Council Tax Bands Explained: A to H
Your council tax band is set by what your home would have sold for on 1 April 1991, not what it is worth today. Here is how the eight bands work, the value range behind each one, and why Scotland and Wales differ.
England and Scotland have eight bands (A to H) based on 1991 property values; Wales has nine (A to I) based on 2003 values. Band D is the reference point. Every other band pays a fixed fraction of the Band D rate set by the local council.
- Band A pays 6/9 of Band D; Band H pays 18/9 (three times Band A)
- England Band D average 2025-26: £2,280
- Scotland Band D average: £1,579; Wales: £2,170
- Bands have never been revalued in England or Scotland (still 1991)
What a Council Tax Band Actually Measures
A council tax band is not based on your home's current market value. It reflects the price your property would have fetched on the open market on 1 April 1991. That date was fixed when council tax replaced the Community Charge in April 1993, giving the government two years to value every home in the country before the new system started.
England and Scotland have never revalued. A flat built in 2020 is still slotted into a 1991 price band by estimating what an equivalent property would have sold for back then. Wales is the one nation that revalued, in 2003, which is why its figures and band count are different.
England Council Tax Bands (1991 Values)
England has eight bands. Band D is the baseline that councils quote, and the others are set as fixed proportions of it.
| Band | 1991 Value | Proportion of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 (baseline) |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | More than £320,000 | 18/9 |
How the Band D Rate Drives Every Other Band
Each council publishes one figure, the Band D charge, and the rest follow automatically from the proportions above. On the England average Band D of £2,280, the bands work out roughly like this:
| Band | Multiplier | Annual charge (England avg) |
|---|---|---|
| A | 6/9 | £1,520 |
| B | 7/9 | £1,773 |
| C | 8/9 | £2,027 |
| D | 9/9 | £2,280 |
| E | 11/9 | £2,787 |
| F | 13/9 | £3,293 |
| G | 15/9 | £3,800 |
| H | 18/9 | £4,560 |
A Band H home pays exactly three times what a Band A home pays for the same bins, roads and services. The actual pounds vary by council, so use the council tax calculator to see the figures for your own area.
Scotland: Same Letters, Lower Values, Wider Top Bands
Scotland uses the same A to H banding and the same 1991 valuation date, but the price ranges are lower and the bands are administered by Scottish Assessors rather than the Valuation Office Agency.
| Band | 1991 Value (Scotland) |
|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 |
| H | More than £212,000 |
Since 2017 Scotland has charged a steeper multiple on Bands E to H than England does, so higher-value Scottish homes pay proportionally more relative to Band D. The single person discount of 25% works the same way across all three nations.
Wales: Nine Bands From a 2003 Revaluation
Wales is the only nation to have revalued since council tax began. The 2003 exercise reset every band to April 2003 prices and added a ninth band, Band I, for the most expensive homes.
| Band | 2003 Value (Wales) |
|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 |
| I | More than £424,000 |
How to Find and Check Your Band
You can look up any property's band for free. For England and Wales, search by postcode on the Valuation Office Agency list at gov.uk/council-tax-bands. For Scotland, use the Scottish Assessors Association portal. Your annual bill also prints the band.
If your home looks over-banded compared with near-identical neighbours, the band can be challenged at no cost. Our companion guide on how to appeal your council tax band walks through the process and the one risk worth knowing first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the council tax bands in England?
Eight bands, A to H, fixed on 1 April 1991 values. Band A is up to £40,000, Band D is £68,001 to £88,000, and Band H is above £320,000.
Why are council tax bands based on 1991 values?
The 1991 date was chosen so every home could be valued before council tax launched in April 1993. England and Scotland have never revalued; Wales revalued to 2003 values.
How much more is Band H than Band A?
Exactly three times as much. Band A pays 6/9 of Band D and Band H pays 18/9, so the top band is treble the bottom band for identical services.
Are the council tax bands the same in Scotland?
Same letters and 1991 date, but lower value ranges, a separate valuation body, and a steeper charge on the top four bands.
How do I find out my council tax band?
Search your postcode on the gov.uk valuation list (England and Wales) or the Scottish Assessors site, or read it off your annual bill.