How council tax is worked out
Your council tax depends on two things: the band your home sits in, and the Band D charge set by your local council. Every band is a fixed share of Band D. A Band A home pays six-ninths of the Band D charge, a Band D home pays the full amount, and a Band H home pays double. Those ratios are set in law and are the same across every council, so once you know your council's Band D figure you can work out any band.
The band comes from an estimated property value on a fixed date, not today's price. England and Scotland use values from 1 April 1991. Wales was revalued to 1 April 2003 and has an extra top band, Band I. Northern Ireland does not use council tax at all. It charges domestic rates based on property value, so it is not covered here.
Council tax bands (A to H) explained
In England, every home is placed in one of eight bands, A to H, based on what it would have sold for on the open market on 1 April 1991. It is the 1991 value that matters, not what the property is worth today, which is why a home bought decades later is still banded on that historic figure. The table below shows the value range behind each band.
| Band | Value on 1 April 1991 |
|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 |
| H | More than £320,000 |
Scotland uses the same eight bands, A to H, but based on 1 April 1991 values under its own thresholds. Wales was revalued to 1 April 2003 and runs from Band A to Band I, giving it nine bands. If you think your band is wrong, you can ask the Valuation Office Agency to review it, though a review can move the band up as well as down.
Council tax by band (England example)
The figures below use the England average Band D of about £2,392 for 2026/27. Your council's charge will differ, so enter its Band D figure in the calculator for a closer estimate. Monthly figures divide the year by 12, though many councils spread the bill over 10 instalments.
| Band | Share of Band D | Yearly | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 6/9 | £1,595 | £133 |
| B | 7/9 | £1,860 | £155 |
| C | 8/9 | £2,126 | £177 |
| D | 9/9 | £2,392 | £199 |
| E | 11/9 | £2,924 | £244 |
| F | 13/9 | £3,454 | £288 |
| G | 15/9 | £3,987 | £332 |
| H | 18/9 | £4,784 | £399 |
Scotland keeps the same A to D ratios but has its own higher multipliers for bands E to H, set in 2017. Wales runs from Band A to Band I. The calculator applies the right ratios once you pick your nation.
Ways to pay less council tax
If you are the only adult in your home, the single person discount takes 25% off the bill. Full-time students, and homes where everyone is a student, are exempt. People on a low income may qualify for Council Tax Reduction through their council, and some homes get a discount if a resident has a severe mental impairment or an annexe is involved. It is also worth checking your band is right, because a wrong band means a wrong bill for as long as it stands.
Frequently asked questions
Council tax by band
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Simon is the founder of Orbit Money, a tool that helps people track subscriptions and recurring spend. He builds Orbit's free money calculators and writes about personal finance for UK and Australian readers.
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