Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Leicester City Council is a unitary authority that sets its own Band D rate each February; Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire add separate precepts that are listed on the bill.Leicester City Council Tax funds adult social care, children's services, waste collection, libraries and the local police and fire precepts in the central wards around the city, Belgrave, Highfields, Aylestone, Knighton and Beaumont Leys and across the rest of the borough. As a metropolitan authority Leicester City acts as the billing authority for the whole area, so the bill arrives in one envelope even though several bodies take a share.
The amount per band is set each year, normally in February, when Leicester City approves its budget and the Leicestershire police and fire authorities confirm their precepts. Bands are decided by the Valuation Office Agency using 1991 property values, and any change to the property (or to your circumstances) can affect what you pay.
| Band | Property Value (1991) | Ratio to Band D |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 9/9 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | Over £320,000 | 18/9 |
Band ranges fixed in 1991. Leicester City sets the cash amount per band each February.
How Leicester City sets Council Tax for 2026-27
Leicester City Council approves its annual budget in February at a full council meeting. The decision sets the Band D rate and confirms the amounts that Leicestershire Police and Leicestershire Fire are passing on as precepts.
As a unitary authority Leicester City is responsible for the full range of council services in the city: education, adult and children's social care, housing, waste, leisure, planning and roads. Leicestershire County Council does not bill in the city, so the only precepts you see on the bill are the police and fire ones.
Full figures for the year are published on Leicester City Council's "Council Tax charges" page after the February budget meeting, alongside the explanatory budget book and medium-term financial strategy.
Council Tax bands A to H in Leicester
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Leicester then sets a Band D rate; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D.
Band A is 6/9ths of Band D, Band B is 7/9ths, Band C is 8/9ths, Band E is 11/9ths, Band F is 13/9ths, Band G is 15/9ths and Band H is 18/9ths. This ratio is fixed by central government and applies the same way in Leicester as it does in any other English billing authority.
To check your band, look up your address on the Valuation Office Agency search tool, or use the band shown on your annual bill. If you think the band is wrong because of evidence about your property in 1991, you have a narrow window to challenge it once you first move in.
How to pay Leicester City Council Tax
Most Leicester City residents pay by Direct Debit because it spreads the bill across the year and stops any reminder letters arriving. You can usually choose between paying on the 1st, the 15th or the last working day of the month, and you can switch between 10 instalments (the default) or 12 instalments.
Other options at Leicester City include paying online through the council website using a debit or credit card, paying by automated phone line around the clock, paying at a PayPoint with your bill barcode, or sending a cheque with your reference number written on the back.
If you want 12 instalments instead of 10, you have a legal right to ask for it under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992, as amended. Leicester City must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Discounts and Council Tax Support in Leicester
The most common discount is the 25 per cent single person discount. If you are the only adult living at the property, you should be paying three-quarters of the full bill. Apply through Leicester City with proof of who lives at the address.
Council Tax Reduction is the means-tested help available to people on a low income or claiming certain benefits. Leicester City runs its own scheme within the framework set by central government, and the amount of help depends on income, savings, household make-up and whether anyone in the home is disabled or a carer.
Other reductions worth checking: full-time students are disregarded, a property occupied only by under-18s is exempt, a person with a severe mental impairment is disregarded with a GP certificate, and the disability reduction scheme can drop your bill to the band below your current one if a disabled person needs adapted facilities.
Banding, moving and arrears in Leicester
Tell Leicester City as soon as you move in or out so the bill is correct from day one. You can usually do this through an online form, and you will need your moving date, the address you are leaving or entering, and details of any other adults at the property.
If you receive a bill you do not agree with, the first step is to write to Leicester City setting out why. Liability disputes (who should be paying, whether a discount applies) go through the council; banding disputes go to the Valuation Office Agency, then on to the Valuation Tribunal for England if you remain unhappy.
Falling behind on payments triggers a fixed legal sequence: a 7-day reminder, then the loss of your right to instalments and the whole year becoming payable, then a summons to the magistrates' court for a liability order. After that Leicester City can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Leicestershire County Council bill me as well as Leicester City?
No. Leicester City is a unitary authority, so the city council is responsible for all services that the county would otherwise provide. Leicestershire County Council does not issue a separate bill or charge a precept in the city.
What is the police precept on my Leicester bill?
It is the share of your Council Tax that funds Leicestershire Police. The amount per band is set by the Police and Crime Commissioner each February, within a cap set by central government, and Leicester City collects it on the same bill as a billing convenience.
How do I apply for Council Tax Support in Leicester?
Apply through Leicester City Council's online Council Tax Support form. You will need details of income, savings, who lives with you and any benefits you receive. Working age and pensioner schemes are different and the calculation depends on which applies.
When does Leicester send out the new Council Tax bill?
Bills are normally posted in March, with the first instalment due on 1 April. Direct Debit payers are taken on their chosen date after the mandate is updated for the new financial year.
How do I challenge my Leicester Council Tax band?
Contact the Valuation Office Agency. You have a six-month window from first moving in to make a formal proposal. After that, you can ask for an informal review at any time if you have new evidence about the 1991 value of your home.
How We Verified This
Framework verified against gov.uk and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Leicester-specific structure (unitary status, police and fire precept arrangement) verified against published Leicester City Council budget papers and the City of Leicester (Structural Change) Order 1996.