Council Tax Calculator

Council tax is the main local taxation for households in England, Scotland and Wales — Northern Ireland uses a separate domestic rates system based on capital value rather than bands. The Council Tax Calculator estimates your annual bill for 2025/26 based on your property valuation band and the precept charged by your local authority, including any parish, fire and police precepts. England and Scotland use bands A to H based on what your home was worth on 1 April 1991, while Wales uses bands A to I based on 1 April 2003 valuations. For 2025/26 the average Band D bill is approximately £2,280 in England, £2,100 in Wales and £1,500 in Scotland, but actual bills vary widely by local authority. Inner London boroughs such as Westminster and Wandsworth often charge under £1,000 at Band D thanks to high commercial revenue, while several Welsh and northern English councils have pushed Band D above £2,500. Annual increases were capped at 4.99% (3% general + 2% adult social care precept) for 2025/26 without a referendum, though some councils with Government permission raised by more. A range of discounts and exemptions can reduce your bill. The 25% single occupant discount applies if you are the only adult in the property. Full-time students are disregarded, and a household of only students is fully exempt. Severe Mental Impairment, carers, apprentices and certain trainees may also be disregarded. Disabled Band Reduction moves your home down one band if it has features needed by a disabled occupant. Empty homes face a premium of up to 100% after one year, 200% after five years and 300% after ten. From April 2025, English councils can also charge a 100% premium on furnished second homes. If you believe your band is wrong — for example, similar nearby properties are in a lower band — you can ask the Valuation Office Agency (VOA in England and Wales, Scottish Assessors in Scotland) to review it for free. Reductions can be backdated, but be aware the VOA can also increase your band if it finds it too low.