How to Check Your Council Tax Band on the VOA Website

The Official Way to Check Your Council Tax Band

The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) maintains the official database of council tax bands for every property in England and Wales. Their website is the definitive source for band information — and it's completely free to use.

Here's how to use it, step by step.

Step-by-Step: Checking Your Band on the VOA Website

Step 1: Go to the VOA Council Tax Page

Visit gov.uk/council-tax-bands in your web browser. This is the official government portal for council tax band lookups.

Step 2: Enter Your Postcode

Type your full UK postcode into the search box and click "Search". The system will return a list of all properties in that postcode area.

Step 3: Find Your Property

Scroll through the list to find your specific address. Properties are listed alphabetically by street name and number.

Step 4: Check Your Band

Your council tax band is displayed next to your property address. Note it down and compare with neighbours.

What the VOA Results Tell You

The VOA listing for each property shows:

• Property address
• Current band (A through H in England, A through I in Wales)
• Local authority responsible for your area
• Whether the band has been challenged previously

Comparing Your Band With Neighbours

The most valuable thing you can do on the VOA website is compare your band with similar properties. Look for:

• Properties on the same street that are the same type and size as yours
• Any anomalies — identical houses in different bands
• The most common band for your street or postcode

If you find that similar properties are in a lower band, you may have grounds for an appeal. Our free checker tool does this comparison automatically and highlights potential misbanding.

VOA vs Our Free Checker

The VOA website shows you the raw data — every property and its band. Our free checker adds a layer of analysis:

• VOA: Lists all properties and bands in a postcode
• Our tool: Compares your specific property with neighbours, highlights discrepancies, and helps identify potential misbanding

We recommend using both — the VOA for official data, and our tool for analysis and comparison.

For Scotland

The VOA only covers England and Wales. For Scottish properties, use the Scottish Assessors Association website at saa.gov.uk. The process is similar — search by postcode to find your property's band.

What to Do If You Think Your Band Is Wrong

If your VOA check reveals that you may be in the wrong band:

• Document the evidence — note which comparable properties are in lower bands
• Use our checker for additional analysis
• Read our appeal guide for the full process
• Submit a challenge through the VOA's online portal

Remember: challenging your band is completely free, and approximately 1 in 3 challenges succeed.