How to Check If Your Council Tax Band Is Wrong

Council tax is one of the biggest household bills in the UK, yet most people never question whether they're paying the right amount. The truth is, your council tax band was set in 1991 based on estimated property values — and mistakes were widespread. If your band is wrong, you could be overpaying by hundreds of pounds every year.

Here's how to check whether your council tax band is correct, and what steps to take if you think it's wrong.

What Are Council Tax Bands?

Every residential property in England and Scotland is placed in a council tax band from A (lowest) to H (highest). In Wales, there are bands A to I. These bands were originally based on what your property would have been worth on 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland, or 1 April 2003 in Wales.

The bands determine how much council tax you pay. A property in Band D, for example, pays roughly twice as much as one in Band A. The exact amounts vary by local authority, but the differences can be significant — often several hundred pounds per year between adjacent bands.

Why Might Your Band Be Wrong?

When council tax was introduced in 1993, the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) had to band around 25 million properties in England alone. Given the scale of the task, many properties were assessed using a "drive-by" method rather than detailed individual valuations. This inevitably led to errors.

Common reasons for incorrect banding include:

• Bulk assessments: Properties on the same street were often given the same band, even when they differed significantly in size, condition, or features.
• Changes since 1991: Extensions, conversions, or demolitions may not have been reflected in your band (though bands should only change on a sale in most cases).
• Comparable properties in lower bands: Your neighbours with similar or even larger homes might be in a lower band than you.
• New-build errors: Properties built after 1993 sometimes receive bands that don't match comparable older properties in the area.

The VOA itself estimates that around 400,000 properties have had their bands changed since council tax began — which suggests many more are still incorrectly banded.

Step 1: Find Your Current Band

The easiest way to check your current council tax band is to visit the GOV.UK council tax band checker. Enter your postcode, find your property, and note down your band.

You can also find your band on your council tax bill, or by contacting your local authority.

Step 2: Compare With Your Neighbours

This is the most important step. Council tax bands should be consistent — similar properties in the same area should be in the same band. If your semi-detached house is in Band D but the near-identical one next door is in Band C, something may be wrong.

To compare, you can:

• Use our free checker: TaxBandCheck automatically compares your property with others on your street and flags any anomalies.
• Check the VOA list manually: Search for your postcode on the GOV.UK website and look at the bands of comparable properties.
• Talk to neighbours: Ask people in similar properties what band they're in. You might be surprised.

When comparing, focus on properties that are genuinely similar to yours — same type (detached, semi, terrace, flat), similar size, and similar condition as of April 1991.

Step 3: Research 1991 Property Values

Remember, your band is based on what your property was worth in April 1991, not today. A property that's been extended or improved since then should still be in the band that reflected its 1991 value (unless there's been a change of ownership since the alteration).

The band thresholds for England are:

| Band | 1991 Value | |------|-----------| | A | Up to £40,000 | | B | £40,001 – £52,000 | | C | £52,001 – £68,000 | | D | £68,001 – £88,000 | | E | £88,001 – £120,000 | | F | £120,001 – £160,000 | | G | £160,001 – £320,000 | | H | Over £320,000 |

If you can find evidence of what your property (or similar ones nearby) sold for around 1991, this can help you determine whether your band is correct.

Step 4: Decide Whether to Challenge

If your research suggests your band might be wrong, you have several options:

1. Use our free checker first: Run your address through TaxBandCheck to get an instant comparison with neighbouring properties. This will give you a quick indication of whether your band looks anomalous.

2. Contact the VOA informally: You can phone the VOA on 03000 501 501 to discuss your banding. This is a no-commitment conversation.

3. Make a formal challenge: You can formally challenge your band through the VOA website. However, be aware that a challenge could result in your band going up as well as down.

Important Warning: Bands Can Go Up

This is crucial to understand. When you challenge your council tax band, the VOA will review your property and could decide that your current band is actually too low. If that happens, your band — and your bill — will increase.

This is why it's so important to do your research thoroughly before making a formal challenge. Compare with as many similar properties as possible, and only proceed if you're confident your band should be lower.

What Happens If Your Band Is Reduced?

If the VOA agrees your band should be lower, the change is typically backdated to when you first moved into the property (or when the error occurred). This means you could receive a refund for all the years you've been overpaying.

For example, if your band drops from D to C and the difference is £250 per year, and you've lived there for 10 years, you could receive a refund of £2,500. Some homeowners have received refunds of £5,000 or more.

The Bottom Line

Checking your council tax band takes just a few minutes and could save you thousands. With tools like TaxBandCheck, you can instantly see how your property compares to your neighbours — giving you the confidence to decide whether a challenge is worth pursuing.

Don't just accept your council tax bill. Check it.