Council Tax Login: How to Sign In to Your Council Tax Account

Why there is no single council tax login

Council tax is billed by 328 separate authorities in England and Scotland (and 22 in Wales), each running its own revenues system. GOV.UK does not host council tax accounts; it only routes you to your council. So "council tax login" always means your own billing authority's portal, and the portal is on the council's own domain (typically ending .gov.uk). If a site asking for your council tax details is not on a .gov.uk address, treat it as suspect and report it to Action Fraud.

Find your council's portal

Pick your council below. Each tile opens the GOV.UK page for that council, which routes to the council's own site and online account. The 24 most-searched councils are listed first; the full list of 286 is on the council tax hub, where you can filter by name.

Not sure which council bills you? Enter your postcode at GOV.UK: find your local council. In two-tier areas (a district plus a county) the district or borough council is the one that bills and runs the account, even though most of the money goes to the county.

What you need to register

Every council portal asks for the same core details: your council tax account reference (8 to 10 digits, top right of the paper bill or on any council letter), the property postcode, your name as it appears on the bill, and an email address. Some also ask for your date of birth or the amount of your last payment as a security check. Registration is normally instant; a few councils post an activation code, which takes three to five working days.

You do not need an account to pay. Every council's "pay council tax" page accepts a card payment with just the reference number, and the automated phone line does the same around the clock. An account adds the ability to see your balance and instalment schedule, download bills, set up or amend a Direct Debit, tell the council you are moving, and apply for a discount or exemption without re-entering your details.

Finding your reference number without a bill

If you have lost the bill, the reference appears on any council tax letter, on your bank statement next to a Direct Debit (the reference is usually the payment reference), and inside a previously registered online account. If none of those are available, the council tax team will confirm it once you have passed identity checks over the phone or by secure form; they will not email it to an unverified address. Landlords and letting agents cannot obtain a tenant's reference.

Forgotten password and locked accounts

Use the reset link on the sign-in page; it goes to the registered email address and normally expires within 24 hours. If you no longer have access to that email, the council has to update the record manually after an identity check. Accounts lock after repeated failed attempts and unlock automatically, usually within an hour. Councils never ask for your password by phone or email.

What the account can and cannot do

It can: show the current balance and remaining instalments, switch you from ten to twelve payments before 1 April, set up or change a Direct Debit date, download bills as PDF, report a move in or out, apply for the single person discount, student or other disregards, and Council Tax Reduction. It usually cannot: change your band (that is the Valuation Office Agency in England and Wales or the Scottish Assessors), agree a payment arrangement on arrears (phone the recovery team), or show accounts from a different council if you have moved area.

Scotland and Wales

Scottish councils bill water and sewerage on the same account, so the portal balance includes Scottish Water charges. Several Scottish councils and most Welsh councils use a shared "MyAccount" style login for all council services, where council tax is one tile among bins, parking and benefits. The registration details are the same.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a national council tax login?

No. Each of the 328 billing authorities in England and Scotland, and 22 in Wales, runs its own online account. GOV.UK routes you to your council but does not hold council tax accounts.

What do I need to log in to council tax for the first time?

The account reference from your bill, the property postcode, your name as billed and an email address. Some councils also ask for your date of birth or last payment amount.

Can I pay council tax without logging in?

Yes. Every council pay page takes a card payment with the reference number alone, and the automated phone line does the same.

How do I find my council tax reference number without a bill?

It is on any council tax letter, next to the Direct Debit on your bank statement, or inside an existing online account. Otherwise the council tax team will confirm it after an identity check.

Which council do I log in to if I have just moved?

The council for your new address. Enter the postcode at GOV.UK find your local council. In district-and-county areas the district or borough bills you.