Last reviewed: May 2026
Quick answer: Take the current London boroughs Council Tax details from the council's own pages and the back of your bill; older third-party listings can be out of date.London boroughs Council Tax pays for the bills you see each day: street cleaning in the 32 London boroughs and the City of London, social care, local schools and the police and fire precepts that the Greater London Authority collects through the borough. Your bill is split between London boroughs itself and the GLA precept set at City Hall.
London boroughs is one of the 32 London boroughs and is the billing authority for residents across the borough. 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 London boroughs sets its budget.
How a London boroughs Council Tax increase fits into the wider context
London boroughs, like every English billing authority, has set Council Tax within the central referendum cap each year since the cap was introduced in 2012. The cap is set by central government in the autumn for the following year; councils with social care responsibility have a higher cap that includes the adult social care precept.
An increase at the cap is felt unevenly across the eight bands. A percentage rise on the Band D figure produces a smaller absolute rise on lower bands (Band A pays 6/9ths of the rise) and a larger absolute rise on higher bands (Band H pays twice the Band D rise under the English schedule).
London boroughs publishes the year's percentage and absolute rise in its budget book; the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (or its successor) publishes national Council Tax setting statistics each year.
Council Tax bands A to H in London boroughs
The Valuation Office Agency assigns every home in England to one of eight bands, A through H, based on its value in April 1991. London boroughs 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 London boroughs 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 London boroughs Council Tax
Most London boroughs 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 London boroughs 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. London boroughs must agree provided you ask before the bill year starts in April.
Discounts and reductions in London boroughs
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 London boroughs 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. London boroughs 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 London boroughs
Tell London boroughs 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 London boroughs 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 London boroughs can use enforcement agents, attachment of earnings or attachment of benefits to recover the debt.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the most reliable place to find the current London boroughs 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. London boroughs-specific procedures verified against published London boroughs Council Tax guidance.
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