How do I appeal my Council Tax bill?

For people who disagree with their Council Tax bill.

Applies to: England, Wales Last checked against official sources: 30 September 2026

Write to your council explaining why the bill is wrong; they have 2 months to reply. You can't appeal just because it's expensive.

Keep paying the original amount until any new bill arrives.
If you disagree or get no reply, appeal free to the Valuation Tribunal.
To challenge your band, contact the Valuation Office instead.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Scotland: Check mygov.scot for Scotland
Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Write to the council first
2-month reply time
Then Valuation Tribunal

Key deadlines

Challenging your band (legal right): within 6 months of starting to pay Council Tax on the home, or within 6 months of the Valuation Office changing your band.
Appealing a band decision to the tribunal: usually within 3 months in England, or 4 months in Wales.
Appealing a bill to the Valuation Tribunal: within 2 months of the council's decision, or 4 months from your first letter if the council has not replied.

Keep paying your Council Tax while any challenge or appeal is going on.

Challenge your band or appeal your bill?

Problem	Who to contact
Your home is in the wrong band	Valuation Office (England and Wales) or your local assessor (Scotland)
Your bill is wrong, goes to the wrong person, or misses a discount	Your council

When you have a legal right to challenge your band

This is called "making a proposal". You can do it if:

you have paid Council Tax on the home for less than 6 months
the Valuation Office changed your band in the last 6 months
something changed the property, such as being split or merged, or a change of use
something changed in the area, such as a new road
the home should be removed from the list, for example it is demolished, derelict or now used for business

If none of these apply, you can still ask for a band review if you think the band is wrong.

How to challenge your band

Check your band on GOV.UK and use the online challenge service (England and Wales).
Gather evidence. Give addresses of up to 5 similar homes in a lower band, in your street or area. They should match yours in type, size, age and style.
You can also use real sale prices from around the valuation date: April 1989 to March 1993 in England, or April 2001 to March 2005 in Wales. Average prices from property websites are not strong evidence.
Send your challenge. If you cannot use the online service, email the Council Tax challenge form.

What happens next

The Valuation Office confirms it has your challenge within a few days, but it can take up to 28 days.

Type of challenge	How long a decision takes
Making a proposal (legal right)	Up to 4 months
Band review (no legal right)	Up to 12 months

The Valuation Office may change your band, or tell you why it will not. If the band changes, your council sends a new bill.

If you disagree with the decision

You can appeal only if you had a legal right to challenge. Appeal to the Valuation Tribunal for England or the Valuation Tribunal for Wales. Appeals are free, but you pay your own costs. A late appeal may be accepted in some cases, so explain why you are late on the form.

If you only asked for a band review, you cannot appeal.

Free help

Citizens Advice can help you for free. In Scotland, contact your local assessor through the Scottish Assessors website.

Related guides

Where this comes from

Challenge your Council Tax band (GOV.UK)
When you have a legal right to challenge (GOV.UK)
When you do not have a legal right to challenge (GOV.UK)
How to challenge (GOV.UK)
After you make a challenge (GOV.UK)
Appeal a Council Tax bill (GOV.UK)

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Find your council

Common questions

How do I challenge my Council Tax band?

In England and Wales, use the Valuation Office online service, or email ctinbox@hmrc.gov.uk if you cannot use it. You may need evidence to support your case.

When do I have a legal right to challenge my band?

You have a legal right if you have paid Council Tax on the home for less than 6 months, or the Valuation Office changed your band in the last 6 months. Changes to the property or local area can also give you a right to challenge.

How long does a Council Tax band challenge take?

A challenge where you have a legal right can take up to 4 months, and a band review can take up to 12 months.

Do I keep paying Council Tax while I challenge my band?

Yes, you must keep paying your Council Tax while your challenge is being reviewed.

Official sources

1.Appeal a Council Tax bill or finewww.gov.uk/council-tax-appeals
2.Challenge your Council Tax band: how to challengewww.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band/how-to-challenge
3.Challenge your Council Tax band: after you make a challengewww.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band/after-you-make-challenge
4.Challenge your Council Tax band: when you have a legal rightwww.gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band/legal-right-to-make-a-challenge

Checked against GOV.UK on 30 September 2026

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