Check your council tax valuation

Rebecca Atkinson
5 February 2008

Households in the wrong council tax band could be due thousands of pounds of refunds for overpayments.

Here's how to get your money back. 

How it works

The council tax system was established in 1993 and properties were placed in bands from A to H, based on valuations in 1991.

While homes in Wales have since been revalued, properties in England and Scotland haven't.

If you can prove your property is in a higher band than it should be, you can reclaim overpayments, often backdated to 1993.

Check your banding

You'll need to find out if your house is in the right band by checking the banding and value of your property and comparing it to your neighbours.

Enter your postcode at the Valuation Office Agency website (https://www.gov.uk/council-tax-bands) to find out your council tax band, then check the bands of neighbours with similar houses to yours - they need to be roughly the same size and age for an accurate comparison.

Research online

If you don't know the value of your home, you can find out what similar properties in your local area have sold for recently by visiting Zoopla or Rightmove.

Next, you should work out what your home was worth in 1991 by using Nationwide's house price calculator.

Now you'll need to compare this figure against the council tax bands - which will be available on your local council's website or at www.direct.gov.uk - to see if your banding is correct.

Challenge your banding

Double-check the previous steps, because the reassessment you will be asking for could actually place you in a higher band. If you do believe your banding is unfair, contact your local valuation office for a proposal form.

You will need to send your valuation office evidence, including house prices for addresses of up to five similar properties in a lower Council Tax band than yours.

If you do not agree with their decision you can still challenge your band by finding your property on the valuation office website and selecting your address.

You can then select a link if you think your tax band is wrong and provide evidence if you wish to make a challenge.

What to read next

Council tax hikes to over £1,800 in some regions as second largest increase in a decade set to bite

Band D households can expect to see council tax bills rise by a typical 4.5% in April, making it the second biggest increase…

Can I reclaim an £11,000 tax bill to boost my pension?

One of our experts answers a reader's question.

Daylight robbery: Dominic Frisby talks tax with Moneywise

Moneywise editor Rachel Rickard Straus talks to Dominic Frisby, author of "Daylight robbery: how tax shaped our past and will change our future"

One million households got a free broadband boost overnight – here's why

Virgin Media broadband customers get a free internet upgrade in new roll-out.

JASMINE BIRTLES: Thank you, Greta, for making preloved presents acceptable

Forget the planet - probably the best thing Greta Thunberg has done for all of us is to make it acceptable to buy and, even give, secondhand

Moneywise 2020: our New Year's money resolutions

From big goals to simple savers, the Moneywise team has a breadth of ideas for their money in 2020.

Comments

Submitted by russell march on 28 March 2019

Been on to voa and they say nationwide valuation service is not acceptable proof how else do i find out what my property was worth in 1991

Submitted by Roy Tennyson on 10 May 2019

My 3 bed house has been given tax band E and my neighbour's 5 bed house with an acre of land is in the same band.This development is only 3 properties-the other house is 4 bed( Band E) and were built in 2005.How do I challenge my banding?Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

Submitted by Angie on 22 July 2019

How are you getting on?

Hi Russell, how are you getting on with your re valuation? I am just about to start mine and looking for some tips please.

We have just moved into our self build 3bed, the council have valued it as an E, 3 beds at the top of our road are C's and the farm house next door is a 4 bed and band D so we feel E for us is very harsh.

Any tips would be greatfully received - thanks

Submitted by Janice chapple on 13 January 2019

I believe I am in the wrong band council tax band B I live in a 1 bedroom council home. In 1999 I bought a caravan and lived on a caravan site I paid band A my caravan cost £12,500 and I sold it for £3,000 so it was not worth £40,000for band A I queried this many times.

Submitted by Angela black on 8 January 2019

I don't think I'm in the right council tax band , could I be advised please

Submitted by Eve Oakley on 9 September 2018

Brought my house 1984, £29.000 band E so why are my neighbours all band D when all have large extension. Can I have a new valuation please

Submitted by Vangeli ATTARD on 17 September 2019

I believe my council tax band is wrong

I have provided evidence to the VOA who are dismissing my challenge with unconvincing responses. Many neighbouring properties are below my G Band Tax. The most obvious comparison of the properties I illustrated as evidence is next door, with a 5-bed house, similar sized land and a Tax Band E. I calculated that both houses were of roughly the same value in 1991, and they answered my 4-bed detached bungalow is bigger than next door's 5-bed house. How is that an answer?

Add new comment