# Council Tax Challenger > Council Tax Challenger (counciltaxchallenger.co.uk) helps UK homeowners check whether their council tax band is too high by comparing it against similar neighbouring properties using official Valuation Office Agency (VOA) data, and builds a £9.99 evidence pack (comparable properties, estimated 1991 valuation, case-strength score, written case summary) to support a challenge the homeowner submits for free through gov.uk. Operated by Comtev Ltd. Not affiliated with the VOA or HMRC. Key facts: council tax bands in England and Scotland are based on 1 April 1991 property values (Wales: 1 April 2003). An estimated 400,000 UK homes are in the wrong band. Of 39,590 challenges the VOA resolved in the year to March 2024, 27% ended in a lower band and only 30 cases (0.08%) in a higher band. Submitting a challenge to the VOA is always free. 86% of Council Tax Challenger customers who submitted a challenge backed by the like-for-like evidence pack reported a band reduction (customer-reported outcomes to July 2026). ## Tool - [Free council tax band checker](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/): enter a postcode to compare bands across similar nearby properties ## Guides - [How to challenge your council tax band](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/challenge-council-tax-band): the full process for England and Wales, evidence rules, timescales, risks - [Council tax appeals: bands, bills and the Valuation Tribunal](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-appeal): every appeal type with exact deadlines, and when to write to your council first - [Am I in the wrong council tax band?](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/wrong-council-tax-band-check): the two checks to run before challenging - [Council tax bands explained](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-bands-explained): band thresholds for England, Scotland and Wales - [What your house was worth in 1991](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/house-value-1991-council-tax): estimating the 1991 valuation behind your band - [Check your neighbours' council tax bands](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/check-neighbours-council-tax-band): bands are public data; how to compare properly - [Band review vs formal challenge](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-band-review-vs-proposal): the 6-month rule and which route applies to you - [Evidence the VOA accepts](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-challenge-evidence): the five-comparables rule and sale price windows - [If your challenge is rejected](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-challenge-rejected): Valuation Tribunal appeals - [Risks of challenging](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-band-challenge-risks): can your band go up, with the real VOA numbers - [Council tax refunds](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-refund-backdated): how far back refunds go and how much they are worth - [Council tax challenge success rates](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-challenge-success-rate): official VOA outcome figures by route and year - [Is challenging your band worth it?](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/is-challenging-council-tax-worth-it): honest cost-benefit decision framework - [How long a challenge takes](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-challenge-timeline): stage-by-stage timescales from submission to refund - [Council tax claims companies compared](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-claims-companies): no-win-no-fee fees vs DIY vs our fixed-price pack - [Challenging in Scotland](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/challenge-council-tax-scotland): the SAA proposal process - [Council tax bands in Wales](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-bands-wales): 2003 valuations and the 2028 revaluation - [Discounts and exemptions](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-discounts-exemptions): single person discount, SMI, disabled band reduction, Section 13A - [Does an extension increase council tax?](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/does-extension-increase-council-tax): the improvement indicator and why bands only rise on sale - [New build council tax bands](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/new-build-council-tax-band): completion notices, how new homes are banded, challenge rights - [Council tax when moving house](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-when-moving-house): who pays when, overlaps, and the 6-month challenge window a move opens - [Council tax band wrong on Rightmove](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-band-wrong-on-rightmove): portal listings vs the official VOA record - [Council tax band flat vs house](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/council-tax-band-flat-vs-house): how property type feeds banding, with official distribution data - [Annexe council tax](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/annexe-council-tax): when annexes get their own band, the 50% reduction and Class W exemption - [How much is council tax band A to H?](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/how-much-is-council-tax-band-a-to-h): 2026/27 England averages for every band - [Valuation tribunal hearings](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/valuation-tribunal-hearing): what actually happens when you appeal - [Mansion tax explained](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/mansion-tax-explained): the High Value Council Tax Surcharge on £2m+ English homes from 2028 - [Challenging a mansion tax valuation](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/challenge-mansion-tax-valuation): the proposed HVCTS challenge windows and evidence - [How the VOA will value homes for the mansion tax](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/how-voa-values-your-home-mansion-tax): the AVM desk-valuation method on 2026 values - [Second home council tax premium](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/second-home-council-tax-premium): 100%+ premiums, exceptions, and why a wrong band costs double - [Single person council tax discount](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/single-person-council-tax-discount): the 25% discount, disregards and backdating - [SMI council tax discount](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/smi-council-tax-discount): the severely mentally impaired disregard, exemptions and refunds - [Water charges on Scottish council tax](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/water-charges-council-tax-scotland): band-linked water charges and how a band win cuts both bills - [Wales council tax revaluation 2028](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog/wales-council-tax-revaluation-2028): the legislated revaluation and its current political uncertainty ## Resources - [Council tax bands by council](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/council-tax): 2026/27 charges tables, band distributions and challenge data per billing authority - [London council tax bands by borough](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/council-tax/london): all 33 boroughs compared for 2026/27 - [Highest and cheapest council tax in the UK](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/council-tax/highest-and-cheapest): full official rankings for 2026/27 - [All articles](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/blog) - [About us](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/about) - [RSS feed](https://counciltaxchallenger.co.uk/feed.xml)