Council tax · 7 minute read
Is council tax a hoax? What other countries in Europe do: a real review
Council tax isn't a hoax. It pays for bins, social care, libraries and roads. But plenty of people think it's unfair, and looking at our neighbours helps show why.
Published 30/09/2026
How UK council tax works
In England and Scotland, bands are still based on what a home would have been worth in April 1991. Wales revalued its bands in 2003. Northern Ireland doesn't have council tax at all. It uses domestic rates based on a property's capital value. Your council sets the amount for each band every year.
Why people call it unfair
Because values haven't been updated in England for over three decades, two homes worth very different amounts today can be in the same band. Bills also don't rise in line with property value, so owners of expensive homes pay a smaller share of their home's value than people in cheaper ones.
Ireland
Ireland's Local Property Tax is charged on the owner, based on the home's self-assessed market value in bands, and valuations are updated periodically.
France
France scrapped the taxe d'habitation, its tax on occupiers, for main homes in 2023. Owners still pay the taxe foncière, a property tax.
Germany
Germany's Grundsteuer is a tax on property owners, which landlords can pass on to tenants through service charges. After a court ruling, Germany reformed it, with new valuations in use from 2025.
What you can do now
Check you're getting every discount you're entitled to, like single-person discount and Council Tax Reduction. Only challenge your band if similar nearby homes are in a lower one.
The verdict
It's not a hoax, but the UK system is unusually out of date compared with its neighbours. The quickest win for most households is checking discounts, not fighting the band.
How to challenge your council tax bandSources
- Council tax bands (GOV.UK)
- Northern Ireland domestic rates
- Ireland Local Property Tax
- France: taxe d'habitation
- Germany: Grundsteuer reform
General information, not personal financial advice. Check current prices and rules with the original source.