Council Tax Calculator
Select your council area and band to see exactly what you pay — and what you'd save if your band is wrong.
Select your council area above to see your council tax breakdown across all bands.
How Council Tax Bands Are Calculated
Council tax isn't a flat rate — it's calculated as a proportion of the Band D rate set by your local authority. Band D is the reference point, and every other band is expressed as a fraction of it. Band A pays just 6/9ths (67%) of the Band D rate, while Band H pays double (18/9ths). This means the gap between bands is significant — a single band can mean £200–400 per year in difference.
| Band | Proportion of Band D |
|---|---|
| Band A | 6/9 (67%) |
| Band B | 7/9 (78%) |
| Band C | 8/9 (89%) |
| Band D | 9/9 (100%) |
| Band E | 11/9 (122%) |
| Band F | 13/9 (144%) |
| Band G | 15/9 (167%) |
| Band H | 18/9 (200%) |
For a full breakdown of how bands work, including the property value thresholds for each band, read our council tax bands explained guide.
Why Your Band Matters More Than Your Council's Rate
You can't control what your council charges — that's determined by local authority spending decisions, central government funding, and the costs of services in your area. But you absolutely can control whether you're in the right band. If your property's 1991 valuation was wrong (and research suggests around 1 in 8 were), you've been overpaying every single year since council tax was introduced in 1993.
The calculator above shows exactly what that costs. A single-band error typically means £200–400 per year — and with the latest council tax increases in 2026, the gap widens further each April. If your band is wrong, you can appeal your council tax band through the Valuation Office Agency for free, and a successful challenge could mean a backdated refund stretching back decades. If your calculated amount seems too high, read our guide on what to do if your council tax band is wrong.
How to Check If Your Band Is Correct
Checking your band is straightforward and takes less than a minute:
- Use our free band checker — enter your postcode on the TaxBandCheck homepage, select your property, and instantly see a case strength score from 0 to 10 comparing your band against every neighbouring property. The higher the score, the stronger the case for a band reduction.
- Compare against neighbours — look for identical or very similar properties on your street that are in a lower band. If your semi-detached neighbour is in Band C while you're in Band D, that's a strong indicator something is wrong.
- Unlock your full report — if the checker flags an issue, unlock your Full Intelligence Report from £6.99 for the complete evidence, or get the Complete Challenge Bundle (£39.99) with a pre-populated VOA challenge letter and everything you need via our expert help page.
Discounts That Could Reduce Your Bill Further
Even if your band is correct, you might qualify for discounts that significantly reduce your bill. The most common is the single person discount — if you're the only adult in your household, you automatically get 25% off. Students, people with certain disabilities, and those on low incomes may qualify for further reductions or full exemptions.
These discounts stack with a band correction. If you successfully challenge your band AND claim the single person discount, the combined savings can be substantial. Our council tax discounts and exemptions guide covers everything you could be claiming. You can also compare how your area stacks up with our average council tax bill page.