Council Tax Calculator
Calculate your council tax bill for 2025/26. Look up your property band, compare charges across councils, and find discounts you may qualify for — including single person discount, student exemptions, and disabled band reduction.
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How to Use This Calculator
Council Tax Estimate tab
The default tab. Select your council or local authority from the dropdown (includes Band D rates for 12 major councils across England, Scotland, and Wales). Choose your property band (A–H) and the number of adult occupants. The calculator shows your annual bill, monthly payment over 10 instalments, and how your charge compares to the national average.
Band Lookup tab
Enter your property value — either the current market value or the 1991 valuation (England/Scotland) or 2003 valuation (Wales). The calculator estimates your council tax band and shows all 8 bands with their ratios and charges. Note: this is an estimate only. The official band is determined by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).
Discounts & Exemptions tab
Enter your current situation — number of occupants, student status, disability, severe mental impairment, and whether the property is empty. The calculator identifies which discounts and exemptions you qualify for and calculates your annual savings. Expand "More options" to check all eligibility criteria.
Share your result
Every input is encoded in the URL. Click Share to send your exact scenario to a partner, landlord, or adviser.
The Formula
Council tax is calculated using band ratios relative to the Band D rate set by your local authority:
Band Ratios (relative to D):
A = 6/9 | B = 7/9 | C = 8/9 | D = 9/9
E = 11/9 | F = 13/9 | G = 15/9 | H = 18/9
After Discounts = Council Tax × (1 − Discount %)
Monthly Payment = Annual Charge ÷ 10 instalments
The Band D rate is the reference point. Band A pays two-thirds of Band D, while Band H pays double. Each council sets its own Band D rate annually, which includes charges for the county council, district council, police, and fire authority (where applicable).
In England and Scotland, bands are based on what the property would have been worth on 1 April 1991. In Wales, valuations are based on 1 April 2003. Band A covers properties valued up to £40,000 (1991), while Band H covers those over £320,000 (1991).
Example
Emma — Single occupant, Manchester, Band C
Emma lives alone in a Band C property in Manchester. The Manchester Band D rate for 2025/26 is approximately £2,010. As a single occupant, she qualifies for the 25% single person discount.
Council Tax Estimate
Without the single person discount, Emma would pay £1,787 per year. The 25% discount saves her £447 annually, bringing her monthly payment down to just £134 over 10 months (April to January).
What if Emma moves to Westminster?
Council tax varies enormously between authorities. Westminster charges roughly half the national average, while Bristol is among the highest.