Council Tax City of Edinburgh 2026/27 — Band A to H Rates
Council tax rates in City of Edinburgh 2026/27
The Band D council tax rate in City of Edinburgh for 2026/27 is £1,626 per year (£136 per month). Bands E to H use Scotland's own ratios to Band D, so they are not the same fractions as in England. Figures exclude water and sewerage charges, which are billed with council tax in Scotland.
| Band | Annual | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,084/yr | £90/mo |
| Band B | £1,265/yr | £105/mo |
| Band C | £1,445/yr | £120/mo |
| Band D | £1,626/yr | £136/mo |
| Band E | £2,136/yr | £178/mo |
| Band F | £2,642/yr | £220/mo |
| Band G | £3,184/yr | £265/mo |
| Band H | £3,984/yr | £332/mo |
The England average Band D for 2026/27 is £2,392. City of Edinburgh's Band D rate is below this average.
How to check your City of Edinburgh band
Enter any City of Edinburgh postcode in our free council tax band checker. You can also check your bill or visit saa.gov.uk.
Challenging your City of Edinburgh band
A successful challenge saves approximately £361/yr per band — backdated to when you moved in. See our step-by-step guide.
Discounts in City of Edinburgh
- Single person discount — 25% off if you live alone
- Student exemption — full-time students are disregarded
- Council Tax Support — means-tested reduction for low incomes
- Disabled Band Reduction — pay at one band below your actual band
Council tax bands in City of Edinburgh: values and 2026/27 charges
Scotland has eight council tax bands, A to H, based on what a property would have sold for on 1 April 1991. The valuation ranges are different from England's, and since the 2017 reforms the higher bands pay a larger share of Band D, so Band H pays 245% of Band D rather than 200%. The charges below are City of Edinburgh's 2026/27 amounts before any discounts, and exclude water and waste water charges, which Scottish councils bill alongside council tax on behalf of Scottish Water.
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual charge | Living alone (25% off) | Per month (12 instalments) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | up to £27,000 | £1,084 | £813 | £90 |
| Band B | £27,001 to £35,000 | £1,265 | £949 | £105 |
| Band C | £35,001 to £45,000 | £1,445 | £1,084 | £120 |
| Band D | £45,001 to £58,000 | £1,626 | £1,220 | £136 |
| Band E | £58,001 to £80,000 | £2,136 | £1,602 | £178 |
| Band F | £80,001 to £106,000 | £2,642 | £1,982 | £220 |
| Band G | £106,001 to £212,000 | £3,184 | £2,388 | £265 |
| Band H | over £212,000 | £3,984 | £2,988 | £332 |
Band D at £1,626 a year is £766 below the England average of £2,392, although the comparison is not like-for-like because Scottish bills also carry separate water and waste water charges and the Scottish bands use different valuation dates and ratios. Each step up the bands adds £510 from Band D to Band E, and £800 from Band G to Band H.
What affects your band in City of Edinburgh
Edinburgh has an unusually large stock of tenement flats and period properties in and around the Old Town, New Town and the inner suburbs. Because the band depends on the property's value on 1 April 1991 rather than its size or its price today, flats in central areas can sit in higher bands than a comparable-sized home elsewhere in Scotland, so it is worth checking that your band looks consistent with similar properties on your street.
Discounts, exemptions and premiums in City of Edinburgh
A household with only one adult living in the property gets a 25% discount, which is applied to the charge before water and waste water. Some groups are disregarded when counting adults, including full-time students, people who are severely mentally impaired, and some carers and apprentices, so a household can qualify for the discount even when more than one person lives there. Households where every adult is disregarded may pay nothing.
Councils in Scotland can charge a premium of up to 100% on second homes and on homes that have been empty for more than a year, which doubles the bill. If you are on a low income, the Scottish Council Tax Reduction scheme can reduce your bill by up to 100%, and it is separate from Universal Credit. A disabled band reduction is also available where a property has been adapted for a disabled resident. Contact City of Edinburgh Council to confirm what applies to your household, since discounts are not always applied automatically.
Challenging your band in City of Edinburgh
Council tax bands in Scotland are set by the local Assessor, not by the council. If you believe your home is in the wrong band, you can ask the Lothian Valuation Joint Board Assessor to review it. You normally have six months from the date you become liable for the council tax on the property to appeal on the grounds that the band is wrong; after that, appeals are generally limited to cases where something material has changed, such as a demolition or a split into separate flats. If you disagree with the Assessor's decision, you can take the appeal to the Valuation Appeal Committee. Keep paying your bill while the appeal is considered, and bear in mind that a review can also result in a higher band.
The Scottish Assessors' portal publishes the band of every property, which lets you compare your home with similar ones nearby. The strongest evidence for a challenge is a neighbouring property of the same size, age and type that sits in a lower band.
How City of Edinburgh compares
Edinburgh and Glasgow are Scotland's two largest councils and both charge below the English average Band D. For a wider comparison across English cities, see our council tax rates league table, and use the council tax band checker to find your own band.
Sources: GOV.UK council tax bands, the Scottish Assessors Association and City of Edinburgh Council's published 2026/27 charges.