UK Council Tax Calculator
Calculate your annual and monthly council tax across all bands A to H. Includes single person 25% discount, student exemptions, disabled band reduction, and the April 2025 second home 100% premium. Compare rates across 15 councils.
Council tax bands are based on property values in April 1991 — not current market values. A property worth £400,000 today may have been worth only £70,000 in 1991 and sit in Band D.
| Band | 1991 Value | Ratio to Band D | Annual (this council) | Monthly (10 pmts) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 | £1,368 | £137 |
| Band B | £40,001 – £52,000 | 7/9 | £1,596 | £160 |
| Band C | £52,001 – £68,000 | 8/9 | £1,824 | £182 |
| Band D | £68,001 – £88,000 | 9/9 | £2,052 | £205 |
| Band E | £88,001 – £120,000 | 11/9 | £2,508 | £251 |
| Band F | £120,001 – £160,000 | 13/9 | £2,964 | £296 |
| Band G | £160,001 – £320,000 | 15/9 | £3,420 | £342 |
| Band H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 | £4,104 | £410 |
The same Band D can mean very different bills depending on where you live. London inner boroughs tend to be cheapest; northern urban councils tend to be highest.
| Council | Band D | Band D Annual | Monthly (10) | vs National Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Westminster (London) | £866 | £866 | £87 | -£1,305 |
| Wandsworth (London) | £914 | £914 | £91 | -£1,257 |
| Kingston upon Thames | £2,101 | £2,101 | £210 | -£70 |
| Manchester | £2,052 | £2,052 | £205 | -£119 |
| Birmingham | £2,329 | £2,329 | £233 | +£158 |
| Leeds | £2,038 | £2,038 | £204 | -£133 |
| Bristol | £2,228 | £2,228 | £223 | +£57 |
| Sheffield | £2,161 | £2,161 | £216 | -£10 |
| Liverpool | £2,381 | £2,381 | £238 | +£210 |
| Nottingham | £2,668 | £2,668 | £267 | +£497 |
| York | £2,194 | £2,194 | £219 | +£23 |
| Cambridge | £2,108 | £2,108 | £211 | -£63 |
| Oxford | £2,215 | £2,215 | £222 | +£44 |
| Edinburgh (Scotland) | £1,570 | £1,570 | £157 | -£601 |
| Cardiff (Wales) | £1,853 | £1,853 | £185 | -£318 |
How to Use This Council Tax Calculator
Select your council tax band (A to H), choose your local authority from the list or enter a custom Band D rate, and select any applicable discount or exemption. The calculator shows your annual and monthly council tax bill. Council tax is typically paid over 10 monthly instalments (April to January).
Finding Your Council Tax Band
- Check your council tax bill (the band is printed on the front)
- Search GOV.UK council tax band checker at gov.uk/council-tax-bands
- Look up the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) property database
Bands are based on what the property was worth in April 1991 — not its current market value. A property worth £500,000 today may have been worth £80,000 in 1991 and could be in Band D or E.
Council Tax Bands and 1991 Values
Band B: £40,001 – £52,000 — 7/9 of Band D
Band C: £52,001 – £68,000 — 8/9 of Band D
Band D: £68,001 – £88,000 — 9/9 (reference band)
Band E: £88,001 – £120,000 — 11/9 of Band D
Band F: £120,001 – £160,000 — 13/9 of Band D
Band G: £160,001 – £320,000 — 15/9 of Band D
Band H: Over £320,000 — 18/9 of Band D (double)
All bands are calculated as a fraction of the Band D rate set by each local authority. Scotland uses a different 8-band system (A to H) with slightly different thresholds. Wales re-valued its properties in 2003 using current values at that time.
Council Tax Discounts and Exemptions
You must apply for discounts — they are not applied automatically. Common discounts include:
- Single person discount (25%) — if you are the only adult living in the property. "Disregarded" adults (students, severely mentally impaired) do not count toward the total.
- Student exemption — if all adults in the property are full-time students, the property is 100% exempt from council tax.
- Disabled band reduction — if a disabled person lives in the property and it has been adapted (extra bathroom, wheelchair space), the property is charged at one band lower.
- Severe mental impairment — adults with a severe and permanent mental health condition are "disregarded" for council tax purposes.
- Carer discount — live-in carers providing at least 35 hours per week of care to a disabled person are disregarded.
Example: Council Tax in Manchester vs Westminster
Same Band D, Very Different Bills
Sarah lives in a Band D property. The difference in council tax depending on location is striking.
| Property Band | Band D |
| Westminster (London) Band D rate | £866/year |
| Manchester Band D rate | £2,052/year |
| Annual difference | £1,186/year |
| Monthly difference (over 10 months) | £118.60/month |
| With single person 25% discount (Manchester) | £1,539/year |
Westminster keeps council tax artificially low due to high commercial property income. Most northern councils have far higher bills for identical bands.