City of Edinburgh Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in City of Edinburgh is £1,626.05 for 2026/27, up 4% (£62.54) on last year. That is £27.39 below the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 10th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (18%), so the average bill per home is about £1,868.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
City of Edinburgh council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,084.03 | £108.40 | £90.34 | £813.03 | 20,539 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,264.71 | £126.47 | £105.39 | £948.53 | 45,381 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,445.38 | £144.54 | £120.45 | £1,084.03 | 44,114 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,626.05 | £162.61 | £135.50 | £1,219.54 | 41,485 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,136.45 | £213.64 | £178.04 | £1,602.34 | 42,786 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,642.33 | £264.23 | £220.19 | £1,981.75 | 26,045 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,184.35 | £318.43 | £265.36 | £2,388.26 | 23,814 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £3,983.82 | £398.38 | £331.99 | £2,987.87 | 4,306 |
- City of Edinburgh
- Scotland average
Your result is ready
City of Edinburgh council tax history
Band D in City of Edinburgh has risen from £1,169.00 in 2016/17 to £1,626.05 in 2026/27 — 39% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 21.5%, the 32nd biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- City of Edinburgh Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,626.05 | +4.0% | £1,264.71 |
| 2025/26 | £1,563.51 | +8.0% | £1,216.06 |
| 2024/25 | £1,447.69 | +0.0% | £1,125.98 |
| 2023/24 | £1,447.69 | +5.0% | £1,125.98 |
| 2022/23 | £1,378.75 | +3.0% | £1,072.36 |
| 2021/22 | £1,338.59 | +0.0% | £1,041.13 |
| 2020/21 | £1,338.59 | +4.8% | £1,041.13 |
| 2019/20 | £1,277.40 | +3.0% | £993.53 |
| 2018/19 | £1,240.19 | +3.0% | £964.59 |
| 2017/18 | £1,204.07 | +3.0% | £936.50 |
| 2016/17 | £1,169.00 | – | £909.22 |
Homes by council tax band in City of Edinburgh
City of Edinburgh has 248,470 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 27% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,264.71 a year (£126.47 a month over 10 instalments).
City of Edinburgh compared with Scotland
City of Edinburgh is the 10th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£35.87 more than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Angus | £1,598.65 | +9.4% |
| Scottish Borders | £1,618.52 | +8.5% |
| East Renfrewshire | £1,620.15 | +6% |
| City of Edinburgh | £1,626.05 | +4% |
| West Lothian | £1,627.59 | +7.4% |
| Highland | £1,633.99 | +7% |
| Orkney Islands | £1,669.07 | +6% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in City of Edinburgh drops from £1,264.71 to £948.53.
- Council Tax Reduction: City of Edinburgh 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.
City of Edinburgh's 4% 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 will pay four times the bill from January 2027
Edinburgh's second homes premium has changed twice this year. The city has charged second homes 200% since 1 April 2024. In February 2026, councillors agreed to raise the premium to 300%, meaning four times the standard charge, from 1 April 2026. That was then suspended to allow more work and engagement with owners. Revised 2026/27 bills went out at the old 200% rate, replacing the bills dated 16 March 2026.
After an owner survey that closed on 28 June 2026, a Council meeting on 27 August 2026 decided to bring in the 300% premium from 1 January 2027. Affected owners should get a revised bill in December 2026. The council links the policy to the housing emergency it declared in November 2023.
- The figures are full-year council tax only. Water and waste water charges are separate and not multiplied. For 2026/27 the extra cost runs only from January to March 2027.
- 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.
- From 1 April 2026 Edinburgh adopted Scottish Government guidance on when the premium may not be appropriate. To ask for discretion, email ctaxsecondhomes@edinburgh.gov.uk with your reasons.
| Band | Standard charge | Second home to Dec 2026 (200%) | Second home from Jan 2027 (400%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | £1,264.71 | £2,529.41 | £5,058.82 |
| D | £1,626.05 | £3,252.10 | £6,504.20 |
| F | £2,642.33 | £5,284.66 | £10,569.32 |
| H | £3,983.82 | £7,967.65 | £15,935.29 |
A 4% rise, the smallest in Scotland this year
Councillors agreed a 4% increase across all bands for 2026/27, taking Band D to £1,626.05. That is the lowest rise of any Scottish council this year, against 5.9% in Glasgow, 6.8% in Aberdeen and 7.7% in Dundee, and follows 8.0% in 2025/26. Scottish Water's charges, collected on the same bill, rose 8.67%. They still apply if you get Council Tax Reduction, though single-occupancy and student discounts reduce them too.
Edinburgh has more Band H homes than anywhere else in Scotland: 4,306 of its 248,470 homes. Each pays £3,983.82 in council tax this year. The most common band is B (45,381 homes, £1,264.71).
Bands are set by the Lothian Valuation Joint Board, which also covers East Lothian, Midlothian and West Lothian. Appeals go to the Board, not the council.
Direct debit options
You can spread payments over 10 or 12 months, on the 1st, 5th, 16th or the last day of the month, or pay in one instalment on 30 April. A direct debit only covers the current year. Contact the council to clear arrears from earlier years by direct debit.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in City of Edinburgh?
£1,626.05 a year in 2026/27, or £162.61 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in City of Edinburgh?
Band B: 45,381 of 248,470 homes (18%). A Band B bill is £1,264.71 in 2026/27.
How much has City of Edinburgh council tax gone up?
4% this year, from £1,563.51 to £1,626.05 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 39%.
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.
When does the Edinburgh 300% second homes premium start?
On 1 January 2027, following a Council decision on 27 August 2026. Second homes will then pay four times the standard council tax. Until then the charge is 200%.
How much did Edinburgh council tax rise in 2026/27?
4% across all bands, to £1,626.05 at Band D. Scottish Water charges rose 8.67%.
Who decides council tax bands in Edinburgh?
The Lothian Valuation Joint Board. You can check your band on the Scottish Assessors website and appeal to the Board.
What direct debit dates does Edinburgh offer?
The 1st, 5th, 16th or last day of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments, or a single payment on 30 April.
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)
- City of Edinburgh Council – Second home Council Tax
- City of Edinburgh Council – Council Tax bands and charges 2026/27
- Lothian Valuation Joint Board
- City of Edinburgh Council – Pay Council Tax by Direct Debit
- Scottish Government – Finance circular 6/2026: council tax on second and long-term empty homes guidance