West Midlands · England · 2025/26
Birmingham council tax bands & charges 2025/26
Free check. See every band on your Birmingham street in seconds.
Birmingham's Band D charge for 2025/26 is around £2,135. Every other band pays a fixed multiple of that figure — Band A is 0.667×, Band H is 2.000×. Bands were set from 1 April 1991 property values by VOA; errors are common and free to challenge.
Band D annual charge
Band A annual charge
Band H annual charge
Source: Birmingham Council 2025/26 budget-setting report.
All council tax bands in Birmingham (2025/26)
Every Birmingham property sits in one of 8 bands (A–H), decided by its estimated 1 April 1991 market value. Band D is the reference band; every other band is a statutory ratio of it.
| Band | 1991 value | Ratio | Annual | Monthly | Deep-dive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | £0 – £40,000 | 0.6667 | £1,423 | £119 | Band A → |
| B | £40,000 – £52,000 | 0.7778 | £1,661 | £138 | Band B → |
| C | £52,000 – £68,000 | 0.8889 | £1,898 | £158 | Band C → |
| D | £68,000 – £88,000 | 1.0000 | £2,135 | £178 | Band D → |
| E | £88,000 – £120,000 | 1.2222 | £2,609 | £217 | Band E → |
| F | £120,000 – £160,000 | 1.4444 | £3,084 | £257 | Band F → |
| G | £160,000 – £320,000 | 1.6667 | £3,558 | £297 | Band G → |
| H | Over £320,000 | 2.0000 | £4,270 | £356 | Band H → |
Band A (up to £40,000) always pays the least; Band H pays 2.00× the Band D rate. Ratios source: Local Government Finance Act 1992, Schedule 1.
Birmingham council tax discounts & exemptions
Birmingham Council administers the standard statutory reliefs. Apply directly through their website — some backdate up to six years if you were previously eligible.
- Single-person discount (25%) — you live alone, or every other adult in the home is "disregarded" (e.g. full-time students, live-in carers).
- All-student household exemption (100%) — no bill if every adult in the property is a full-time student.
- Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) disregard — if the sole occupant has an SMI diagnosis and receives a qualifying benefit, the full bill can be exempted; a shared home may qualify for a 25% discount.
- Empty-property relief — short discount when a property is unoccupied and unfurnished; length varies by council policy.
- Council Tax Reduction (means-tested) — administered by Birmingham based on income, savings, and household composition.
When does Birmingham take payment?
The council tax year runs 1 April to 31 March. Birmingham issues bills in March. By default, payment is spread over 10 monthly instalments (April–January), but you can request 12 instalments (April–March) to lower each monthly amount. Direct Debit dates are typically the 1st, 15th, or 28th of the month — confirm on your bill.
Who sets bands in England
In England, bands are still based on 1 April 1991 open-market values and are maintained by the Valuation Office Agency. Birmingham Council issues the bill, but only the VOA can change the band. A successful challenge means Birmingham reissues your bill and refunds any overpayment — often backdated to when you moved in.
Compare your Birmingham band to your neighbours
We pull the live VOA record for every property on your street and neighbouring streets in Birmingham, so you can see at a glance whether your home is banded higher than similar properties nearby.
Build the evidence pack the VOA expects
Our pack includes matched comparables, a 1991 valuation summary specific to your West Midlands area, and a draft challenge letter — the exact format the VOA works with.
Submit to the VOA (free) and wait for Birmingham to reissue
You send the pack to the VOA directly — they charge nothing to review. If your band drops, Birmingham Council automatically reissues your bill and refunds every year you were overpaying, usually back to when you moved in.
Birmingham council tax FAQs
Can I appeal my council tax band in Birmingham?
Yes. Any council tax payer in Birmingham can ask the VOA to review their band at no cost. There are two routes: a formal "proposal" (available within six months of moving in or after certain qualifying events) and an informal "band review" (available at any time). Our pack works for both, and the evidence is the same — a clear comparison against similar homes nearby.
How long does a Birmingham band review take?
VOA typically responds within 2–4 months. If they agree the band should change, Birmingham Council is notified automatically and issues a corrected bill plus any refund — usually within a further 4–8 weeks. If VOA disagrees, you can escalate to the Valuation Tribunal free of charge.
Will Birmingham Council refund overpaid council tax?
Yes — refunds are backdated to the date the incorrect band took effect, which is usually the date you moved in (and in some cases as far back as 1991). The refund is issued by Birmingham Council directly, not by VOA, once they receive the updated banding notice.
How is my Birmingham council tax bill split up?
Your Birmingham bill is a share of your council's total budget, plus precepts collected on behalf of the police, fire service and — where applicable — a parish or town council. Every band pays a fixed ratio of the Band D figure; Birmingham publishes the split each year in their budget-setting report.
Do I get a discount on my Birmingham council tax?
Common discounts include the single-person 25% discount (only one adult living in the home), the student exemption (all-student households pay nothing), the Severely Mentally Impaired disregard, and empty-property relief for short periods after a move. Birmingham Council administers all of these — apply directly through their website.
Estimate your Birmingham refund if your band drops.
Back-calculate your property’s valuation-date value.
Honest comparison of free vs paid routes.
Other areas in West Midlands
- Bromsgrove council tax bands
- Cannock Chase council tax bands
- Coventry council tax bands
- Dudley council tax bands
- East Staffordshire council tax bands
- Herefordshire council tax bands
2025/26 figures. Band D sourced from Birmingham's published budget. Page last reviewed .