West Dunbartonshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in West Dunbartonshire is £1,681.53 for 2026/27, up 7.8% (£121.67) on last year. That is £28.09 above the Scotland average of £1,653.44 — the 16th lowest of 32 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (37%), so the average bill per home is about £1,556.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Scottish council · Official Scotland government statistics
West Dunbartonshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £27,000 | £1,121.02 | £112.10 | £93.42 | £840.77 | 7,179 |
| B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,307.86 | £130.79 | £108.99 | £980.89 | 16,446 |
| C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,494.69 | £149.47 | £124.56 | £1,121.02 | 7,708 |
| D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,681.53 | £168.15 | £140.13 | £1,261.15 | 6,144 |
| E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,209.34 | £220.93 | £184.11 | £1,657.01 | 4,862 |
| F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,732.49 | £273.25 | £227.71 | £2,049.36 | 1,791 |
| G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,293.00 | £329.30 | £274.42 | £2,469.75 | 835 |
| H | More than £212,000 | £4,119.75 | £411.97 | £343.31 | £3,089.81 | 70 |
- West Dunbartonshire
- Scotland average
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West Dunbartonshire council tax history
Band D in West Dunbartonshire has risen from £1,163.00 in 2016/17 to £1,681.53 in 2026/27 — 45% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 30.0%, the 9th biggest increase of 32 councils in Scotland.
- West Dunbartonshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,681.53 | +7.8% | £1,307.86 |
| 2025/26 | £1,559.86 | +11.5% | £1,213.22 |
| 2024/25 | £1,398.98 | +0.0% | £1,088.10 |
| 2023/24 | £1,398.98 | +5.0% | £1,088.10 |
| 2022/23 | £1,332.36 | +3.0% | £1,036.28 |
| 2021/22 | £1,293.55 | +0.0% | £1,006.09 |
| 2020/21 | £1,293.55 | +4.8% | £1,006.09 |
| 2019/20 | £1,233.83 | +3.0% | £959.65 |
| 2018/19 | £1,197.89 | +3.0% | £931.69 |
| 2017/18 | £1,163.00 | +0.0% | £904.56 |
| 2016/17 | £1,163.00 | – | £904.56 |
Homes by council tax band in West Dunbartonshire
West Dunbartonshire has 45,035 homes on the valuation list (chargeable dwellings, September 2025). 52% 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 B, which costs £1,307.86 a year (£130.79 a month over 10 instalments).
West Dunbartonshire compared with Scotland
West Dunbartonshire is the 16th cheapest of 32 councils in Scotland, where the average Band D across councils is £1,661.92 (£19.61 less than here). Cheapest: South Lanarkshire (£1,468.47); most expensive: Midlothian (£1,816.16).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Orkney Islands | £1,669.07 | +6% |
| Perth & Kinross | £1,673.84 | +8.9% |
| Inverclyde | £1,673.85 | +7.9% |
| West Dunbartonshire | £1,681.53 | +7.8% |
| Clackmannanshire | £1,683.67 | +5.6% |
| North Ayrshire | £1,685.84 | +8.5% |
| Aberdeenshire | £1,686.04 | +10% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in West Dunbartonshire drops from £1,307.86 to £980.89.
- Council Tax Reduction: West Dunbartonshire 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.
West Dunbartonshire's 7.8% 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.
West Dunbartonshire triples the bill on empty and second homes
From 1 April 2026, West Dunbartonshire adds a 200% premium to long-term empty homes and second homes, so they pay 300% council tax. Scottish Government rules in force from the same date let councils set premiums above the old 100% limit. On a Band D home the council tax becomes £5,044.59 instead of £1,681.53. Water and sewerage are added on top.
| Situation | What you pay |
|---|---|
| Unoccupied and unfurnished | Nothing for 6 months, then 10% off up to 12 months, then 300% |
| Unoccupied and unfurnished, on the market | Nothing for 6 months, then 10% off until sold or let |
| Furnished, on the market | 10% off while empty and for sale or let |
| Furnished, not on the market | 10% off for 12 months, then 300% |
| Second home (used 25+ days a year) | 300% |
| Newly bought, empty 12+ months, being renovated | 6-month grace period, then 300% |
| New build not yet occupied | Nothing for 6 months, then 10% off up to 12 months, then 300% |
The 7.8% rise and the budget gap
Councillors set the 2026/27 budget on 4 March 2026 with a 7.8% rise to help close a £6.44 million gap. Band D went from £1,559.86 to £1,681.53, £2.34 a week. The budget keeps free swimming lessons for P6 and P7 pupils, free breakfast clubs, free parking in council car parks and the Elderly Welfare Grant for residents aged 66 and over. Most fees rise 5%, but the garden waste permit stays at £60. Savings include a common senior-phase timetable across the five secondary schools and five fewer temporary teaching posts.
Paying and falling behind in West Dunbartonshire
Direct Debit can be taken on the 1st, 15th or 28th, and you can choose 12 monthly payments instead of 10. Since 1 April 2025 the council no longer sends final notices. If an instalment is not paid in full, a Reminder Notice gives you 21 days to pay or agree another arrangement. Band A homes that get the disabled reduction are billed at band "A*", £934.18. In 2024-25 the council collected 93.8% of bills in the year, below the Scottish average of 95.5%.
The higher premium affects few homes. National Records of Scotland counted 23 second homes and 290 long-term empty homes in September 2025. Long-term empty homes fell from 598 in 2022.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in West Dunbartonshire?
£1,681.53 a year in 2026/27, or £168.15 a month over 10 instalments. Water and sewerage charges from Scottish Water are billed on top.
What council tax band are most homes in West Dunbartonshire?
Band B: 16,446 of 45,035 homes (37%). A Band B bill is £1,307.86 in 2026/27.
How much has West Dunbartonshire council tax gone up?
7.8% this year, from £1,559.86 to £1,681.53 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 45%.
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 council tax does an empty home pay in West Dunbartonshire?
300% from 1 April 2026 once it has been empty 12 months, £5,044.59 at Band D. The first 6 months unfurnished are free, followed by a 10% discount.
Does West Dunbartonshire still send final notices?
No. Since April 2025 a missed instalment triggers a Reminder Notice giving 21 days to pay or arrange another option.
What Direct Debit dates does West Dunbartonshire offer?
The 1st, 15th or 28th of the month, over 10 or 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)
- West Dunbartonshire Council – Changes to Empty Property Discount
- West Dunbartonshire Council – Council closes multi-million pound funding gap
- West Dunbartonshire Council – Council Tax payment options
- West Dunbartonshire Council – Changes to Recovery for Non-Payment
- West Dunbartonshire Council – Council Tax Bands 2026/27
- Scottish Government: Local government finance circular 6/2026 – council tax on second and long-term empty homes
- National Records of Scotland: Households and Dwellings in Scotland, 2025 (tables 5 and 6c)
- Scottish Government: Council Tax Collection Statistics, 2024-25