Aberdeenshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Aberdeenshire is £1,686.04 for 2026/27, up 10% (£153.28) on last year. That is £32.60 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 19th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band E (19%), so the average bill per home is about £1,950.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Aberdeenshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,124.03 | £112.40 | £93.67 | £843.02 | 19,137 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,311.36 | £131.14 | £109.28 | £983.52 | 15,689 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,498.70 | £149.87 | £124.89 | £1,124.03 | 14,250 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,686.04 | £168.60 | £140.50 | £1,264.53 | 18,481 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,215.27 | £221.53 | £184.61 | £1,661.45 | 22,638 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,739.82 | £273.98 | £228.32 | £2,054.86 | 17,742 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,301.83 | £330.18 | £275.15 | £2,476.37 | 11,652 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,130.80 | £413.08 | £344.23 | £3,098.10 | 645 |
- Aberdeenshire
- Scotland average
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Aberdeenshire council tax history
Band D in Aberdeenshire has risen from £1,141.00 in 2016/17 to £1,686.04 in 2026/27 — 48% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 29.6%, the 10th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Aberdeenshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,686.04 | +10.0% | £2,215.27 |
| 2025/26 | £1,532.76 | +10.0% | £2,013.88 |
| 2024/25 | £1,393.42 | +0.0% | £1,830.80 |
| 2023/24 | £1,393.42 | +4.0% | £1,830.80 |
| 2022/23 | £1,339.83 | +3.0% | £1,760.39 |
| 2021/22 | £1,300.81 | +0.0% | £1,709.12 |
| 2020/21 | £1,300.81 | +4.8% | £1,709.12 |
| 2019/20 | £1,240.76 | +3.0% | £1,630.22 |
| 2018/19 | £1,204.62 | +3.0% | £1,582.74 |
| 2017/18 | £1,169.53 | +2.5% | £1,536.63 |
| 2016/17 | £1,141.00 | – | £1,499.15 |
Homes by council tax band in Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire has 120,234 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 29% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is E, which costs £2,215.27 a year (£221.53 a month over 10 instalments).
Aberdeenshire compared with Scotland
Aberdeenshire is the 19th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£24.12 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| West Dunbartonshire | £1,681.53 | +7.8% |
| Clackmannanshire | £1,683.67 | +5.6% |
| North Ayrshire | £1,685.84 | +8.5% |
| Aberdeenshire | £1,686.04 | +10% |
| Renfrewshire | £1,690.56 | +7.5% |
| South Ayrshire | £1,694.96 | +8% |
| East Lothian | £1,697.62 | +7.5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band E bill in Aberdeenshire drops from £2,215.27 to £1,661.45.
- Council Tax Reduction: Aberdeenshire runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Scottish rules.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower.
Aberdeenshire's 10% rise compares with a Scotland average of about 7.1%. Scottish councils set their own rates, and water and sewerage charges are added on top.
Where Aberdeenshire's 10% rise goes
Aberdeenshire Council raised council tax by 10% for 2026/27, taking Band D from £1,532.76 to £1,686.04. The previous year's rise was 10.0%, after the 2024/25 freeze. Council tax pays for only 24% of the council's budget. Government grants cover 59% and business rates 17%. The council set a revenue budget of £859 million in February 2026, up from £802 million. Education takes £407 million of it and adult social care £179 million. Spending on waste rose from £24.8 million to £32.8 million, and on roads from £17.6 million to £23.6 million.
Scottish Water's charges went up 8.67% this year and are collected on the same bill. For a Band D home connected to both services, water (£301.95) and waste water (£350.37) take the total bill to £2,338.36. In Aberdeenshire, Band E is the most common band (22,638 homes), costing £2,215.27 in council tax alone.
From 1 September 2026: 300% on long-term empty homes and second homes
New Scottish regulations in 2026 let councils charge more than double on some empty homes. Aberdeenshire has used them: its published position from 1 September 2026 is a 300% charge, three times the normal council tax, on long-term empty homes and on second homes. The extra applies to council tax only, not to water and waste water.
- The premium can be delayed for up to 24 months if you can show you are bringing the home back into use, for example by renovating it, and for up to 36 months if it is actively marketed for sale or let.
- From 1 April 2024 to 31 August 2026, second homes in Aberdeenshire paid a 100% premium (200% in total). Second homes run as short-term lets may be moved to business rates instead.
- Empty-property rules apply to the property, not the owner, so a new owner does not get a fresh exemption. Buyers of homes needing major repair get 50% off for six months.
| Property | Before the premium | Premium starts | Band E council tax at 300% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unoccupied and unfurnished | Free for 6 months, then 10% off for 6 months | Month 13 | £6,645.81 |
| Unfurnished, on the market for sale or let | Free for 6 months, then 10% off for up to 18 months | Month 25 | £6,645.81 |
| Furnished but unoccupied | 10% off for 12 months | Month 13 | £6,645.81 |
| Undergoing major repair | Free for up to 12 months | Month 13 | £6,645.81 |
| Second home (furnished, used 25+ days a year) | No discount | Immediately | £6,645.81 |
Paying and appeals
About 88,000 Aberdeenshire households pay by direct debit, which can be taken on the 5th or 20th of the month. Other payments must reach the council by the 1st of each month. If you prefer not to pay monthly, you can pay the whole year in one go by 1 May. Setting up a new direct debit collects any arrears from earlier years in one payment unless you phone 01467 533444 to arrange otherwise.
Valuation bands are set by the Grampian Assessor, who also covers Aberdeen City and Moray. The council warns that because of high demand it can take up to six weeks to update accounts after you report a change.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Aberdeenshire?
£1,686.04 a year in 2026/27, or £168.60 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Aberdeenshire?
Band E: 22,638 of 120,234 homes (19%). A Band E bill is £2,215.27 in 2026/27.
How much has Aberdeenshire council tax gone up?
10% this year, from £1,532.76 to £1,686.04 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 48%.
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your address on the Scottish Assessors website (saa.gov.uk). You can appeal within six months of moving in.
How much is council tax on a second home in Aberdeenshire?
From 1 September 2026, the council's published position is a 300% charge (a 200% premium). On a Band E home that is £6,645.81 a year in council tax, before water charges. Before that, second homes paid 200%.
How much did Aberdeenshire council tax go up in 2026/27?
By 10%, to £1,686.04 at Band D. Water and waste water charges went up 8.67% on top.
What direct debit dates does Aberdeenshire offer?
The 5th or 20th of the month.
Can I delay the empty homes premium in Aberdeenshire?
Yes. It can be delayed for up to 24 months while you bring the home back into use, or up to 36 months if it is actively marketed for sale or let.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Scottish Government: Council Tax by band 2026-27 (XLSX)
- Scottish Government: Council Tax by band 2025-26 (XLSX), used for Scotland % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- legislation.gov.uk: Council Tax (Substitution of Proportion) (Scotland) Order 2016
- Scottish Government: Number of chargeable dwellings, September 2025 (CTAXBASE 2025)
- Aberdeenshire Council – Council Tax annual billing leaflet 2026/27 (PDF)
- Aberdeenshire Council – Empty and unfurnished property
- Aberdeenshire Council – Second homes
- Aberdeenshire Council – Ways to pay Council Tax
- Grampian Valuation Joint Board (Assessor)