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Every band is a fixed fraction of Band D (Band A is 6/9ths, Band H twice), so one Band D figure sets the whole scale. Find your council's Band D rate on its website or your bill, and your band on GOV.UK. England and Scotland use bands A-H; Wales A-I. Scotland adds water/sewerage charges to the same bill.
What The Council Tax Calculator Works Out
- Your yearly bill: every band pays a statutory fraction of the council's Band D rate, in ninths: Band A is 6/9ths, Band D 9/9ths, Band H 18/9ths and Wales' Band I 21/9ths. On a GBP 2,300 Band D rate, Band A pays GBP 1,533 and Band H GBP 4,600. Typical English Band D bills in 2026/27 are GBP 2,200 to GBP 2,500.
- Discounts: the 25% single-person discount applies where only one adult counts; students, apprentices, live-in carers and the severely mentally impaired are disregarded, giving 50% where everyone is disregarded and a full exemption for all-student households.
- Per month, 10 or 12 instalments: the default is ten payments with a break in February and March, but every council must offer twelve instalments on request, which lowers each payment.
- How bands are set: homes in England and Scotland are banded on their value on 1 April 1991; Wales rebanded to 2003 values. Challenges are free through the VOA (or SAA in Scotland) using neighbouring identical homes as evidence, but a review can move a band up as well as down.
- Per week (advanced): the bill divided by 52, with a daily figure, handy for comparing rentals or budgeting.
- Saving if rebanded one band lower (advanced): how much a successful band challenge would save each year. Band D to Band C saves 1/9th of the Band D rate, about GBP 255 on a GBP 2,300 rate, and refunds are backdated to when you moved in.
- Next year's bill (advanced): applies your expected rise. Most English councils raise bills by the 4.99% referendum limit each April, and councils with social care responsibilities have been allowed up to that figure for several years running.
- Second home or empty home premium (advanced): councils in England and Wales can now charge 100% extra on second homes and 100% to 300% extra on homes left empty for over a year, so a second home's bill doubles.
- Disabled band reduction (advanced): a home adapted for a disabled resident (extra bathroom, kitchen or wheelchair space) is charged one band lower; Band A homes get a 5/9ths rate instead.
- Scottish Water charges (advanced): Scottish bills include water and sewerage charges set by Scottish Water, which follow the same band ratios and are added to the council tax bill.
- Arrears: a missed instalment can trigger liability for the whole year, so anyone struggling should contact the council early and ask about Council Tax Reduction, which each council runs for low incomes.
Further reading: GOV.UK: Council Tax.