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boroughs Council Tax details from the council's own pages and the back of your bill; older third-party listings can be out of date.London boroughs Council Tax pays for the bills you see each day: street cleaning in the 32 London boroughs and the City of London, social care, local schools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.
Where the highest London Band D rates have historically sat
The highest London Band D rates have traditionally been in outer boroughs with smaller business rates bases and larger relative service costs per head. Kingston upon Thames, Harrow and Richmond upon Thames have appeared near the top of the London table for many years.
The lowest Band D rates have been in Westminster, Wandsworth and the City of London, all of which benefit from large business rates bases (Westminster and the City) or the historic effect of the 2013 council tax base reset (Wandsworth).
The London Councils annual Council Tax briefing pulls all 33 billing authorities (32 boroughs plus the City of London Corporation) into a single table band by band. The briefing is published each February once all authorities have set rates.
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.
London boroughs in the wider London Council Tax picture
London boroughs sits within a London-wide structure: 32 boroughs and the City of London, each setting its own Band D rate, plus a common Greater London Authority precept added across all 33 billing authorities. The GLA precept funds the Metropolitan Police, the London Fire Brigade, Transport for London responsibilities and the Mayor of London's central office.
Inner London boroughs (a group that includes London boroughs or borders it) have traditionally sat below outer London on Band D because of higher central government grant per head. The variable part of the bill is the borough portion; the GLA precept is the same per band in every London bill.
For a side-by-side comparison the London Councils annual Council Tax briefing is the cleanest source.
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.
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
