How to fill in the VO 7455 Council Tax challenge form

Two ways to submit

You can challenge a band two ways:

Online — the VOA's "Challenge your Council Tax band" service on GOV.UK (start at the band checker, then choose to challenge). Best suited to the informal route.
The VO 7455 paper form (VO 7280 in Wales) — the official proposal form. This is what you complete for a formal proposal, and what you attach when you email or post your evidence. This guide covers the paper form; you can download it from GOV.UK ("Council Tax band challenge form").

Part A — who you are and which property

Your name, address and contact details, plus the property you're challenging and its current band. Straightforward — but make the property address match the VOA's record exactly.

Part B — the grounds (where proposals get bounced)

Part B is where you state why you're entitled to make a proposal and what you're proposing. You tick the ground that applies — for example, you became the Council Tax payer within the last six months, or the VOA recently altered your band — and state the band you believe is correct. If you're outside the six-month window you're on the informal route, and these tick-boxes stay blank (the cover letter carries the argument instead). Leaving Part B blank while claiming a proposal is the most common reason a submission is downgraded to informal. See proposal vs informal review.

Part C — the declaration (don't forget to sign)

A short declaration that the information is true, plus your signature and the date. Unsigned forms are the single most common bounce. Sign digitally, or print, sign and scan.

Part D — the property details

Type, age, number and use of rooms, parking, heating and so on. This helps the caseworker line your home up against the comparables you cite. Fill in what you know; leave genuinely unknown fields blank rather than guessing.

What to send with it

The form on its own rarely wins. Attach:

Your comparable evidence — bands plus why they're like-for-like (how to find comparables).
Any 1991/2003 price evidence (where to find it).
A short cover letter tying it together — route requested, address, current band, requested band, evidence summary.

Common mistakes

Not signing Part C.
Claiming a proposal in Part B when you're past the six-month window.
A property address that doesn't match the VOA record.
Submitting with no comparable evidence ("I just think it's too high").

Free vs the £39 pack

The form is free to download and complete yourself. Our £39 pack pre-fills VO 7455 (or VO 7280 for Wales) from your property data, writes the cover letter, and builds the evidence sheet — you check Part C, sign, and send. Start with the free check to see whether your case is worth the form at all.