Argyll & Bute Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Argyll & Bute is £1,783.33 for 2026/27, up 9.7% (£157.69) on last year. That is £129.89 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 31st lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (21%), so the average bill per home is about £1,894.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Argyll & Bute council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,188.89 | £118.89 | £99.07 | £891.67 | 7,079 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,387.03 | £138.70 | £115.59 | £1,040.28 | 9,849 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,585.18 | £158.52 | £132.10 | £1,188.89 | 9,100 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,783.33 | £178.33 | £148.61 | £1,337.50 | 6,274 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,343.10 | £234.31 | £195.26 | £1,757.32 | 7,614 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,897.91 | £289.79 | £241.49 | £2,173.43 | 4,573 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,492.35 | £349.24 | £291.03 | £2,619.27 | 3,055 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,369.16 | £436.92 | £364.10 | £3,276.87 | 244 |
- Argyll & Bute
- Scotland average
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Argyll & Bute council tax history
Band D in Argyll & Bute has risen from £1,178.00 in 2016/17 to £1,783.33 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 30.4%, the 7th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Argyll & Bute Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,783.33 | +9.7% | £1,387.03 |
| 2025/26 | £1,625.64 | +9.9% | £1,264.39 |
| 2024/25 | £1,479.20 | +0.0% | £1,150.49 |
| 2023/24 | £1,479.20 | +5.0% | £1,150.49 |
| 2022/23 | £1,408.76 | +3.0% | £1,095.70 |
| 2021/22 | £1,367.73 | +0.0% | £1,063.79 |
| 2020/21 | £1,367.73 | +4.5% | £1,063.79 |
| 2019/20 | £1,308.83 | +4.8% | £1,017.98 |
| 2018/19 | £1,249.00 | +2.9% | £971.44 |
| 2017/18 | £1,213.34 | +3.0% | £943.71 |
| 2016/17 | £1,178.00 | – | £916.22 |
Homes by council tax band in Argyll & Bute
Argyll & Bute has 47,788 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 35% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,387.03 a year (£138.70 a month over 10 instalments).
Argyll & Bute compared with Scotland
Argyll & Bute is the 31st cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£121.41 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen City | £1,747.54 | +6.8% |
| East Dunbartonshire | £1,751.67 | +9.5% |
| Stirling | £1,752.87 | +8.8% |
| Argyll & Bute | £1,783.33 | +9.7% |
| Midlothian | £1,816.16 | +9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Argyll & Bute drops from £1,387.03 to £1,040.28.
- Council Tax Reduction: Argyll & Bute 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.
Argyll & Bute's 9.7% 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.
Second homes: 210% from April 2026
Argyll and Bute is using new Scottish rules that remove the old cap of double council tax on second homes. From 1 April 2026, second homes pay a premium of 110% on top of the standard charge, so 210% in total, up from 200% since 2024. If the enabling legislation is not in force, the council says the premium stays at 100% for 2026/27. Long-term empty homes get the same 110% premium.
The council gives three reasons. It declared a housing emergency in 2023, it wants to grow its population and attract workers who need homes, and it faces a multi-million-pound gap in its day-to-day budget. The premium applies to council tax only. Water and sewerage charges are not increased.
- A second home is a property that nobody lives in as their main home but that is lived in for at least 25 days in a 12-month period. Below that it counts as an empty home.
- Long-term empty means unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for 12 months or more. Between one and two years empty, the premium can be held off while the home is actively marketed for sale or let, or undergoing major repair.
- Buyers of a long-empty home who plan major repairs get 50% off for six months, then 10% off for up to six more months while work continues.
- Purpose-built holiday homes that cannot be lived in all year and job-related homes are excluded.
| Band | Standard council tax | Second home or long-term empty (210%) |
|---|---|---|
| A | £1,188.89 | £2,496.66 |
| C | £1,585.18 | £3,328.88 |
| D | £1,783.33 | £3,744.99 |
| F | £2,897.91 | £6,085.61 |
The full 2026/27 bill, including water
Argyll and Bute's Band D council tax rose 9.7% to £1,783.33. With Scottish Water's charges of £301.95 for water and £350.37 for sewerage, a Band D household connected to both pays £2,435.65 in total. A Band B home, the most common band here (9,849 homes), pays £1,387.03 in council tax plus £507.36 in water and sewerage.
The council says about 80% of its funding comes from the Scottish Government and 20% from council tax and fees and charges. Argyll and Bute is the second-largest council area in Scotland and has more inhabited islands than any other. It also pays for air and sea transport services out of that budget, which the council notes most other councils do not have to provide.
Paying across the islands
Customer service points in Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Bowmore on Islay, Lochgilphead, Tobermory on Mull, Oban and Rothesay on Bute are open for walk-ins from 9am to noon, and by appointment until 5pm. Colonsay, Jura and Tiree have smaller service points. Service points take card payments only. Cash can be paid at PayPoint outlets and Post Offices. The 24-hour automated card line is 01546 605515.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Argyll & Bute?
£1,783.33 a year in 2026/27, or £178.33 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Argyll & Bute?
Band B: 9,849 of 47,788 homes (21%). A Band B bill is £1,387.03 in 2026/27.
How much has Argyll & Bute council tax gone up?
9.7% this year, from £1,625.64 to £1,783.33 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
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 council tax do second homes pay in Argyll and Bute?
From 1 April 2026, 210% of the normal charge (a 110% premium), if the enabling Scottish legislation is in force. On a Band D home that is £3,744.99 in council tax. Water and sewerage are charged at the normal rate.
What is the total Band D bill in Argyll and Bute including water?
£2,435.65 in 2026/27: £1,783.33 council tax plus £652.32 Scottish Water charges.
Can I pay council tax in cash at an Argyll and Bute service point?
No. Service points take card payments only. Cash can be paid at PayPoint outlets and Post Offices.
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)
- Argyll and Bute Council – Council tax charges for second homes
- Argyll and Bute Council – Council tax empty properties
- Argyll and Bute Council – Council tax leaflet 2026/27
- Argyll and Bute Council – Your council tax at work