Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Hackney Council sets the Band D rate each February and adds the GLA precept as a separate line; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D.Hackney Council Tax pays for the bills you see each day: street cleaning in Dalston, Shoreditch, Stoke Newington and Hackney Wick, social care, local schools and the police and fire precepts that the Greater London Authority collects through the borough. Your bill is split between Hackney itself and the GLA precept set at City Hall.
Hackney is an east London borough run by a directly elected mayor and council from the Town Hall in Mare Street. The borough is the billing authority, so the bill arrives in its name even though the GLA, the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime, and the London Fire Commissioner all take a share. Bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency using 1991 property values, and the amount per band is decided each February when Hackney sets its budget.
| 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. Hackney sets the cash amount per band each February.
How Hackney sets Council Tax for 2026-27
Hackney approves its budget and Council Tax level in February each year, at the full council meeting. The headline rate is the Band D figure; every other band is a fixed fraction of Band D under the schedule that applies in every English billing authority.
The bill is split between Hackney itself (for housing, adult and children's social care, waste, parks and most front-line services), the adult social care precept (an extra portion of the Hackney charge ring-fenced for social care), and the Greater London Authority precept (police, fire, Mayor of London).
The full band-by-band figures are published on Hackney Council's "Council Tax charges" page once the February budget has been approved, alongside the explanatory budget book.
Council Tax bands A to H in Hackney
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. Hackney 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 Hackney 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 Hackney Council Tax
Most Hackney 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 Hackney 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. Hackney must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Single person discount and Council Tax Reduction in Hackney
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 Hackney 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. Hackney 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.
Moving, appeals and arrears in Hackney
Tell Hackney 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 Hackney 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 Hackney can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I tell Hackney that I have moved into the borough?
Use the "Moving in" form on Hackney's Council Tax pages. You will need the date you moved, the address, your previous address and details of any other adults living with you. Hackney issues a new bill once the account is opened.
Can I switch my Hackney Council Tax from 10 to 12 instalments?
Yes. You have a legal right to ask for 12 instalments under the Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992. Ask before the year starts on 1 April; Hackney must agree provided the request is in writing or via the online form.
What does the adult social care precept on my Hackney bill pay for?
It funds adult social care services run by Hackney, including support for older people, people with disabilities and care leavers. Central government allows councils with social care responsibility to add up to a capped percentage each year without a referendum. Hackney reports the amount in its annual budget book.
How do I apply for Council Tax Reduction in Hackney?
Apply through Hackney's online Council Tax Reduction form. You will need evidence of income, savings, who lives with you and any benefits you receive. Awards are normally backdated only by a short period, so apply as soon as your circumstances qualify you.
What if I cannot pay my Hackney Council Tax bill?
Contact Hackney before missing a payment. Options include extending the bill to 12 instalments, agreeing a short payment plan, claiming Council Tax Reduction if you have not already, or applying to the discretionary reduction scheme for short-term hardship.
How We Verified This
Framework details verified against gov.uk and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Hackney-specific structure (elected mayor, Town Hall in Mare Street, GLA precept) verified against published Hackney Council budget papers and the Greater London Authority Act 1999.
Sources
- gov.uk - Council Tax overview
- gov.uk - Council Tax bands and reductions
- gov.uk - Apply for Council Tax Reduction
- Valuation Office Agency - How Council Tax bands are set in England and Wales
- Valuation Tribunal England - Council Tax appeal procedures and decisions
- legislation.gov.uk - Local Government Finance Act 1992