Council Tax bands and charges

Appeal your Council Tax band

There is no appeal process against the amount of Council Tax set by your council each year.

You can ask to have the banding of your home changed. However you need to do so within six months of becoming the council taxpayer for the property. Otherwise the grounds for appeal about banding are restricted to the following cases:

  • Where you believe that the banding should be changed because there has been a material increase or material reduction in the dwelling's value
  • Where you start or stop using part of your dwelling to carry out a business, or the balance between domestic and business use changes
  • Where following either of the above, or for any other reason, the listing officer has altered a list without a proposal having been made by a taxpayer

Grounds for appealing your property band

You can appeal your property band on the following grounds:

  • Material increase. An increase in value of the property may result from building, engineering or other work carried out. In these cases a property will not be revalued until after a sale, so the person appealing would normally be the new owner or resident.
  • Material reduction. A reduction in value of the property may result from the demolition or conversion of any part of the property. Or any change in the physical state of the local area. Or an adaptation to support someone with a physical disability. In these cases a property should be revalued as soon as possible. Rebanding will not take place if the increase or reduction in value is not enough to move the dwelling to another band.

You can ask the VOA to review your Council Tax band if you think it is wrong and you have been the taxpayer for less than six months, or your band has changed in the last six months. 

If this does not apply you can still ask the VOA to review your Council Tax band, but you’ll need to provide strong supporting evidence showing why you believe your property is in the wrong band. After a review, your band could go up, down or stay the same.

To find out more see Challenge your Council Tax band. This online service allows you to check your band and submit a challenge if you think your band may be wrong.

Learn more about Council Tax Band Challenges

Contact the VOA if you want to:

  • Check your Council Tax band
  • Challenge your Council Tax band
  • Report changes to the use of your property
  • Submit details about an annexe

Contact the Valuation Office for Council Tax