Fife Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Fife is £1,573.70 for 2026/27, up 5% (£74.94) on last year. That is £79.74 below the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 5th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (27%), so the average bill per home is about £1,558.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Fife council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,049.13 | £104.91 | £87.43 | £786.85 | 38,349 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,223.99 | £122.40 | £102.00 | £917.99 | 47,026 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,398.84 | £139.88 | £116.57 | £1,049.13 | 23,711 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,573.70 | £157.37 | £131.14 | £1,180.28 | 21,723 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,067.67 | £206.77 | £172.31 | £1,550.75 | 24,425 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,557.26 | £255.73 | £213.11 | £1,917.95 | 14,593 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,081.83 | £308.18 | £256.82 | £2,311.37 | 6,975 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £3,855.57 | £385.56 | £321.30 | £2,891.67 | 436 |
- Fife
- Scotland average
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Fife council tax history
Band D in Fife has risen from £1,118.00 in 2016/17 to £1,573.70 in 2026/27 — 41% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.9%, the 29th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Fife Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,573.70 | +5.0% | £1,223.99 |
| 2025/26 | £1,498.76 | +8.2% | £1,165.70 |
| 2024/25 | £1,385.18 | +0.0% | £1,077.36 |
| 2023/24 | £1,385.18 | +5.0% | £1,077.36 |
| 2022/23 | £1,319.22 | +3.0% | £1,026.06 |
| 2021/22 | £1,280.80 | +0.0% | £996.18 |
| 2020/21 | £1,280.80 | +4.8% | £996.18 |
| 2019/20 | £1,221.67 | +3.0% | £950.19 |
| 2018/19 | £1,186.09 | +3.0% | £922.51 |
| 2017/18 | £1,151.54 | +3.0% | £895.64 |
| 2016/17 | £1,118.00 | – | £869.56 |
Homes by council tax band in Fife
Fife has 177,238 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 48% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,223.99 a year (£122.40 a month over 10 instalments).
Fife compared with Scotland
Fife is the 5th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£88.22 more than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Shetland Islands | £1,487.90 | +7.3% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Fife drops from £1,223.99 to £917.99.
- Council Tax Reduction: Fife 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.
Fife's 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.
Fife's 5% rise and where £1.2 billion goes
Fife Council raised council tax by 5% for 2026/27, to £1,573.70 at Band D, after a 8.2% rise in 2025/26. It remains one of the cheaper Scottish councils, £79.74 below the Scottish average at Band D. With Scottish Water charges of £301.95 for water and £350.37 for waste water, the total Band D bill is £2,226.01. Fife is Scotland's third-largest council by number of homes (177,238), and Band B is the most common (47,026 homes, £1,223.99 in council tax).
Fife's published budget statement shows net spending of £1.205 billion for 2026/27. Council tax raises £222.9 million of that. Government grants provide £794.6 million and business rates £187.3 million. Per Band D-equivalent home, education costs £708 of the bill, health and social care £352, communities £227 and "place" services such as roads, planning and waste £242. Health and social care spending rose 8% on the year.
Empty homes and second homes
From 1 April 2024, Fife has used the new Scottish power to charge second homes 200%. It says the extra money funds key services and the policy is meant to improve housing availability. A second home is furnished, nobody's main residence, and lived in for at least 25 days in any 12 months. Purpose-built holiday homes that must be vacated at certain times, and tied homes provided by an employer, may get 50% off instead.
- A home undergoing major repair can be exempt for up to 12 months from when it was last occupied. A new owner of a home needing major repairs who does not qualify for that exemption can get 50% off for six months from purchase.
| Empty home | Treatment | Band B council tax 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Furnished, first 12 months | 10% off | £1,101.59 |
| Unfurnished, first 6 months | Exempt | £0.00 |
| Unfurnished, months 7 to 12 | 50% off | £611.99 |
| Empty more than 12 months | 200% | £2,447.98 |
| Second home | 200% | £2,447.98 |
Paying and banding
Direct debit spreads the bill from April to March and can be weekly, fortnightly, or monthly on the 1st or 15th. You set it up or change it through your council tax account on mygovscot myaccount. Fife has its own Assessor, independent of the council, who bands every home. You challenge a band by sending a proposal to the Fife Assessor.
Fife's discounts page lists care leavers alongside apprentices, school leavers and carers among the groups who can get a council tax discount. A carer who lives only with the person they care for gets 25% off, and 50% if that person is severely mentally impaired.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Fife?
£1,573.70 a year in 2026/27, or £157.37 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Fife?
Band B: 47,026 of 177,238 homes (27%). A Band B bill is £1,223.99 in 2026/27.
How much has Fife council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £1,498.76 to £1,573.70 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 41%.
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.
What is the total Band D bill in Fife including water?
£2,226.01 in 2026/27: £1,573.70 council tax plus £652.32 Scottish Water charges.
Does Fife charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2024, second homes in Fife have paid 200% council tax.
What direct debit dates does Fife offer?
Monthly on the 1st or 15th, or weekly or fortnightly, spread from April to March.
How much council tax does Fife Council collect?
About £222.9 million in 2026/27, towards net spending of £1.205 billion.
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)
- Fife Council – Council tax bands and charges
- Fife Council – How your council tax is spent
- Fife Council – Second homes
- Fife Council – Paying your council tax
- Fife Council – Council tax discounts and exemptions