Ealing Council Tax Bands and Bill Explained
How Council Tax Bands Work in Ealing
Every residential property in Ealing sits in one of eight valuation bands (A through H), set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) based on what the property would have sold for on 1 April 1991. That's not a typo — the valuations are over three decades old, even though the property market has moved dramatically since then.
The bands determine how much council tax you pay relative to the Band D benchmark. Band A pays roughly two-thirds of the Band D rate, while Band H pays twice as much. Your band is printed at the top of your annual council tax bill.
| Band | 1991 value range | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 – £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 – £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 – £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 – £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 – £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 – £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Most properties in Ealing fall into Bands D through F. The borough has relatively few Band A or B properties compared to areas outside London.
What's on Your Bill
Your annual council tax bill (the "demand notice") arrives in March for the year starting 1 April. It breaks down into several components:
- Ealing Council's share — the largest portion, funding local services including waste collection, social care, highways, and housing
- Greater London Authority (GLA) precept — the mayor of London's share, covering the Metropolitan Police, London Fire Brigade, and Transport for London
- Adult Social Care precept — a separate line showing the additional amount ring-fenced for adult social care
The total of these components at Band D gives the headline Band D rate for the year. Your actual bill is calculated by applying your property band's ratio to that Band D total.
The bill also shows:
- Any discounts applied (such as the 25% single person discount)
- Any Council Tax Reduction credited to your account
- Your payment schedule — typically 10 monthly instalments from April to January, or 12 monthly instalments if you've requested that arrangement
How Your Band Affects CTR
Your council tax band matters for Council Tax Reduction because CTR is calculated as a percentage of your annual council tax liability. A higher band means a higher base bill, which means a higher CTR award in absolute terms — but also a higher remaining bill to pay.
For example, a non-protected Band 1 applicant gets an 80% award. On a 2026/27 Band C property (£1,900.92 annual liability), that reduces the bill by about £1,520.74, leaving about £380.18 to pay. On a Band E property (£2,613.77), the same 80% award is about £2,091.02, leaving about £522.75.
The income bands that determine your CTR percentage are the same regardless of your property's council tax band. Whether you live in a Band B flat or a Band F house, Band 1 income (£0–£154.18 per week) gives the same percentage reduction. The property band only affects the base amount that percentage applies to.
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Challenging Your Band
If you believe your property is in the wrong band, you can challenge it through the VOA — and this is completely free. The VOA reassesses the property based on what it would have sold for in April 1991, considering factors like extensions, splits, or demolitions since the original banding.
A successful challenge that moves you to a lower band reduces your council tax going forward and can generate a refund for previous years if you've been overbanded. However, a challenge can also result in your band being increased if the VOA determines your property was under-valued — and that applies to neighbouring properties too if they request a local review.
You can check your band and start a challenge at the VOA's website. The official band-challenge route is free — some firms charge a share of any refund they secure, but you don't need them. The process is straightforward and the VOA handles it directly.
Understanding Your Revised Bill
If you receive a CTR award, the council sends a revised demand notice showing the reduction credited to your account. The monthly instalments are recalculated to spread the remaining balance over the months left in the year. If the recalculation creates a credit (because you've already paid more than your reduced liability), you can contact the Local Tax team on 020 8825 7050 to request a refund.
The Ealing Council Tax Reduction guide includes worked examples showing how band, discount, and CTR interact — so you can verify that your bill is calculated correctly.
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