South Lanarkshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Lanarkshire is £1,468.47 for 2026/27, up 6.5% (£89.62) on last year. That is £184.97 below the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 1st lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (22%), so the average bill per home is about £1,491.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
South Lanarkshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £978.98 | £97.90 | £81.58 | £734.24 | 34,485 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,142.14 | £114.21 | £95.18 | £856.61 | 29,815 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,305.31 | £130.53 | £108.78 | £978.98 | 26,508 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,468.47 | £146.85 | £122.37 | £1,101.35 | 22,424 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £1,929.41 | £192.94 | £160.78 | £1,447.05 | 20,953 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,386.26 | £238.63 | £198.86 | £1,789.70 | 14,415 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £2,875.75 | £287.58 | £239.65 | £2,156.82 | 7,359 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £3,597.75 | £359.78 | £299.81 | £2,698.31 | 594 |
- South Lanarkshire
- Scotland average
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South Lanarkshire council tax history
Band D in South Lanarkshire has risen from £1,101.00 in 2016/17 to £1,468.47 in 2026/27 — 33% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.1%, the 31st biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- South Lanarkshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,468.47 | +6.5% | £978.98 |
| 2025/26 | £1,378.85 | +6.0% | £919.23 |
| 2024/25 | £1,300.81 | +0.0% | £867.21 |
| 2023/24 | £1,300.81 | +5.5% | £867.21 |
| 2022/23 | £1,233.00 | +2.5% | £822.00 |
| 2021/22 | £1,203.00 | +0.0% | £802.00 |
| 2020/21 | £1,203.00 | +3.0% | £802.00 |
| 2019/20 | £1,168.00 | +3.0% | £778.67 |
| 2018/19 | £1,134.00 | +3.0% | £756.00 |
| 2017/18 | £1,101.00 | +0.0% | £734.00 |
| 2016/17 | £1,101.00 | – | £734.00 |
Homes by council tax band in South Lanarkshire
South Lanarkshire has 156,553 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 41% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is A, which costs £978.98 a year (£97.90 a month over 10 instalments).
South Lanarkshire compared with Scotland
South Lanarkshire is the 1st cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£193.45 more than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Lanarkshire | £1,468.47 | +6.5% |
| Shetland Islands | £1,487.90 | +7.3% |
| Na h-Eileanan Siar | £1,505.50 | +8.5% |
| North Lanarkshire | £1,554.56 | +7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in South Lanarkshire drops from £978.98 to £734.24.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Lanarkshire 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.
South Lanarkshire's 6.5% 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.
Where a South Lanarkshire Band D bill goes
South Lanarkshire's 6.5% rise is one of the smallest in Scotland this year. Its Band D of £1,468.47 is the lowest of all 32 councils. The council plans to spend £1,086.7 million on services in 2026/27. Its financial statement shows what that costs for every Band D home, compared with the £1,468.47 a Band D household pays.
| Service | Net cost 2026/27 | Per Band D home |
|---|---|---|
| Education | £579.1m | £4,035.55 |
| Social work | £289.3m | £2,016.33 |
| Cleansing and environment | £56.6m | £394.18 |
| Leisure and recreation | £49.0m | £341.51 |
| Roads and lighting | £43.0m | £299.38 |
| Council Tax Reduction scheme | £26.2m | £182.78 |
| All services | £1,086.7m | £7,573.14 |
Band 0, Direct Debit dates and the prize draw
The 2026/27 charge table starts with "Band 0". This is for Band A homes that qualify for disabled persons relief. They are charged five-ninths of Band D, £815.82, instead of £978.98. Bills for 2026/27 went out from 13 March 2026 and are paid in 10 instalments from April to January.
- Direct Debit dates: the 1st, 7th, 14th, 21st or 28th of the month. Set-up can take up to 14 days.
- A Direct Debit carries on each April without being renewed.
- Everyone paying by Direct Debit goes into an annual prize draw to win a year without council tax payments.
- Online card payments must reach the council by the 1st of the month. American Express and Electron are not accepted.
Empty homes and second homes in South Lanarkshire
Homes empty for more than 12 months pay a 200% Empty Property Surcharge, £2,936.94 at Band D. If the home is actively for sale or rent, you can apply to pay 90% instead for up to another 12 months. After 24 months empty, no reduction is available. The empty period runs from the first day the home was vacant, including time before you owned it. A stay of under three months does not restart the clock. Second homes lost their 10% discount on 1 April 2024 and now pay a 100% surcharge.
Second homes are almost absent here: National Records of Scotland counted 137 in September 2025. Long-term empty homes fell from 1,795 in 2024 to 1,459. In 2024-25 it collected 96.4% of bills in the year, above the Scottish average of 95.5%.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Lanarkshire?
£1,468.47 a year in 2026/27, or £146.85 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in South Lanarkshire?
Band A: 34,485 of 156,553 homes (22%). A Band A bill is £978.98 in 2026/27.
How much has South Lanarkshire council tax gone up?
6.5% this year, from £1,378.85 to £1,468.47 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 33%.
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.
Which council has the lowest council tax in Scotland?
South Lanarkshire. Its Band D for 2026/27 is £1,468.47, after a 6.5% rise.
What is Band 0 on South Lanarkshire council tax?
The charge for Band A homes that get disabled persons relief: £815.82 in 2026/27, five-ninths of Band D.
Can you win free council tax in South Lanarkshire?
Households paying by Direct Debit are entered into an annual prize draw for a year without council tax payments.
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)
- South Lanarkshire Council – Banding and charges 2026/2027
- South Lanarkshire Council – Council Tax financial information 2026/2027
- South Lanarkshire Council – How to pay Council Tax
- South Lanarkshire Council – Unoccupied property and second homes
- South Lanarkshire Council – Empty property surcharge
- National Records of Scotland: Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2025 (tables 5 and 6c)
- Scottish Government: Council Tax Collection Statistics, 2024-25