Avg Band D England 2025/26
8 bands in England & Scotland
Base year for England band values
Council Tax Band Calculator
Enter your band and region to estimate your annual bill
How to Check Your Council Tax Band (Free Band Checker)
The quickest way to check your council tax band is the official council tax band checker on gov.uk. It is free, takes seconds, and shows the band for any property in England or Wales (Scotland is checked separately via the Scottish Assessors).
Council Tax Bands A–H in England (1991 Value Ranges)
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.
| Band | 1991 Property Value Range | Fraction of Band D | Estimated 2025/26 Annual Bill* |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 | £1,447 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 | 7/9 | £1,688 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 | 8/9 | £1,930 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 | 9/9 (reference) | £2,171 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 | 11/9 | £2,653 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 | 13/9 | £3,135 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 | 15/9 | £3,618 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 (double D) | £4,342 |
*Based on national average Band D rate of £2,171. Your actual bill will vary by local authority.
Council Tax Bands in Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland
Wales (Bands A–I, based on 2003 values)
| Band | 2003 Property Value | Fraction of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Under £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 |
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).
Other Ways to Check Your Council Tax Band
As well as the official gov.uk council tax band checker above, there are several other ways to confirm what council tax band a property is in:
How to Challenge Your Council Tax Band
If you believe your property is in the wrong council tax band, you may be able to challenge it and have it reduced. You start a challenge free through the same official gov.uk council tax band checker that you use to check your band. 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
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)
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:
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 type | Max increase (no referendum) |
|---|---|
| Most single-tier and county councils | 3% core + 2% social care = 5% |
| District councils | 3% or £5, whichever is higher |
| Police precept | Up to £14/year (Band D) |
| Fire & rescue | Up to 3% |
How Council Tax Bands Work
Council tax is a local tax set by your council to fund services such as refuse collection, street lighting, libraries, parks, police and fire services. The amount you pay depends on which band your property falls into and the rate set by your local council. Bills vary significantly by area, so it is worth checking your band and comparing it with similar properties nearby.
Properties in England and Scotland are placed in bands A to H based on estimated market value on 1 April 1991. In Wales, bands run from A to I and are based on values at 1 April 2003. Band D sits in the middle of the scale and is used as the reference rate for comparing council tax between different local authorities.
Who Pays Less — Discounts and Exemptions
Single occupants living alone receive a 25% discount on their council tax bill. Full-time students, people with a severe mental impairment, and certain live-in carers may be disregarded or exempt entirely. Council Tax Reduction (formerly Council Tax Benefit) is available for households on low incomes — the amount depends on your council. You can choose to pay over 10 or 12 monthly instalments.
Why Checking and Challenging Matters
England has not been nationally revalued since council tax was introduced in 1993. Bands were set quickly in the early 1990s, and the Valuation Office Agency itself has acknowledged that errors exist. That means some homes have been in the wrong band for decades. If your band is too high, challenging it is free, the process can be done online through gov.uk, and successful challenges can result in a refund backdated to when you first became liable at that property.
Source: Based on current council tax regulations. Rates vary by local authority — check your council's website for your exact bill.