Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: In Liverpool, "Council Tax number" can mean your eight or nine digit account reference (top right of your bill) or the council's contact phone number; both are on the bill and on liverpool.gov.uk.Two different things often get called your "Council Tax number" in Liverpool: the account reference number that identifies your bill (used when paying online or by phone) and the council's contact telephone number (used when speaking to a member of staff).
This article explains both: where to find your account reference, where to find the contact number, how to avoid premium-rate aggregator lines, and what to do when you cannot find either.
| 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 set nationally in 1991. Liverpool City Council sets the cash amount per band each February.
Your Liverpool Council Tax account reference
Your Council Tax account reference is printed at the top right of every Liverpool bill. It is normally an eight or nine digit number, and is the identifier the council uses to match a payment to your account.
Use the account reference when paying online, paying by automated phone line, paying by PayPoint at a corner shop (where the barcode contains the reference), or setting up standing order or BACS payment from your bank.
If you have lost your bill, request a duplicate through the online form on liverpool.gov.uk. The duplicate shows the account reference and the current balance.
Council Tax bands A to H in Liverpool
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Liverpool 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 Liverpool 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.
The Liverpool Council Tax contact number
Liverpool City Council publishes its current Council Tax contact telephone number on the contact page at liverpool.gov.uk. The same number is on the back of your bill. Standard call charges apply.
The council operates both a daytime contact line and a 24-hour automated payment line. Both are non-premium numbers; standard call charges apply.
Avoid premium-rate aggregator numbers in search results. Genuine Liverpool numbers are either 0151 geographic or non-premium non-geographic (such as 0300 or 0345).
How to spot a fake or aggregator Liverpool Council Tax number
Genuine Liverpool City Council numbers are listed on liverpool.gov.uk and on your bill. They are normally 0151 prefix or non-geographic numbers with no premium charge.
Aggregator numbers tend to start 0843, 0844 or 0871 and advertise themselves as "Liverpool Council Tax helpline" or similar. They are often first in search results because they pay for placement.
If a number you are dialling rings through a recorded message that talks about "your call being connected" rather than identifying Liverpool City Council, hang up and dial a number from liverpool.gov.uk instead.
What to do if you cannot find your account reference
If you cannot find a bill, the easiest route is the online "request a duplicate bill" form on liverpool.gov.uk. Provide your name, address and date of birth; the duplicate is posted or emailed to you.
If you can sign in to the council's online account, your reference is visible in your dashboard. If you are not registered, you can register using the link on liverpool.gov.uk and verify your address.
If you have no documents at all, phone the Council Tax line and explain. The call handler can usually find your account by name, date of birth and current address, subject to identity checks under data protection rules.
Where to get further help and how to escalate
If the council cannot resolve your Council Tax issue through its own complaints process, you can escalate to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, an independent body that investigates complaints about local councils. The Ombudsman is free to use and does not require legal representation.
For independent debt advice on Council Tax arrears, free help is available from Citizens Advice (national phone line, webchat and in-person service), National Debtline (free phone line and webchat run by the Money Advice Trust) and StepChange (free phone line and online advice). All three can speak to the council on your behalf with your written authority.
For premium-rate phone number complaints, the Phone-paid Services Authority handles regulation of premium rate services in the UK. For Council Tax scams or fraudulent demands, report to Action Fraud, the UK national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is my Liverpool Council Tax account number on the bill?
Top right of every Liverpool bill, in a box labelled "Account number" or "Council Tax reference". Normally an eight or nine digit number.
What is the format of a Liverpool Council Tax phone number?
Genuine numbers are either geographic (0151) or non-premium non-geographic (0300 or 0345). Aggregator numbers often start 0843, 0844 or 0871 and are premium-rate.
Can I pay Liverpool Council Tax by phone without my reference?
No. The automated payment line needs the account reference so it can credit the right account. If you do not have it, request a duplicate bill first.
What if my Liverpool Council Tax account number does not work online?
Check that you have entered all the digits and that you are using the latest bill. If the reference still does not work, phone the Council Tax line and ask the team to verify the number.
Can I share my Liverpool Council Tax account number?
Treat it like any account reference: do not share it widely. You may share it with a trusted friend, family member or advice agency you have authorised to deal with your account, and with the council itself.
How We Verified This
Premium-rate number regulation verified against the Phone-paid Services Authority code of practice. Liverpool contact channels verified against published Liverpool City Council guidance and the UK GDPR.