Housing & council tax
Council Tax in London
Council Tax is set and collected by your borough, not by City Hall. Find your band, see how the bill is worked out, pay through your council, and check the discounts, exemptions and support you may be entitled to.
Ref · GOV-CTAX · Updated 2026-07-19
Council Tax is the annual charge that pays for local services across Greater London — rubbish and recycling collections, street cleaning, libraries, social care, and a share of policing and the fire brigade. Every one of London's 33 authorities sets its own rate and sends its own bills, so there is no single London-wide figure. What you pay depends on the valuation band of your home and on the borough you live in.
A slice of every London bill also funds the Greater London Authority precept, which supports the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire Brigade and Transport for London. Your borough collects that portion on the GLA's behalf and shows it as a separate line on your bill, but you still pay it, and manage everything, through your council.
How Council Tax is calculated
Every home in England is placed in one of eight bands, A to H, by the Valuation Office Agency. The band is based on what your property was worth on 1 April 1991 — not its value today. A newer home is compared with what it would have sold for on that date. Your council then multiplies the charge it has set for a Band D home by a fixed ratio for your band, so a Band A home pays two-thirds of the Band D rate and a Band H home pays twice it.
The valuation bands
| Band | 1991 value | Share of Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001–£52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001–£68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001–£88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001–£120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001–£160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001–£320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | More than £320,000 | 18/9 |
How to find your band and your council
- Check your band free on GOV.UK by entering your postcode and choosing your address.
- Find your borough using the GOV.UK council finder if you are not sure who bills you.
- Go to your council's website to see its rate for your band and to set up payment.
- Apply for any discount, exemption or support you qualify for through the same council.
How to pay
You pay Council Tax to your borough, usually over ten monthly instalments from April to January, though you can ask to spread it over twelve. Most councils let you pay by Direct Debit, online card payment, phone or standing order. Set up a Direct Debit and you rarely need to think about it again. If you move home within London, tell both your old and new boroughs so your bill is closed and reopened at the right addresses.
- Your Council Tax account or reference number (on your bill)
- The address the bill relates to
- Bank details for a Direct Debit, or a debit or credit card
Discounts and exemptions
You may not have to pay the full amount. The most common reductions are:
- Single-person discount — 25% off if you are the only adult in the home.
- Full-time students — a home where everyone is a full-time student is exempt.
- Disabled band reduction — your bill can be charged at the band below yours if the home has been adapted for a disabled resident.
- Other disregarded adults — some people, such as apprentices, carers and under-18s, are not counted when working out the number of adults.
Council Tax Support
If you are on a low income or claim certain benefits, ask your borough about Council Tax Support (Council Tax Reduction). Each London council runs its own scheme, so the amount you can get depends on where you live.
Do not ignore a bill
If you fall behind, contact your council straight away. They can arrange a payment plan. Unpaid Council Tax can lead to a court summons and extra costs, but boroughs would far rather agree an affordable plan with you first.
Note: This portal links to the official services. government.london does not send Council Tax bills, set bands or take payments — your borough and GOV.UK do.
Common questions
Who sets and collects Council Tax in London?
Your borough council sets and collects it. Each of London's 33 authorities runs its own billing, so the amount and the way you pay differ from borough to borough. Part of the bill also funds Greater London Authority services such as policing and the fire brigade.
How do I find my Council Tax band?
Check your band free on GOV.UK by entering your postcode. Bands run from A (lowest) to H (highest) in England and are based on what your home was worth on 1 April 1991, not its price today.
Do students pay Council Tax?
A home where everyone is a full-time student is exempt. If a student lives with one adult who is not a student, the household usually gets the single-person 25% discount. Contact your borough to apply the exemption or discount.
What is the single-person discount?
If you are the only adult living in your home, you can apply to your council for a 25% discount on your bill. Some other adults, such as full-time students and some carers, are disregarded when counting the adults in a home.
What if I cannot afford my Council Tax?
Ask your borough about Council Tax Support (also called Council Tax Reduction). If you are on a low income or claim certain benefits, this can cut your bill. Each borough runs its own scheme, so apply through your council. Never ignore a bill — contact the council early.
This is an information page. Band checks, payments and discounts all happen on GOV.UK and your borough's own website.
Council Tax on GOV.UK →Not sure which council?
Find your council
Enter a London postcode and we'll point you to the right borough for your Council Tax band, bill and payment page.
Opens the official GOV.UK council finder.
While you're here
Other tasks Londoners handle through their borough.