Is your council tax band wrong? How to check (and save £1,000s)

An estimated 400,000 homes in England and Scotland are in the wrong council tax band — and most are paying too much. Checking is free and takes 5 minutes.

How council tax bands work

Your band is based on what your home was worth on **1 April 1991** (England/Scotland) or **1 April 2003** (Wales). Bands range from A (lowest) to H (highest).

How to check your band

Step 1: Find similar properties

Look up properties similar to yours on the Valuation Office Agency website:

If similar houses nearby are in a lower band, yours may be wrong.

Step 2: Consider your property's 1991 value

Think about what your property was like in 1991 (not now). Extensions, conversions, or improvements made after 1991 shouldn't affect your band until the property is sold.

Step 3: Challenge it

What could happen

Is it worth the risk?

If similar properties are in a lower band, the risk is usually worth it. The potential refund (backdated years of overpayment) can be thousands of pounds.

Example savings

Moving from Band D to Band C saves approximately **£200-£400/year** depending on your area. If backdated 5 years, that's £1,000-£2,000 refunded.

Check today — it's free and could save you thousands.