Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Take the current Leicester City Council Council Tax details from the council's own pages and the back of your bill; older third-party listings can be out of date.Leicester City Council Council Tax funds adult social care, children's services, waste collection, libraries and the local police and fire precepts in the central wards, Belgrave, Highfields, Aylestone and Beaumont Leys and across the rest of the borough. As a metropolitan authority Leicester City Council 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 Council approves its budget and the england 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.
Finding the current Leicester City Council phone number
The current Leicester City Council Council Tax phone number is on the contact page at leicester.gov.uk and on the back of every annual bill. Standard call charges apply from a landline or mobile.
Leicester City Council normally publishes both a daytime contact line and a 24-hour automated payment line. The automated line handles card payments around the clock and only needs your Council Tax account reference plus the card details.
Avoid premium-rate aggregator numbers in search results. Genuine council numbers are either geographic or non-premium non-geographic; aggregator numbers often start 0843, 0844 or 0871 and add a per-minute charge.
Council Tax bands A to H in Leicester City Council
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 City Council 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 City Council 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.
Other ways to contact Leicester City Council
Online forms on leicester.gov.uk are normally faster than the phone for routine tasks: moving in or out, setting up Direct Debit, applying for the single person discount, applying for Council Tax Support or Reduction, applying for a student exemption, changing a name on the account, and asking for a 12-instalment payment plan.
Email a Council Tax email address (also on the contact page) for non-urgent correspondence; quote your account reference in the subject line so the message is matched to your account.
Letters (recorded delivery for anything that sets a legal deadline running) go to the address on the back of your bill. In-person visits are normally by appointment only; check leicester.gov.uk before travelling.
What to have ready before you contact Leicester City Council
Before you call or write, gather: your Council Tax account reference (top right of your bill), your full address and postcode, relevant dates (move-in or move-out date, date a discount should start), names of any other adults at the property, and (for arrears) the amount you can pay each month and your income source.
If you are dealing with a summons or liability order, have the summons reference and the hearing date to hand. If you are applying for a discount or exemption, have the supporting evidence ready to scan or email.
If you are contacting the council on behalf of someone else, you will need their written permission for the council to discuss the account with you, because of data protection rules.
How to pay Leicester City Council Council Tax
Most Leicester City Council 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 Council 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 Council must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the most reliable place to find the current Leicester City Council contact details?
On the council's own contact page and on the back of your current bill. Both are updated each year. Older listings in third-party sites can be out of date.
What is the difference between the main switchboard and the Council Tax line?
The main switchboard handles all council enquiries and transfers calls to the right team. The dedicated Council Tax line goes straight to the team that handles bills, discounts and arrears, so it is faster for Council Tax queries.
Can I email the council instead of phoning?
Yes. A Council Tax email address is published on the contact page. Quote your account reference in the subject line. Email is suitable for non-urgent matters; arrears and summons are better dealt with by phone or by letter.
Does the council offer a callback rather than queuing?
In some circumstances, yes, particularly for vulnerable residents, those on a low income or those facing enforcement. Ask the call handler when you get through, or request a callback through the online form.
Where can I escalate a complaint beyond the council?
After exhausting the council's own complaints process, you can complain to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, which is independent and free to use.
How We Verified This
Framework facts (bands, single person discount, instalment rights, enforcement sequence) verified against gov.uk Council Tax guidance and the Local Government Finance Act 1992. Leicester City Council-specific procedures verified against published Leicester City Council Council Tax guidance.