bands in Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland

Wales (Bands A–I, based on 2003 values)

Band2003 Property ValueFraction of Band D
AUnder £44,0006/9
B£44,001 – £65,0007/9
C£65,001 – £91,0008/9
D£91,001 – £123,0009/9
E£123,001 – £162,00011/9
F£162,001 – £223,00013/9
G£223,001 – £324,00015/9
H£324,001 – £424,00018/9
IOver £424,00021/9

Wales had a full revaluation in 2005 based on 2003 values. Average Band D in Wales is approximately £1,954 (2025/26).

Scotland (Bands A–H, based on 1991 values)

Scotland uses the same A–H band structure as England, also based on 1991 property values. However, Scotland sets its own tax rates independently through local councils. The average Band D rate in Scotland is approximately £1,372 (2025/26) — significantly lower than England due to different funding arrangements. Scottish councils are subject to a council tax freeze policy in recent years.

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland does not use a council tax system at all. Instead, it uses a domestic rates system, where a rate is charged based on the capital value of your property assessed on 1 January 2005. Rates are set annually by the Northern Ireland Executive. Domestic rates are collected by Land & Property Services (LPS).

How to Find Your Council Tax Band

1
Check your council tax bill: Your band is always printed on your annual council tax bill or demand notice. Look for "Band X" in the top section of the bill.
2
Search the VOA website: Visit gov.uk/council-tax-band-searches and enter your postcode. You can see your band and your neighbours' bands.
3
Check Rightmove or Zoopla: Many property portals now display council tax band alongside property listings — useful when viewing homes to buy.
4
Contact your local council: Your council can confirm your band by phone or email — have your postcode and full address ready.

Challenging Your Council Tax Band

If you believe your property is in the wrong band, you may be able to challenge it and have it reduced. Around 60% of successful challenges result in a lower band — and refunds can be backdated to when you first moved in or when the error began.

When you can make a challenge

  • When you first become liable for council tax at a property (best time to challenge)
  • If you have made a structural alteration that has reduced the property's value
  • If you become entitled to a discount or exemption that changes your liability
  • If a physical change to your local area has reduced your property value (e.g., new road)
  • If you discover similar properties on your street are in a lower band
Important: Challenging your band carries a small risk of it being increased, though this is rare. The VOA will look at comparable properties and may also look at yours more carefully. Make sure you have strong evidence before challenging.

How to gather evidence

  • Use the VOA website to check bands of similar nearby properties
  • Check sold prices of nearby properties around April 1991 (England) using HM Land Registry
  • Look for properties of similar size, type, and location in a lower band
  • Get a valuation from a local estate agent or RICS surveyor

The challenge process (England & Wales)

1
Informal proposal: Submit a proposal to the VOA online at gov.uk. Include your evidence. This is free.
2
VOA review: The VOA reviews your proposal and will accept, reject, or negotiate. This typically takes 2–6 months.
3
Valuation Tribunal: If you disagree with the VOA's decision, you can appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal within 3 months. This is also free but more formal.

What happens if your band is reduced?

If your challenge is successful:

  • Your council tax will be reduced going forward
  • You may receive a backdated refund to when you first moved in, or when the error was made
  • Neighbours with the same banding issue may also benefit (the VOA may reclassify similar properties)

Band D Multipliers Explained

The mathematics behind council tax bands is straightforward. Band D is the reference point (set to 9 ninths = 1.0). All other bands are calculated as fractions or multiples:

Band A (6/9) = 66.7% of D rate
Band B (7/9) = 77.8% of D rate
Band C (8/9) = 88.9% of D rate
Band D (9/9) = 100% — reference rate
Band E (11/9) = 122.2% of D rate
Band F (13/9) = 144.4% of D rate
Band G (15/9) = 166.7% of D rate
Band H (18/9) = 200% of D rate (double)

So if a council sets a Band D rate of £2,000, Band A would be £1,333 and Band H would be £4,000.

The 2025/26 Council Tax Increases

For 2025/26, most councils in England raised council tax by close to the maximum permitted without a referendum. The government allowed:

  • General increase: up to 3% without a referendum
  • Social care precept: an additional 2% for councils responsible for adult social care
  • Total: up to 5% for most councils with social care responsibilities
Council typeMax increase (no referendum)
Most single-tier and county councils3% core + 2% social care = 5%
District councils3% or £5, whichever is higher
Police preceptUp to £14/year (Band D)
Fire & rescueUp to 3%

Frequently Asked Questions

How are council tax bands determined?
Council tax bands in England and Scotland are based on the estimated market value of your property on 1 April 1991. In Wales, bands are based on 1 April 2003 values. Properties are placed into bands A through H (A through I in Wales) by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The banding was set once and properties remain in those bands unless successfully challenged or a material change occurs.
How do I find out what council tax band my property is in?
You can find your council tax band by visiting the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website at gov.uk/council-tax-band-searches and entering your postcode. You can see your own band and all your neighbours' bands too — this is useful when building a challenge. Your band is also printed on your annual council tax bill or demand notice.
Can I challenge my council tax band?
Yes, you can challenge your council tax band if you believe it is too high. The best time to challenge is when you first move into a property. You must contact the Valuation Office Agency with evidence, such as the sold prices or bands of comparable properties in lower bands. Around 60% of challenges result in a band reduction, and refunds can be backdated. The process is free and starts with an informal proposal on the VOA website.
What is Band D council tax and why is it used as a reference?
Band D is used as the standard reference point for council tax calculations because it sits in the middle of the 8-band scale. Councils set their Band D rate each year and all other bands are calculated as fractions or multiples of it. Band A is 6/9 (two-thirds) of Band D, while Band H is 18/9 (double) the Band D rate. This makes Band D useful as a benchmark for comparing council tax levels between different local authorities.
What is the average council tax bill in 2025/26?
The average Band D council tax bill in England for 2025/26 is approximately £2,171 per year. This represents an increase of around 5% from 2024/25. Bills vary significantly by local authority, from under £1,500 in some areas to over £2,500 in others. London boroughs tend to have lower bills as they benefit from a larger tax base. Rural areas often have higher bills due to lower population density and higher service costs.
Can a recently sold house trigger a council tax rebanding?
Yes, when a property changes hands, the Valuation Office Agency may reassess its council tax band. Importantly, a successful challenge to one property's band can sometimes lead the VOA to review similar neighbouring properties. This means your neighbours' successful challenge could benefit you — or your challenge could benefit them. The VOA can reband properties proactively when they become aware of systemic mispricing in an area.
How do council tax bands differ between England, Scotland, and Wales?
England and Scotland use Bands A–H based on 1991 property values. Wales uses Bands A–I (nine bands) based on 2003 values following a revaluation. Northern Ireland has a completely separate domestic rates system based on current capital values. Each nation sets its own Band D rates independently. Scotland tends to have lower council tax due to different government funding. Wales had a revaluation in 2005; England has not been revalued since the system launched in 1993.