How to Find the Council Tax Band of Any UK Property
Council tax bands are public information. This guide explains how to find the band, how the bands relate to property value, and how to challenge an incorrect band.
Published: 15 Apr 2026 · Updated: 15 Apr 2026 · 6 min read
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What council tax bands are
Council tax in England and Scotland is calculated based on the band assigned to each property by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA in England) or the Scottish Assessors. The band reflects the property's value as of 1 April 1991 in England and 1 April 1991 in Scotland (yes, more than 30 years ago). Wales uses a more recent valuation date of 1 April 2003.
The bands are:
| Band | England (1991 value) | Wales (2003 value) |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | Up to £44,000 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £44,001 to £65,000 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £65,001 to £91,000 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £91,001 to £123,000 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £123,001 to £162,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £162,001 to £223,000 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £223,001 to £324,000 |
| H | Over £320,000 | £324,001 to £424,000 |
| I | (Wales only) | Over £424,000 |
Each local authority sets its own council tax rate at Band D and the other bands are calculated as a fixed proportion of D. So a Band F property pays roughly 1.444 times the Band D amount in the same local authority.
Different local authorities have very different Band D amounts. Hammersmith and Fulham's Band D for 2025 to 2026 is around £1,200, while some northern unitary authorities are above £2,500. The same property would attract very different annual bills depending on which local authority it sits in.
How to find the band of a specific property
Valuation Office Agency website
The VOA's online service at gov.uk/council-tax-bands lets you search by postcode and address. The result shows the current band, the local authority, and the bill amount for the current tax year.
Council website
Most local authority websites have a council tax look-up tool that shows the band and the bill for any address in their area.
Property Passport UK
Property Passport UK shows the local authority for every property in England and Wales at [/search](/search). Once you know the local authority, you can use either the VOA service or the council's own look-up to find the specific band.
How bands relate to today's market value
Because the bands are based on 1991 (or 2003 in Wales) values, they bear only a loose relationship to current market values. Property values have risen unevenly across the UK over 30 years, so two homes with the same current market value can be in very different bands depending on what they were worth in 1991.
This unfairness has been the source of recurring calls for council tax reform. The Welsh Government revalued in 2003 and is consulting on further reform. The English government has periodically considered revaluation but has never implemented one because of the political risk of creating winners and losers.
When the band might be wrong
Reasons a band might be wrong:
1. The original 1991 valuation was an estimate based on limited data
2. The property has been substantially altered (extension, conversion) since 1991 in a way that should change the band
3. The neighbourhood has changed in a way that would have affected the 1991 valuation
4. A clerical error placed the property in the wrong band
5. Other identical properties on the same street are in a different band
If you suspect your band is too high, see our council tax challenge guide.
Why it matters for buyers
The annual council tax bill is a significant ongoing cost. For a Band D property in a London borough at £1,200, you pay £1,200 per year. For a Band G property in a high-tax local authority at £2,800 Band D, you pay around £4,672 per year. The difference adds up to thousands of pounds over the period of ownership.
Always check the council tax band before making an offer. The estate agent's particulars usually quote the band but not always accurately.
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