Economy · Housing & mortgages · 4 November 2026
High Value Council Tax Surcharge to begin in England in 2028
House of Commons Library has published details of a new surcharge for properties valued at £2 million or more. The charge starts in April 2028 and applies to owners in England. It is expected to affect an estimated 150,000 individuals.
The government has announced the introduction of a High Value Council Tax Surcharge for properties in England valued at £2 million or more. According to House of Commons Library, the scheme will begin in April 2028. The measure targets property owners rather than occupiers, with the Valuation Office Agency tasked with identifying relevant properties through a targeted valuation exercise.
Charges will vary by value band, starting at £2,500 for properties between £2 million and £2.5 million. The highest band, for properties over £5 million, carries an annual surcharge of £7,500. The government estimates the surcharge will raise around £400 million per year from 2028/29, with charges increasing in line with CPI inflation from 2029/30 onwards. Secondary legislation is planned for 2027 following a consultation that closed on 14 July.
Figures published with the announcement show the surcharge is expected to impact an estimated 150,000 individuals, representing 1% of the most valuable properties in England. The government published its response to the consultation on 28 October 2026.
Written by StreetOwl from House of Commons Library’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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