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Council tax bands

How council tax bands are determined

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of HMRC, is responsible for banding homes in England and Wales for council tax.

The VOA bases council tax bands on the open market value of a property - the price it could have been sold for - at a fixed point in time. This is known as the 'antecedent valuation date (AVD)'. The date used is set in law, and it is different in England and Wales. In England, the AVD is 1 April 1991. In Wales, the AVD is 1 April 2003.

Even if your property was built in later years, the AVD above is used.

Read how domestic properties are assessed for council tax on the GOV.UK website.

Council tax valuation bands

Your property's band determines how much council tax you pay.

  • Band A = value of up to £40,000
  • Band B = value between £40,000.01 and £52,000
  • Band C = value between £52,000.01and £68,000
  • Band D = value between £68,000.01 and £88,000
  • Band E = value between £88,000.01 and £120,000
  • Band F = value between £120,000.01 and £160,000
  • Band G = value between £160,000.01 and £320,000
  • Band H = value of more than £320,000

Check your council tax band

Your council tax bill tells you which band your property is in.

You can also check your council tax band on the GOV.UK website.

GOV.UK's property search tool also allows you to view the bands of other properties on your street.

Challenge your council tax band

You can challenge your council tax band if there has been a change that affects the property or you think your band is wrong.

Challenge your council tax band with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) on the GOV.UK website.

The following could all be grounds for a review of your council tax band:

We can report all the above changes to the VOA on your behalf as long as:

  • The change has already taken place
  • We hold enough information / evidence to support the change

If any of the above, applies to you, please email local.taxation@peterborough.gov.uk.

The VOA has 90 working days to investigate any change requests we make (known as Billing Authority Reports).

Please note - if you make a challenge or appeal, your council tax band can go up, as well as down.

You should also continue to pay your council tax as billed until the outcome of your challenge or appeal is known.

If your council tax band changes

We receive weekly updates from the VOA. If they change your band, we will issue revised demand notices quickly.

To refund an overpayment, we need your bank account name, number and sort code. This is unless you currently pay your council tax bill via Direct Debit (in which case the overpayment will be automatically refunded to you, without the need for you to get in touch).

Further information

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA), part of HMRC, is responsible for the valuation of your property. Visit the GOV.UK website to:

At Peterborough City Council, we use the VOA's council tax bands to work out your council tax bill. We are responsible for council tax payments, discounts, exemptions and rebates.

If your property has been adapted to meet the needs of a disabled occupant, we will consider whether you can be charged on the band immediately below your official council tax band. In these circumstances, there is no change to your official band by the VOA.

Apply for disabled relief.

There are limited circumstances where a property's band may be deleted. For example, if the building becomes derelict or a full demolition takes place.

Read guidance on removing a property from the council tax list on the GOV.UK website.

Published: 25 March 2025