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Daily Record

Lifestyle

Linda Howard

Find your new Council Tax bill and see how much you will be paying from next month

Council Tax Scotland SAA

Council Tax bills for 2023/24 are being issued this month and the amount of money you will be paying from April depends on the size and value of your property, plus the number of people who live there. If your circumstances have changed since your last bill was issued, you may qualify for a discount of up to £750.

Council Tax valuation bands are used to determine how much you pay - your home will be given a valuation band between A and H, based on your property's value at April 1, 1991. Newer properties are given a band when they are built and are based on an estimate of their value had they existed in April 1991.

The current value of your home may not be a good guide to the appropriate band and your local authority can also increase bills annually in line with the cost of services they provide. Not all councils In Scotland will charge the same amount per band and it's important to remember that some people will pay at the top or bottom end of the band.

There are eight council tax valuation bands in Scotland, from A to H. Band A is the lowest, while band H is the most expensive.

The valuation Council Tax band ranges can be found on the Scottish Assessors Authority (SAA) website here.

Band A - Up to £27,000
Band B - Over £27,000 and up to £35,000
Band C - Over £35,000 and up to £45,000
Band D - Over £45,000 and up to £58,000
Band E - Over £58,000 and up to £80,000
Band F - Over £80,000 and up to £106,000
Band G - Over £106,000 and up to £212,000
Band H - Over £212,000

How to check your Council Tax band

The band of every property in Scotland is available to access online via the SAA - just enter your postcode here.

How much Council Tax will I pay from April 2023?

There are 32 local authorities across Scotland and all have varying Council Tax charges depending on budget and services they provide. Once you know your band, you can find out how much you will pay.

To find out how much you will be paying, select your local authority from the list below:

Who pays Council Tax?

You will usually have to pay Council Tax if you are 18 or over and rent or own a property.

A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in a home. Spouses and partners living together are jointly responsible for paying the bill.

However, if you live on your own or no one else in your home counts as an adult, then you will qualify for 25 per cent off your bill.

Find out if you qualify for a discount on your new bill here.

How do I pay my Council Tax bill?

You can choose to pay your bill in full or over 10 or 12 monthly instalments, simply contact your local council when you receive your bill - or when you're setting up the Direct Debit. Be aware that some councils will have deadlines for setting up a new payment plan.

If you pay your Council Tax in 10 instalments, then you can look forward to a break in your bill in February and March, 2024.

Council Tax exemptions

Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax.

Neither do people under 18, those aged 18 or 19 in full-time education, apprentices, live-in carers, people with severe mental impairments, student nurses, diplomats or foreign language assistants, according to the government website.

If you are unsure whether you qualify for an exemption, contact your local council.

Changes that could affect your Council Tax band

There are certain circumstances where your property may be revalued and put in a different band.

A few examples are, if:

You demolish part of your property and do not rebuild it
You alter your property to create two or more self-contained units (e.g. an annexe – each unit will have its own band)
You split a single property into self-contained flats
You convert flats into a single property
You start or stop working from home
The previous owner made changes to your property
There are significant changes to your local area, like a new road being built
A similar property in your area has its council tax band changed

For help or advice with your Council Tax, contact your local authority.

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