What will the mansion tax cost, and can you challenge it?
From April 2028, homes in England worth £2m or more pay a new yearly charge of £2,500 to £7,500 on top of council tax. Check your band in under a minute, then get the free guide to preparing a challenge before the valuations arrive.
Mansion tax calculator
a year, in 2026 prices
Where you sit on the band ladder
How to Prepare to Challenge the Mansion Tax
- How the Valuation Office will value your home
- The evidence that wins a challenge, and what gets rejected
- A checklist to complete before valuations land in late 2027
Projected bills to 2033
Charges are set in 2026 prices and rise with CPI each year. Bands stay fixed until the next revaluation, planned for 2033.
| Year | Yearly | Monthly | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | – | ||
Prepare now, challenge when the valuations land
Check your band
Use the calculator to see which band your home is likely to fall in, and how close it sits to a band line.
Gather your evidence
Collect real completed sales of similar homes, floor areas and condition notes from 2026. Estate agent estimates and website valuations won't count.
Challenge on time
When the Valuation Office publishes its valuations, check yours and challenge within the deadline if the evidence supports a lower band.
£2 of value, £2,500 a year
There's no sliding scale. A home valued just over a band line pays the whole higher charge, every year until the next revaluation.
The same cliff edge sits at £2.5m, £3.5m and £5m. Homes within about 10% of a line have the most to gain from checking the evidence.
What happens when
- 2026 to 2027The Valuation Office values homes at 2026 prices, using sales records and an automated model checked by valuers.
- Late 2027Draft valuations are published.
- March 2028First bills arrive.
- April 2028The surcharge starts. You keep paying while a challenge is under way, and overpayments are refunded if you win.
- 2033Planned revaluation.
Dates and the challenge process are proposals and could change before April 2028.
Frequently asked questions
Who pays the mansion tax?
The owner, not the tenant. Leaseholders pay if their lease was originally granted for more than 21 years. Companies and trustees pay for homes they hold.
How much is it?
£2,500 a year for homes valued at £2m to £2.5m, £3,500 over £2.5m to £3.5m, £5,000 over £3.5m to £5m, and £7,500 over £5m. The charges are in 2026 prices and rise with inflation each year.
How will my home be valued?
The Valuation Office will value homes at 2026 prices, mainly from comparable sales and property data rather than visits. If its data about your home is wrong, or it uses unsuitable comparisons, the valuation can be wrong too.
What evidence counts in a challenge?
Under the proposals, completed sales of similar homes and examples of similar homes in a different band. Estate agent estimates and property website valuations are expected to be excluded.
Can I defer payment?
A deferral scheme is proposed for main homes of owners on lower incomes, with interest, secured on the property and repaid on sale.
Is the calculator result a valuation?
No. It shows the band and charge for the value you enter. Only the Valuation Office sets your band, and only a RICS registered valuer can give a formal valuation.
Who runs this site?
Challenge Mansion Tax is an independent service. We are not part of HMRC, the Valuation Office or any council. Email info@challengecounciltax.co.uk.