What is council tax?

Council Tax is a local tax set by councils to help pay for local services such as education, social services and highways maintenance.

The amount you pay will vary depending on where you live and the value of your home. Each home is placed on a valuation list in one of eight valuation bands, from A to H.

The list will show only the band to which your home has been allocated, not it's actual value.

Valuations are carried out by the listing officer at the Valuation Office Agency (opens in a new window) not your local council.

The basis of valuation is the capital value of each dwelling arrived at by estimating the amount it could have been sold for on the open market on 1 April 1991.

This valuation date is the same for all properties.