CTBCouncil Tax Bands

Council Tax Bands 2026/27

Check your band, your 2026/27 rate, and your council in one step.

Free postcode lookup. Data from the VOA and your local authority's 2026/27 schedule.

Average Band D Council Tax 2026/27

England - Band D average

£2,392.00

+£113.00 (+5.0%) vs 2025/26

Wales - Band D average

£2,283.00

+£110.00 (+5.1%) vs 2025/26

Scotland - Band D average

£1,697.00

+£83.00 (+5.1%) vs 2025/26

Source: DLUHC council tax statistics 2026/27. England figure is national average; individual councils vary. 2027/28 rates will be set by councils in early 2027.

Council Tax Bands A to H Explained

England and Scotland use 8 bands (A to H) based on 1991 property values. Wales has 9 bands (A to I) based on 2003 values. Each band is a fixed multiple of the Band D rate set by your local authority.

A

Up to £40,000

6/9 of Band D

B

£40,001–£52,000

7/9 of Band D

C

£52,001–£68,000

8/9 of Band D

D

£68,001–£88,000

Baseline (9/9)

E

£88,001–£120,000

11/9 of Band D

F

£120,001–£160,000

13/9 of Band D

G

£160,001–£320,000

15/9 of Band D

H

Over £320,000

18/9 (2x Band D)

+ Band I (Wales only, over £424,000 at 2003 values)

Find Rates by Council

Browse council tax rates by region or search for your local authority directly.

London BoroughsNorth WestWest MidlandsYorkshireSouth EastSouth WestWalesScotland
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Major Councils - Band D Rates 2026/27

CouncilBand D 2026/27
Westminster City Council£888.86
Wandsworth Borough Council£895.15
Camden London Borough Council£1,985.00
Lambeth London Borough Council£1,921.00
Tower Hamlets London Borough Council£1,505.00
Hackney London Borough Council£1,860.00
Manchester City Council£1,946.00
Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council£2,093.00
Salford City Council£2,129.00
Liverpool City Council£2,347.00
Birmingham City Council£2,388.00
Coventry City Council£1,969.00
See all councils

Challenge your band

Think your property is in the wrong band? The neighbour-check method is the most effective first step. We explain both the formal proposal route and the informal review, and when each applies. Important: VOA can increase your band if evidence shows it was too low.

How to challenge

Discounts you might be missing

Single-person discount (25%), full student exemption, Disabled Band Reduction, Council Tax Support. Many households qualify for a reduction but have never claimed. The single-person discount alone saves over £500 per year in most councils.

Check discounts

How Council Tax Bands Work

Council tax bands in England and Scotland are based on what your property would have sold for on 1 April 1991, even if it was built decades later. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) assigned every property in England to a band using this 1991 estimate. Wales conducted a separate revaluation in 2003 and added a ninth band, Band I. In Scotland, the Scottish Assessors carry out the same function as the VOA but the appeal process goes through a different tribunal.

Each year, your local authority sets the Band D rate. Every other band is then calculated as a fixed fraction: Band A is 6/9 of Band D; Band H is 18/9 (double) Band D. The council sets the amount, not the band itself. The VOA sets the band, not the rate. This distinction is important when challenging a band or querying a bill.

No revaluation has been carried out in England since 1991, making it one of the longest-running frozen valuations in international comparison. This means many properties are in bands that may not reflect their relative market position today. Properties that have risen substantially in relative terms are at risk of being undervalued for band purposes; properties in areas with slower price growth may be relatively better placed. The evidence required to successfully challenge a band must still relate to 1991 comparables, not current market values.

How bands work in EnglandWales (9 bands, 2003 base)Scotland (Scottish Assessors)

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out what council tax band I am in?
Enter your postcode into the lookup tool at the top of this page. We return your band and your local authority's full 2026/27 rate table in one step. For the official VOA record, you can also check gov.uk/council-tax-bands.
What does the average Band D household pay in 2026/27?
The average Band D council tax in England for 2026/27 is £2,392. This is the figure most commonly quoted because Band D is the benchmark rate from which all other bands are calculated as fixed multiples. Rates vary significantly by local authority, from under £900 per year in Westminster to over £2,400 in some northern councils.
How much has council tax gone up in 2026?
Most English councils applied the maximum permitted increase of 4.99% for 2026/27. For a Band D household, this adds roughly £90 to £110 per year depending on your local authority. Welsh councils typically saw similar percentage rises. Scottish councils each set their own increase within Scottish Government guidelines.
Can I challenge my council tax band?
Yes, if you believe your property has been placed in the wrong band relative to comparable properties at the 1991 valuation date (2003 for Wales). The most effective route is the neighbour-check method: if nearby properties of the same size and type are in a lower band, that is evidence your band may be too high. Be aware that VOA can also increase your band if they find it is too low.
What is the single-person discount?
If you are the only adult (aged 18 or over) counted as living in a property, you receive a 25% reduction on your council tax bill. Full-time students, apprentices, and certain other groups are disregarded when counting residents. Apply through your local authority's council tax team.
Why are council tax bands based on 1991 property values?
Bands in England and Scotland were set by the Valuation Office Agency based on estimated open-market values as at 1 April 1991. Wales conducted a revaluation using 2003 values. No further revaluation has been carried out in England or Scotland, largely because revaluations are politically difficult and would redistribute tax burdens significantly across regions.
Do Wales and Scotland have the same bands as England?
Scotland uses the same 8 bands (A to H) with the same 1991 valuation base as England, though the appeal process goes through Scottish Assessors rather than the VOA. Wales conducted a separate revaluation in 2003 and has 9 bands (A to I), with Band I covering properties over £424,000 at 2003 values.
See all FAQs
Independent information. Not affiliated with the Valuation Office Agency, any local authority, or Scottish Assessors. Rate data is compiled from published 2026/27 council tax schedules. Not legal or financial advice. Contact your local authority for billing queries.

Updated April 2026. Rates for 2026/27 (from 1 April 2026). 2027/28 rates will be published by individual councils in February-March 2027.