Falkirk Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Falkirk is £1,715.09 for 2026/27, up 8.8% (£138.32) on last year. That is £61.65 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 24th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (28%), so the average bill per home is about £1,664.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Falkirk council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,143.39 | £114.34 | £95.28 | £857.54 | 21,249 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,333.96 | £133.40 | £111.16 | £1,000.47 | 18,991 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,524.52 | £152.45 | £127.04 | £1,143.39 | 7,050 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,715.09 | £171.51 | £142.92 | £1,286.32 | 9,357 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,253.44 | £225.34 | £187.79 | £1,690.08 | 9,192 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,787.02 | £278.70 | £232.25 | £2,090.27 | 6,158 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,358.72 | £335.87 | £279.89 | £2,519.04 | 3,107 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,201.97 | £420.20 | £350.16 | £3,151.48 | 81 |
- Falkirk
- Scotland average
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Falkirk council tax history
Band D in Falkirk has risen from £1,070.00 in 2016/17 to £1,715.09 in 2026/27 — 60% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 39.9%, the 1st biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Falkirk Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,715.09 | +8.8% | £1,143.39 |
| 2025/26 | £1,576.77 | +15.6% | £1,051.18 |
| 2024/25 | £1,363.82 | +0.0% | £909.21 |
| 2023/24 | £1,363.82 | +7.0% | £909.21 |
| 2022/23 | £1,274.60 | +4.0% | £849.73 |
| 2021/22 | £1,225.58 | +0.0% | £817.05 |
| 2020/21 | £1,225.58 | +4.8% | £817.05 |
| 2019/20 | £1,169.00 | +3.0% | £779.33 |
| 2018/19 | £1,135.00 | +3.0% | £756.67 |
| 2017/18 | £1,102.00 | +3.0% | £734.67 |
| 2016/17 | £1,070.00 | – | £713.33 |
Homes by council tax band in Falkirk
Falkirk has 75,185 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 54% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,143.39 a year (£114.34 a month over 10 instalments).
Falkirk compared with Scotland
Falkirk is the 24th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£53.17 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Ayrshire | £1,694.96 | +8% |
| East Lothian | £1,697.62 | +7.5% |
| Glasgow City | £1,706.00 | +5.9% |
| Falkirk | £1,715.09 | +8.8% |
| East Ayrshire | £1,717.28 | +6.9% |
| Dundee City | £1,729.69 | +7.7% |
| Moray | £1,731.14 | +10% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Falkirk drops from £1,143.39 to £857.54.
- Council Tax Reduction: Falkirk 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.
Falkirk's 8.8% 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.
Falkirk's 8.77% rise: two parts
Falkirk Council split its 2026/27 increase into two parts. The total rise is 8.77%. Of that, 6.27% pays for day-to-day services and 2.5% is set aside for long-term investment in roads, buildings, schools and leisure facilities. Band D is now £1,715.09, up from £1,576.77. That follows a 15.6% rise in 2025/26, so a Band D bill is £351.27 higher than in the 2024/25 freeze year.
The council's revenue budget for 2026/27 is £515 million, mostly funded by Scottish Government grants. The council says the government assesses its spending need at £6,372 per house, but it plans to spend £6,652 per house.
| Band | Bill 2026/27 | Of which: services (6.27%) | Of which: investment (2.5%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,143.39 | +£65.91 | +£26.28 |
| B | £1,333.96 | +£76.89 | +£30.66 |
| C | £1,524.52 | +£87.88 | +£35.04 |
| D | £1,715.09 | +£98.86 | +£39.42 |
Long-term empty homes and second homes
Falkirk has charged up to 200% on homes empty for 12 months or more since 1 April 2017, to push owners to sell or let them. Homes being marketed for sale or rent are protected from the levy until they have been empty for 24 months. Water and waste water charges are not increased.
Second homes followed later. The Executive Committee agreed a 100% levy on 22 August 2024, and it took effect from 1 January 2025, so second homes now pay 200% council tax. In Band A, the most common band in Falkirk (21,249 homes), that is £2,286.79 a year.
Bands, discounts and paying
Bands are set by the Assessor for Central Scotland, who also covers Clackmannanshire and Stirling. The council explains that a one-bedroom flat can be in a higher band than a three-bedroom semi, because bands depend on the estimated 1991 value, location and type of property, not the number of bedrooms. If a discount is awarded, you still pay water and waste water charges unless the property is fully exempt.
Direct debit is set up online, and the council sends a new bill with the dates and amounts within two to three days. To pay at PayPoint or a Post Office you need a Falkirk payment card or barcode, which you request from the council. The assisted payment line is open 8am to 8:30pm on weekdays, and the automated line 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Falkirk?
£1,715.09 a year in 2026/27, or £171.51 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Falkirk?
Band A: 21,249 of 75,185 homes (28%). A Band A bill is £1,143.39 in 2026/27.
How much has Falkirk council tax gone up?
8.8% this year, from £1,576.77 to £1,715.09 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 60%.
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.
Why did Falkirk council tax go up 8.77% in 2026/27?
6.27% is to pay for day-to-day services and 2.5% is set aside for long-term investment in roads, buildings, schools and leisure facilities.
When did Falkirk start charging double council tax on second homes?
From 1 January 2025, after the Executive Committee agreed it on 22 August 2024.
Are empty homes for sale charged extra in Falkirk?
Not until they have been empty for 24 months, if they are being marketed for sale or rent. Other long-term empty homes can be charged 200% after 12 months.
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)
- Falkirk Council – Council Tax 2026-27 increase
- Falkirk Council – How your Council Tax is set for 2026/27
- Falkirk Council – Discount, exemptions and additional charges
- Falkirk Council – Council Tax FAQs
- Assessor for Central Scotland (Scottish Assessors Association)
- Falkirk Council – How to pay your Council Tax