Stirling Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Stirling is £1,752.87 for 2026/27, up 8.8% (£141.09) on last year. That is £99.43 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 30th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (20%), so the average bill per home is about £2,083.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
Stirling council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,168.58 | £116.86 | £97.38 | £876.44 | 5,336 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,363.34 | £136.33 | £113.61 | £1,022.51 | 8,288 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,558.11 | £155.81 | £129.84 | £1,168.58 | 4,335 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,752.87 | £175.29 | £146.07 | £1,314.65 | 4,914 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,303.08 | £230.31 | £191.92 | £1,727.31 | 6,462 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,848.41 | £284.84 | £237.37 | £2,136.31 | 5,389 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,432.70 | £343.27 | £286.06 | £2,574.53 | 5,572 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,294.53 | £429.45 | £357.88 | £3,220.90 | 750 |
- Stirling
- Scotland average
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Stirling council tax history
Band D in Stirling has risen from £1,197.00 in 2016/17 to £1,752.87 in 2026/27 — 46% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 30.4%, the 6th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- Stirling Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,752.87 | +8.8% | £1,363.34 |
| 2025/26 | £1,611.78 | +8.8% | £1,253.61 |
| 2024/25 | £1,481.50 | +0.0% | £1,152.28 |
| 2023/24 | £1,481.50 | +7.0% | £1,152.28 |
| 2022/23 | £1,384.58 | +3.0% | £1,076.90 |
| 2021/22 | £1,344.28 | +0.0% | £1,045.55 |
| 2020/21 | £1,344.28 | +4.8% | £1,045.55 |
| 2019/20 | £1,282.23 | +4.0% | £997.29 |
| 2018/19 | £1,232.91 | +3.0% | £958.93 |
| 2017/18 | £1,197.00 | +0.0% | £931.00 |
| 2016/17 | £1,197.00 | – | £931.00 |
Homes by council tax band in Stirling
Stirling has 41,046 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 33% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,363.34 a year (£136.33 a month over 10 instalments).
Stirling compared with Scotland
Stirling is the 30th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£90.95 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Moray | £1,731.14 | +10% |
| Aberdeen City | £1,747.54 | +6.8% |
| East Dunbartonshire | £1,751.67 | +9.5% |
| Stirling | £1,752.87 | +8.8% |
| Argyll & Bute | £1,783.33 | +9.7% |
| Midlothian | £1,816.16 | +9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Stirling drops from £1,363.34 to £1,022.51.
- Council Tax Reduction: Stirling 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.
Stirling'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.
How Stirling closed a £10.7 million gap
Stirling Council approved its 2026/27 budget on 26 February 2026. It had a £10.7 million shortfall in a £328.63 million revenue budget. The council closed it with £5.46 million of savings (£4.79 million from efficiencies, £668,000 from policy changes), £175,000 from raising fees and charges by 5%, and an 8.75% council tax rise. Band D went from £1,611.78 to £1,752.87. The council says around 3 points of the rise cover a cut in Local Growth Fund money and support community social care.
Almost 2,700 people answered the council's Big Conversation survey, which ran from 6 January to 1 February 2026. Accepted savings include higher parking charges, closing the staffed Bannockburn Enterprise Hub, street lighting dimming and an £8 rise in the garden waste permit to £60. Rejected cuts included the door-to-door accessible transport service and clothing grants. Roads get an extra £3 million a year for two years, bringing road spending to £8 million, a 60% increase.
Empty homes and second homes in Stirling
Stirling had 310 second homes and 604 long-term empty homes in September 2025 (National Records of Scotland). The council's Empty Homes Officer can help owners bring a property back into use.
- Unoccupied and unfurnished: exempt for up to 6 months from the last occupation, then 50% off for 6 more months.
- Unoccupied but furnished: 10% off for up to 12 months.
- Empty 12 months or more: council tax rises by 100%. A Band D home pays £3,505.74.
- Homes actively for sale or let keep a discount until they have been empty for 24 months.
- Major repair or structural alteration: exempt for up to 12 months from when the home was last occupied. If you buy such a home after it has been empty for more than 12 months, 50% off applies for 6 months from the date you became the owner.
- Second homes have paid 200% since 1 April 2024, £3,505.74 at Band D. Purpose-built holiday homes that cannot be used all year and job-related homes may still get a discount.
Paying council tax in Stirling
Stirling offers five Direct Debit schedules: weekly, fortnightly, 10 monthly, 12 monthly, or 13 four-weekly payments. A 24-hour card line runs on 01786 404040. Stirling is one of Scotland's best councils at collecting: 97.6% of 2024-25 bills were paid in the year, against a national average of 95.5%. People who came under the Homes for Ukraine scheme and live rent-free with an approved sponsor can claim an exemption or discount.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Stirling?
£1,752.87 a year in 2026/27, or £175.29 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in Stirling?
Band B: 8,288 of 41,046 homes (20%). A Band B bill is £1,363.34 in 2026/27.
How much has Stirling council tax gone up?
8.8% this year, from £1,611.78 to £1,752.87 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 46%.
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 Stirling put council tax up in 2026/27?
To close most of a £10.7 million budget gap after £5.46 million of savings. About 3 points of the 8.75% rise cover lost Local Growth Fund money and community social care.
Can I pay Stirling council tax every four weeks?
Yes. Direct Debit can be set up as 13 four-weekly payments, as well as weekly, fortnightly, or 10 or 12 monthly.
How long is an empty home exempt in Stirling?
Up to 6 months if unfurnished, then 50% off for another 6 months. After 12 months empty the bill doubles.
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)
- Stirling Council – Stirling Council approves 2026-27 budget
- Stirling Council – Unoccupied properties and second homes
- Stirling Council – How to pay your Council Tax
- Stirling Council – Persons from Ukraine exemption and discount
- National Records of Scotland: Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2025 (tables 5 and 6c)
- Scottish Government: Council Tax Collection Statistics, 2024-25