Break your annual Council Tax bill into monthly payments and calculate the effect of discounts, exemptions and reductions.
Enter Your Bill
£
Find this on your Council Tax demand notice or online council account.
£
Find this on your council's website or demand notice.
Discounts & Reductions
%
Enter the percentage your council has awarded — 0 if none. Check with your local council for your eligibility and rate.
Council Tax bills vary significantly by local authority. This calculator uses your entered annual figure and applies percentage adjustments. Actual bills, discounts and reductions must be confirmed directly with your local council. Council Tax Reduction schemes vary by council for working-age claimants. Exemptions for empty or unfurnished properties, second homes and other special cases are not included here.
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Council Tax Band Ratios
The eight bands use fixed ratios based on Band D. If you know your Band D rate, multiply by the ratio below to find the amount for any band. The ratios are set by law and are the same across England.
Band
1991 property value (England)
Ratio to Band D
Example at £2,200 Band D
A
Up to £40,000
6/9 (0.667×)
£1,467
B
£40,001 – £52,000
7/9 (0.778×)
£1,711
C
£52,001 – £68,000
8/9 (0.889×)
£1,956
D
£68,001 – £88,000
1.000×
£2,200
E
£88,001 – £120,000
11/9 (1.222×)
£2,689
F
£120,001 – £160,000
13/9 (1.444×)
£3,178
G
£160,001 – £320,000
15/9 (1.667×)
£3,667
H
Over £320,000
18/9 (2.000×)
£4,400
These valuations were set in 1991 and have never been updated in England. The current market value of your property has no direct effect on your band. Many properties that were in lower bands in 1991 are now worth several times more than properties that were in higher bands at that time.
Discounts and Exemptions
Single Person Discount (25%)
The most widely claimed discount. If you live alone, or if all other adults in your home are disregarded, you pay 25% less. To claim, contact your local council and tell them you are the only liable adult. The discount is backdated to when the situation began if you apply within a reasonable period.
Student Disregard
Full-time students are not counted as adults for Council Tax purposes. A property where all adults are students is completely exempt. If you live with a non-student partner, the property is not exempt — but if the student is the only other adult, the non-student can claim the 25% single person discount because the student is disregarded.
Severe Mental Impairment Disregard
Adults who have a severe mental impairment (such as advanced dementia or severe learning disability) are permanently disregarded. A property where all adults are severely mentally impaired is exempt; otherwise, the remaining non-disregarded adult can claim the 25% discount if they would otherwise be alone.
Council Tax Reduction (CTR)
If you are on a low income or receiving certain benefits, your local council may reduce your bill. Pension-age households often receive up to 100% reduction. Working-age households receive varying reductions — the scheme differs by council since 2013. You must apply to your own council. Do not assume you will be enrolled automatically, even if you claim Universal Credit, though many councils check DWP data to identify potential claimants.
Council Tax FAQs
Bands are based on the estimated market value of your property on 1 April 1991 in England and Scotland (2 April 2003 in Wales). There are eight bands — A is the lowest value and H the highest. In England the 1991 valuations have never been updated, meaning some anomalies exist where neighbouring properties of similar current value sit in different bands because 1991 values diverged from modern values.
Contact your local council directly — by phone, email, online account, or in person. You will need to confirm that you are the only adult resident (or that all other adults are disregarded). The discount is 25% and must be reconfirmed if your circumstances change. You should tell your council if another adult moves in, or the discount is removed.
Yes. Contact the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors Association in Scotland. The most common grounds for a successful challenge are that comparable properties on your street or in similar streets were valued lower in 1991. You can also challenge if there was an error in your property's description at the time of banding. Challenging cannot result in your band being raised.
Councils take non-payment of Council Tax very seriously. If you miss a payment without contacting your council, you will typically lose your right to pay by instalments and the full year's bill becomes due immediately. The council can apply to a magistrates' court for a liability order, then use bailiffs to recover debt or apply for an attachment of earnings (deducting direct from your salary) or a charging order on your property. Council Tax debt is one of the few debts that can still lead to imprisonment in limited circumstances in England and Wales — engage with your council before it escalates.
Yes. Properties that are empty and unfurnished are exempt for up to 6 months in most areas. Properties undergoing major repair work may qualify for up to 12 months' exemption. Properties left empty by people who have moved into a care home are exempt indefinitely. A property that has been repossessed, or is awaiting probate, may also be exempt. Many councils also allow a 50% discount on second homes, though some have moved to charging a 100% council tax premium on long-term empty homes and second homes.