Dumfries & Galloway Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Dumfries & Galloway is £1,578.65 for 2026/27, up 8.5% (£123.67) on last year. That is £74.79 below the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 6th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (30%), so the average bill per home is about £1,578.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Dumfries & Galloway council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,052.43 | £105.24 | £87.70 | £789.33 | 10,409 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,227.84 | £122.78 | £102.32 | £920.88 | 21,992 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,403.24 | £140.32 | £116.94 | £1,052.43 | 12,269 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,578.65 | £157.87 | £131.55 | £1,183.99 | 10,375 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,074.17 | £207.42 | £172.85 | £1,555.63 | 10,822 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,565.31 | £256.53 | £213.78 | £1,923.98 | 5,639 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,091.52 | £309.15 | £257.63 | £2,318.64 | 2,670 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £3,867.69 | £386.77 | £322.31 | £2,900.77 | 152 |
- Dumfries & Galloway
- Scotland average
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Dumfries & Galloway council tax history
Band D in Dumfries & Galloway has risen from £1,049.00 in 2016/17 to £1,578.65 in 2026/27 — 50% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 29.1%, the 11th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Dumfries & Galloway Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,578.65 | +8.5% | £1,227.84 |
| 2025/26 | £1,454.98 | +9.0% | £1,131.65 |
| 2024/25 | £1,334.85 | +0.0% | £1,038.22 |
| 2023/24 | £1,334.85 | +6.0% | £1,038.22 |
| 2022/23 | £1,259.30 | +3.0% | £979.46 |
| 2021/22 | £1,222.63 | +0.0% | £950.93 |
| 2020/21 | £1,222.63 | +4.8% | £950.93 |
| 2019/20 | £1,166.19 | +4.8% | £907.04 |
| 2018/19 | £1,112.88 | +3.0% | £865.57 |
| 2017/18 | £1,080.47 | +3.0% | £840.37 |
| 2016/17 | £1,049.00 | – | £815.89 |
Homes by council tax band in Dumfries & Galloway
Dumfries & Galloway has 74,328 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 44% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,227.84 a year (£122.78 a month over 10 instalments).
Dumfries & Galloway compared with Scotland
Dumfries & Galloway is the 6th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£83.27 more than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | £1,505.50 | +8.5% |
| North Lanarkshire | £1,554.56 | +7% |
| Fife | £1,573.70 | +5% |
| Dumfries & Galloway | £1,578.65 | +8.5% |
| Angus | £1,598.65 | +9.4% |
| Scottish Borders | £1,618.52 | +8.5% |
| East Renfrewshire | £1,620.15 | +6% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Dumfries & Galloway drops from £1,227.84 to £920.88.
- Council Tax Reduction: Dumfries & Galloway 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.
Dumfries & Galloway's 8.5% 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.
An 8.5% rise, but Band D stays under the Scottish average
Dumfries and Galloway Council raised council tax by 8.5% for 2026/27, to £1,578.65 at Band D. Scottish Water charges, collected on the same bill, rose 8.67%. The year before, the council tax rise was 9.0%, after the 2024/25 freeze. Even so, the Band D charge is £74.79 below the Scottish average.
The region's homes are mostly in the lower bands. Band B, with 21,992 homes (about three in ten), costs £1,227.84. Band A costs £1,052.43. Only 152 homes are in Band H. Bands are set by the Assessor for Dumfries and Galloway, and appeals go to the Assessor, not the council.
Second homes, empty homes and holiday lets
The council charges double council tax on second homes, which on a Band B home is £2,455.68 a year. A second home is furnished, not anyone's main or only home, and lived in for 25 days or more in any 12 months. Homes used less than that are classed as unoccupied, and long-term empty homes can also be charged double. The double charge does not apply to Scottish Water charges, purpose-built holiday homes or job-related accommodation.
If you think your property has been wrongly classed as a second home, you can ask for a review, which the council usually completes within five working days, and then appeal, which it usually assesses within five working days too. A self-catering property is liable for business rates instead of council tax only if it was available to let for at least 140 days in the financial year and actually let for at least 70. The Assessor, not the council, decides whether a property moves to the valuation roll.
Paying Dumfries and Galloway council tax
Direct debit can be weekly, fortnightly or monthly. Monthly payments can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 21st. A direct debit set up in March starts from the next financial year. Other payment methods can take 3 to 5 days to reach your account, so the council advises paying early to avoid recovery action. You can set up a direct debit on 030 33 33 3005.
Council Tax Reduction follows the Scottish national scheme. It reduces the council tax part of the bill only, not the water and waste water charges. If something changes in your household, report it straight away, because changes can affect both your reduction and any discounts.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Dumfries & Galloway?
£1,578.65 a year in 2026/27, or £157.87 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Dumfries & Galloway?
Band B: 21,992 of 74,328 homes (30%). A Band B bill is £1,227.84 in 2026/27.
How much has Dumfries & Galloway council tax gone up?
8.5% this year, from £1,454.98 to £1,578.65 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 50%.
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 did Dumfries and Galloway council tax go up in 2026/27?
8.5%, to £1,578.65 at Band D. Scottish Water charges rose 8.67%.
Does Dumfries and Galloway charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Furnished homes that are not anyone's main home but are used for 25 days or more a year pay double. Water and waste water charges are not doubled.
When does a holiday let in Dumfries and Galloway pay business rates instead of council tax?
When it is available to let for at least 140 days in the financial year and actually let for at least 70 days. The Assessor makes the decision.
Which direct debit dates are available in Dumfries and Galloway?
Monthly on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 21st, or weekly or fortnightly.
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)
- Dumfries and Galloway Council – Check your Council Tax band and charges
- Dumfries and Galloway Council – Second homes
- Dumfries and Galloway Council – Empty property Council Tax discounts
- Dumfries and Galloway Council – Pay Council Tax