High value council tax surcharge

Written by AJN Accountants
26 December 2025

From April 2028 residential properties valued at £2m or more will attract a new high value council tax surcharge.

Announced in the Autumn Budget, eligible owners (rather than occupiers) of properties identified as being valued £2m or more by the Valuation Office will pay this recurring annual surcharge on top of their existing council tax.

The surcharge will work on a sliding scale as follows for 2028-29, depending on the value of the property based on 2026 valuations:

ThresholdRate
£2m-2.5m£2,500
£2.5m-3.5m£3,500
£3.5m-5.0m£5,000
£5m+£7,500


Exemptions and reliefs will be available in due course, as well as separate rules for more complex ownership structures including where residential property is owned by companies, funds, trusts or partnerships or where a person is required to live in a property as a condition of their job. We will update our clients when more details are available.

Understanding the ATED Regime: A Guide for Limited Companies

The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is a tax that applies to companies and other entities that own UK residential properties valued above a certain threshold. Introduced by the UK government to address the issue of property ownership through companies and...

Furnished Holiday Lettings regime abolished

HMRC has published draft legislation explaining how the abolition of the special tax rules for furnished holiday lettings (FHLs) will work. From 6 April 2025 for sole traders and partnerships, or 1 April 2025 for companies, properties currently classed as FHLs will no...

Student loans, property and pensions

Student loan repayments (SLR) are normally deducted under PAYE from employment income so many people incorrectly assume that SLR are not due on other 'unearned income' such as rent or pensions. SLR will in fact be payable where the unearned...

Related Posts

Business and agricultural property reliefs

Business and agricultural property reliefs

Draft legislation has been published giving more insight into how and when proposed restrictions to two major inheritance tax (IHT) reliefs will be implemented. At Autumn Budget 2024 the Chancellor announced plans to reform business property relief (BPR) and...

SDLT: Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings increased

SDLT: Higher Rate for Additional Dwellings increased

The stamp duty land tax (SDLT) surcharge levied on purchases of second and subsequent homes has been increased from 3% to 5% with immediate effect. The higher rate applies to purchases of second homes and buy-to-let residential properties. The change applies to...

Understanding the ATED Regime: A Guide for Limited Companies

Understanding the ATED Regime: A Guide for Limited Companies

The Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) is a tax that applies to companies and other entities that own UK residential properties valued above a certain threshold. Introduced by the UK government to address the issue of property ownership through companies and...

We use contact information you provide to us to contact you about our relevant content, products, and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. For information, check out our Privacy Policy.