Council Tax Bands England 2025: What You Pay
A complete guide to council tax bands A to H in England, average rates for 2025/26, how bands are set, how to look up your band, how to challenge it, and the support available to reduce your bill.
Contents
- How council tax bands are set
- Band A to H: 1991 value ranges and ratios
- Average council tax rates by band 2025/26
- Council tax rates by local authority
- How to find out your band
- Challenging your council tax band
- Discounts and exemptions
- Council Tax Reduction and support
- Second homes and empty properties
- Frequently asked questions
How Council Tax Bands Are Set
Council tax bands in England are based on the estimated open market value of your property as it stood on 1 April 1991. Even though property values have changed enormously since then, the 1991 valuations remain in use for council tax purposes. A national revaluation has not been carried out since the system was introduced in 1993.
The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), which is part of HMRC, is responsible for assigning council tax bands. When a new property is built, the VOA assesses what the property would have been worth in April 1991 using comparable property values from that era.
Band A to H: 1991 Value Ranges and Payment Ratios
There are eight council tax bands in England, labelled A to H. The table below shows the April 1991 value ranges and the fraction of the Band D rate each band pays.
| Band | 1991 Property Value | Ratio to Band D | Fraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 67% | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 78% | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 89% | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 100% | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 122% | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 144% | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 167% | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 200% | 18/9 |
For example, if your council sets the Band D rate at £2,171, a Band A household pays approximately £1,447 (67%) and a Band H household pays approximately £4,342 (200%).
Average Council Tax Rates by Band 2025/26
Based on the England average Band D rate of £2,171 for 2025/26, the estimated average council tax for each band is:
These are average figures for England. Your actual bill depends on your local authority's Band D rate, which can vary widely.
Council Tax Rates by Local Authority 2025/26
The following table shows indicative Band D council tax rates for selected local authority areas in England for 2025/26. These figures include all precepts (police, fire, parish) unless stated otherwise.
| Local Authority Area | Approx. Band D 2025/26 | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Westminster, London | ~£1,001 | London |
| Wandsworth, London | ~£1,052 | London |
| City of London | ~£1,082 | London |
| Hammersmith & Fulham, London | ~£1,489 | London |
| Manchester | ~£1,996 | North West |
| Birmingham | ~£2,115 | West Midlands |
| Leeds | ~£2,032 | Yorkshire |
| Bristol | ~£2,245 | South West |
| Nottingham | ~£2,226 | East Midlands |
| Surrey (Woking) | ~£2,455 | South East |
| Rutland | ~£2,437 | East Midlands |
| Dorset | ~£2,345 | South West |
How to Find Out Your Council Tax Band
There are several ways to check which council tax band your property is in:
- Valuation Office Agency (VOA) website: Go to voa.gov.uk and use the 'Find a council tax band' service. Enter your postcode and select your address. The result is free and instant.
- Your council tax bill: Your local authority sends an annual council tax bill (usually in March or April). Your band is printed on this document.
- Contact your local council: Your council's council tax department can confirm your band over the phone or by email.
- Sold house price data: When your property was sold or a neighbouring similar property was sold, the band may have been reassessed. Land Registry sale data and Zoopla/Rightmove listings often show council tax band information.
Challenging Your Council Tax Band
If you believe your property has been assigned to the wrong council tax band, you can challenge it through the Valuation Office Agency. There is no charge for making a challenge.
Grounds for a Challenge
- Similar properties on your street or nearby are in a lower band
- There has been a material reduction in the value of your property (e.g., part demolished, persistent flooding)
- You have recently moved in and believe the band is wrong
- There has been a change to your property that affects its band (note: improvements may push the band up when sold)
How to Challenge
- Gather evidence: check comparable properties on the VOA website
- Submit a formal proposal to the VOA via their website
- If the VOA rejects your proposal, you can appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal
- A successful challenge can result in a backdated refund of council tax overpaid since you moved in
Discounts and Exemptions
A number of discounts and exemptions can reduce or eliminate your council tax bill:
| Discount/Exemption | Amount | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Single person discount | 25% | Only one adult lives in the property |
| Student exemption | Up to 100% | All occupants are full-time students |
| Severely mentally impaired discount | 25-100% | One or more occupants are severely mentally impaired |
| Care home residents | Exempt | Person living in a care home or hospital long-term |
| Apprentices and trainees | Disregarded as adults | Qualifying apprentices (not counted in occupancy) |
| Armed forces accommodation | Exempt | MOD-owned accommodation |
| Empty properties (unfurnished) | Class C — up to 100% for up to 6 months | Recently vacated empty property |
The single person discount of 25% is the most widely claimed. If you live alone, or are the only adult in the property (students, severely mentally impaired individuals, and certain others are not counted as adults for council tax purposes), you should claim this discount from your local council.
Council Tax Reduction and Support
Council Tax Reduction (CTR), also called Council Tax Support, is a local benefit administered by each council. It helps people on low incomes pay their council tax bill. Each council runs its own scheme, so the rules and maximum support levels vary.
Who Can Apply
- People on Universal Credit or other means-tested benefits
- People with low income who are not receiving benefits
- Pensioners (protected scheme — up to 100% reduction possible)
- Carers and people with disabilities
How to Apply
Apply for Council Tax Reduction directly with your local council. Most councils have an online application form. You will typically need to provide evidence of your income, savings, and household composition. Decisions are usually made within a few weeks.
Example: Single Person on Universal Credit
Maria lives alone in a Band B property in Manchester. Her annual council tax bill would be approximately £1,472 (Band B rate). She receives Universal Credit and qualifies for:
- 25% single person discount: saves £368
- Council Tax Reduction of 70% (after discount): saves approximately £771
- Net council tax payable: approximately £333 per year
The exact CTR percentage depends on Maria's income and the Manchester City Council CTR scheme rules for 2025/26.
Second Homes and Empty Properties
Councils in England have powers to charge a council tax premium on second homes and long-term empty properties. From April 2025, the rules were strengthened:
| Property Type | Premium (above standard rate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Second home (furnished, not main home) | Up to 100% premium | Councils can charge double the standard bill |
| Empty property — 1 to 5 years | Up to 100% premium | Council discretion — some charge standard rate |
| Empty property — 5 to 10 years | Up to 200% premium | Total bill up to three times standard |
| Empty property — over 10 years | Up to 300% premium | Total bill up to four times standard |
Frequently Asked Questions
Council tax bands in England run from Band A (the lowest) to Band H (the highest). They are based on the estimated market value of your property in April 1991. Band A covers properties valued at up to £40,000 in 1991; Band H covers those valued at over £320,000. Each band pays a set fraction of the local Band D rate.
The average Band D council tax in England for 2025/26 is approximately £2,171, up by around 5% from 2024/25. This varies considerably by local authority — from below £1,100 in some London boroughs to over £2,400 in some shire counties including all precepts.
Check your band for free at the Valuation Office Agency website (voa.gov.uk). Enter your postcode and select your address. You can also find your band on your council tax bill, which your local authority sends each spring. Neighbours in similar properties should be in the same band.
Yes. Submit a proposal to the Valuation Office Agency if you believe your property is in the wrong band. There is no charge. Compare your band with similar neighbouring properties first. A successful challenge can reduce your band and result in a backdated refund. If the VOA refuses, you can appeal to the independent Valuation Tribunal.
Key discounts include: 25% single person discount if you are the only adult in the property; full exemption for households where all residents are full-time students; and discounts for severely mentally impaired individuals, care home residents, and certain carers. Council Tax Reduction is available for those on low incomes.
Council Tax Reduction (CTR), also called Council Tax Support, is a scheme run by each local council to help people on low incomes pay their council tax. Each council sets its own rules. Pensioners may receive up to 100% reduction. Working-age claimants typically receive partial reduction based on income. Apply directly with your local council.
Each local authority sets its own Band D rate based on local service costs and the number of properties in each band. The bill may also include precepts from the police, fire authority, and parish councils. London boroughs generally have lower rates due to central government grants and a larger business rate base.