UK Council Tax Bands and Prices
The UK has an additional tax system called the "council tax" this is a tax paid directly to the local council to pay for services such as waste collection, local Police and Fire services, libraries, leisure facilities, recyling and other community services.
If the Council did not receive this money via Council Tax it would need ot get it from the Government (i.e. national taxes)
The amount of council tax you must pay depends on your Council Tax Property Band. This council tax band of a property is not related to its current market value. This is because, by law, council tax valuations are based on the price a property would have fetched if it had been sold on 1 April 1991 (for Wales it is 1993).
The exact amount of Council Tax that you get charged is up to the Council that you are in (subject to government capping council tax)., however the chart below gives some indication of average Council Tax Bills
Council Tax Band |
Range of house values* |
Estimated+ Council Tax Bill (2006) |
A |
Less than £40,000 |
£800 |
B |
£40,000 to £52,000 |
£1000 |
C |
£52,000 to £68,000 |
£1200 |
D |
£68,000 to £88,000 |
£1,234 |
E |
£88,000 to £120,000 |
£1500 |
F |
£120,000 to £160,000 |
£1750 |
G |
£160,000 to £320,000 |
£2000 |
H |
Over £320,000 |
£2500 |
*This council tax band of a property is its 1991 value.
+Based on public information on council tax band D and estimation elsewhere
In 1997 the average council tax bill in England was £564. In 2005 it was close to £1,100.
The charts below show how the council tax bands in the UK by region. It is clear that the most expensive properties (in the G-H council tax bands) are in the South of England. London has the highest proportion of houses in the highest council tax band.
Properties exempt from council tax
Some property is exempt from council tax altogether. It may be exempt for only a short period, for example, six months, or for a longer time. Contact your local council office for more information
"i have not long moved in to a band D property iv had a letter saying i am to pay #140 a month is this right???? surly not? please someone reply"
s. oneill
"you've got the same diagram for the south and the north of england"
pedant
"Would like to have seen a list with the names of the most expensive area's down to the least expensive. The diagrams shown tell us nothing!"
S,Shevyn
"erage council tax bill for 2009 is now £1400 (April 2009)"
Admin
"Appears a bit too old,any 2009/10 averages?"
pete trimble
"Where is the info on Scotland? Cannot see any."
D. Mackie