Evidence that supports your challenge

You’ll be asked for evidence that your Council Tax band is wrong when you challenge for a property in England or Wales. Check how to challenge your Council Tax band in Scotland . Evidence you need Give the addresses of up to 5 similar properties in a lower Council Tax band than yours. They must be the same as your property in: age style and design size - the Valuation Office Agency ( VOA ) will also consider properties that are larger than yours type - for example, they must be semi-detached houses if you live in a semi-detached house They must also be either: in the same street or estate - if you live in a town or city in the same village - if you live in the countryside Evidence from house prices You can also use the price that your property or similar properties sold for as evidence, if the sales were between: 1 April 1989 and 31 March 1993 - if your property is in England 1 April 2001 and 31 March 2005 - if your property is in Wales You can look up property sale prices online from 1995 onwards. Compare the sale prices to the prices the properties are valued at for Council Tax. Council Tax band Properties in England - value in April 1991 Properties in Wales - value in April 2003 A Up to £40,000 Up to £44,000 B More than £40,000 and up to £52,000 More than £44,000 and up to £65,000 C More than £52,000 and up to £68,000 More than £65,000 and up to £91,000 D More than £68,000 and up to £88,000 More than £91,000 and up to £123,000 E More than £88,000 and up to £120,000 More than £123,000 and up to £162,000 F More than £120,000 and up to £160,000 More than £162,000 and up to £223,000 G More than £160,000 and up to £320,000 More than £223,000 and up to £324,000 H More than £320,000 More than £324,000 and up to £424,000 I - More than £424,000 If the sale prices are outside the Council Tax band, you can use this as evidence. You will need to give: the addresses of the properties the sale prices the dates the properties were sold - the closer this is to the valuation date, the more likely the VOA will be able to use this evidence The VOA will not consider average house price information from websites such as Nationwide House Price Index, Nethouseprices, Rightmove or Zoopla as strong evidence. Where to give evidence You’ll need to give your evidence when you make a challenge online or by contacting the VOA .

After you make a challenge

The Valuation Office Agency ( VOA ) will usually let you know they’ve received your challenge within a few days. It can take up to 28 days if they need to check there’s enough evidence to review your challenge. If the VOA need more information about your challenge they will contact you. It can then take up to 2 months to review your challenge. Once they’ve done this, they’ll either: change your Council Tax band - your local council will revise your bill and adjust your payments tell you why your band cannot be changed If you disagree with the decision You can appeal the decision in some cases. You’ll be told if you can appeal when you get your decision. If you’ve been paying Council Tax on your property for less than 6 months you usually have the right to appeal the decision. If, for example, you move into a property with your partner who’s been paying Council Tax for more than 6 months, you cannot appeal the decision. If you’ve been paying your property’s Council Tax for 6 months or more, you can only appeal the decision if your: property has changed - for example, it’s been demolished, split into multiple properties or merged into one property’s use has changed - for example, part of your property is now used for business local area has changed - for example, a new supermarket has been built property’s band has been changed by the VOA in the last 6 months If you can appeal, you must do it within 3 months of getting the decision. You may be able to get the time limit extended if you cannot apply in time. How to appeal In England, if you make a formal challenge and disagree with the VOA ’s decision, you can appeal to the Valuation Tribunal . The Valuation Tribunal is independent of the VOA . It’s free, but you have to pay your own costs. If the tribunal agrees with you, the VOA will change your band and the council will update your bill. If you’re in Wales, send it to the Valuation Tribunal for Wales . Get help The Valuation Tribunal has guidance on: what you need to do for the hearing preparing for the hearing You can also contact the tribunal for help. Valuation Tribunal Telephone: 0300 123 2035 Find out about call charges

Challenge your Council Tax band

Q: How to challenge

You can challenge your Council Tax band online for properties in England and Wales. You’ll need to provide evidence to support your challenge . Start now You must continue paying your Council Tax while the challenge is happening. You can also appoint someone else to challenge on your behalf . Check how to challenge your Council Tax band in Scotland . If you cannot use the online service You can also call or email the Valuation Office Agency ( VOA ) to challenge your Council Tax band. Valuation Office Agency ctinbox@voa.gov.uk Telephone (England): 03000 501 501 Telephone (Wales): 03000 505 505 Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm Find out about call charges

Overview

Council Tax bands are based on how much a property was worth on:

1 April 1991, for England and Scotland
1 April 2003, for Wales

You can challenge your Council Tax band if you think the band is wrong.

For properties in England and Wales, you submit your challenge to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA).

They will usually review the band and decide whether to agree to the challenge. In some cases, they might not be able to review the challenge.

Check how to challenge your Council Tax band in Scotland.

Which challenges are reviewed

When you challenge your band, you’ll need to give a reason for your challenge and provide supporting evidence.

The VOA will review your band if you’re challenging it for any of the following reasons:

your property has changed - for example, it’s been demolished, split into multiple properties or merged into one
your property’s use has changed - for example, part of your property is now used for business
your local area has changed - for example, a new supermarket has been built

They’ll also review it if you’ve been paying Council Tax on your property for less than 6 months.

If you have a different reason and you’ve been paying Council Tax on the property for 6 months or more, you can still challenge your band. The VOA will only be able to review it if there’s enough evidence for why you think it’s wrong.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Challenge your Council Tax band

Overview

Which challenges are reviewed

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Challenge your Council Tax band

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