Your council tax bill depends on two things: your property's valuation band, which is fixed, and your local authority's rate, which varies considerably from council to council.
Why the same band costs different amounts in different places
Your council tax bill depends on two separate things: which valuation band your property falls into (A through H, based on 1991 property values in England and Scotland, or 2003 values in Wales), and which local authority you live in. The band is fixed nationally by property valuation; the actual rate charged per band is set individually by each council to fund local services — social care, waste collection, police, and fire services.
The scale of the difference
A Band D property in one council area can cost several hundred pounds more per year than an identical Band D property in a different council area. The England average Band D bill for 2026/27 is £2,392 — but that average masks wide variation, since some councils set considerably higher or lower rates depending on local funding needs and the size of their tax base.
How to find your exact rate
- Find your council tax band by entering your postcode on the Valuation Office Agency (England and Wales) or Scottish Assessors (Scotland) website
- Search your specific local authority's published council tax rates for the current year, since each council sets its own Band D rate and then scales every other band as a fixed ratio of that
- Multiply your council's Band D rate by your band's ratio to get your annual bill, before any discounts
Band ratios (apply to any council's Band D rate)
| Band | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|
| A | 6/9 |
| B | 7/9 |
| C | 8/9 |
| D | 9/9 (baseline) |
| E | 11/9 |
| F | 13/9 |
| G | 15/9 |
| H | 18/9 |
These ratios are the same nationally — what changes by local authority is the underlying Band D figure you multiply them against.
Why bills rose again in 2026/27
The England average Band D rate rose by £111 (4.9%) for 2026/27 — actually the lowest annual rise in three years, though still an increase. Wales saw a larger rise, with the average Band D reaching around £2,283 (+5.2%). Individual councils vary considerably around these national averages depending on their specific budget pressures.
Moving between council areas
If you move house, you need to notify both your old and new councils. Your bill resets based on the new council's rates and your new property's band — there's no continuity of rate between authorities, even if you move within the same region.