ICO Decision Notice: FOI 44 Not Upheld

ICO Decision Notices

Filed February 3rd, 2026

Detected February 14th, 2026

Summary

The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) issued a decision notice regarding FOI 44. The ICO found that the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) was entitled to withhold information concerning Council Tax banding changes under section 44(1)(a) of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). No further action is required by the VOA.

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What changed

The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) has issued a decision notice (Ref: IC-394180-v4h1) concerning a Freedom of Information (FOI) request (FOI 44) made to the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). The VOA had withheld information related to Council Tax banding changes for specific properties, citing section 44(1)(a) of the FOIA, which prohibits disclosure under certain circumstances. The ICO has ruled that the VOA was justified in relying on this section to withhold the requested data.

This decision means the VOA is not required to disclose the information. For regulated entities, this serves as a reminder of the VOA's ability to withhold information under FOIA's prohibition on disclosure provisions. No specific compliance actions or deadlines are imposed by this notice, as it pertains to a specific FOI request and upholds the agency's decision to withhold information.

Source document (simplified)

Valuation Office Agency (VOA)

Date 3 February 2026
Sector Central government, Local government
Decision(s) FOI 44: Not upheld The complainant has requested information about Council Tax banding changes for several properties on specific streets. The Valuation Office Agency (‘the VOA’) relied on section 44(1)(a) of FOIA (prohibition on disclosure) to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner’s decision is that the VOA was entitled to rely on section 44(1)(a) of FOIA to withhold the requested information. The Commissioner does not require further steps.