Aberdeen Council Tax 2026 Bands, Scottish Water Charges, Pay Online & Contact Help
A practical Aberdeen Council Tax guide for residents who need to check 2026/27 bands and charges, understand Scottish Water water and waste water amounts, pay online, set up Direct Debit, pay by phone, apply for discounts, claim Council Tax Reduction or get help with arrears.
🔒 Official Aberdeen Council Tax Resources
Aberdeen Council Tax 2026 Guide for Bands, Charges and How to Pay
Aberdeen Council Tax is the local charge used to help fund Aberdeen City Council services. In Scotland, Council Tax bills also collect Scottish Water charges for water supply and waste water collection where the home is connected to those services.
Most Aberdeen residents search for Council Tax help because they need to pay online, pay by phone, set up Direct Debit, check the 2026/27 Band A to H totals, understand water charges, apply for Single Person Discount, claim Council Tax Reduction, report a move or ask for help with unpaid Council Tax.
This guide explains the official routes in simple English. It is not Aberdeen City Council and it cannot access your account. For payments, account changes, discounts, exemptions, reduction claims and legal decisions, always use Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Assessors or Scottish Water.
Pay or set up Direct Debit
Use Aberdeen’s official payment page for online payments, Direct Debit, bank transfer and phone payment.
Check full 2026/27 charge
Aberdeen’s table shows Council Tax plus Scottish Water water supply and waste water collection.
Reduce your bill if eligible
Check Single Person Discount, student exemption, occupied property discounts and Council Tax Reduction.
How to Pay Aberdeen Council Tax Online, by Direct Debit, Bank Transfer or Phone
Aberdeen City Council lists online payments, Direct Debit, payment enquiries, bank transfer and phone payment. Before paying, keep your Council Tax reference number ready so the payment is matched to the correct account.
1
Open Aberdeen’s official Pay Council Tax page
Start from aberdeencity.gov.uk before entering payment details.
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Use Aberdeen City Council’s official “Pay Council Tax” page. From there you can choose online payment, Direct Debit, bank transfer, phone payment or payment enquiry.
Official payment page: Pay Council Tax
2
Use your Council Tax reference number
Aberdeen says this number is on your bill.
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Your Council Tax reference number appears on your bill. Use it when paying online, paying by bank transfer, calling the phone payment number or asking about your account.
3
Pay by phone if you prefer automated payment
Useful when you have your bill and card ready.
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Aberdeen lists 03000 200 292 for phone payment/contact. It also says to use a touch-tone phone and have your payment details and Council Tax reference ready.
Official phone payment page: Pay Council Tax by phone
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Save confirmation and check later
Keep proof until the payment is matched.
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Save your receipt, confirmation screen, bank reference, payment enquiry response or Direct Debit confirmation. If the payment is not visible or a reminder arrives, proof helps you explain it.
| Payment Method | Official Route | Best Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Online payment | Aberdeen payment portal. | Use your Council Tax reference number exactly from the bill. |
| Direct Debit | Create a Council Tax Direct Debit. | Best for regular instalments and avoiding missed due dates. |
| Bank transfer | Aberdeen’s official bank transfer instructions. | Put the Council Tax reference in the reference field. |
| Phone payment | 03000 200 292. | Use a touch-tone phone and keep card and bill ready. |
Aberdeen Council Tax Bands A to H, Scottish Assessors and Band Appeal Help
Aberdeen properties are placed in Scottish Council Tax bands A to H. Your band is not decided by Aberdeen City Council’s payment team. Banding is handled through the Scottish Assessors system.
Find your band
Use Scottish Assessors and search by address or postcode.
Compare full charge
Aberdeen’s table includes Council Tax, water supply and waste water collection.
Appeal carefully
If you think your band is wrong, follow the official banding appeal route and keep evidence.
Official band checker: Scottish Assessors Association
Aberdeen banding route: Council Tax bands and billing
Aberdeen Council Tax and Scottish Water Charges 2026/27 by Band
Aberdeen’s 2026/27 table shows the Council Tax charge plus Scottish Water charges. The Scottish Water part is split into water supply and waste water collection, and the total is what appears before personal discounts, exemptions, reductions, credits or arrears are applied.
| Band | Council Tax | Water Supply | Waste Water | Total 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,165.03 | £201.30 | £233.58 | £1,599.91 |
| Band B | £1,359.20 | £234.85 | £272.51 | £1,866.56 |
| Band C | £1,553.37 | £268.40 | £311.44 | £2,133.21 |
| Band D | £1,747.54 | £301.95 | £350.37 | £2,399.86 |
| Band E | £2,296.07 | £369.05 | £428.23 | £3,093.35 |
| Band F | £2,839.75 | £436.15 | £506.09 | £3,781.99 |
| Band G | £3,422.27 | £503.25 | £583.95 | £4,509.47 |
| Band H | £4,281.47 | £603.90 | £700.74 | £5,586.11 |
Why water appears on your bill
Scottish local councils collect water and waste water charges with Council Tax for homes connected to Scottish Water services.
Water reduction may apply
Scottish Water says homes receiving Council Tax Reduction may also receive a reduction of up to 35% on water and waste water charges through the Water Charges Reduction Scheme.
Official Aberdeen charges page: Council Tax bands and charges
Official Scottish Water charges: Unmetered charges 2026-27
Aberdeen Council Tax Discounts, Single Person Discount, Student Exemption and Occupied Property Help
Aberdeen City Council has official routes for occupied property discounts and exemptions. The most common searches are Single Person Discount, student exemption and discounts where someone in the property is not counted for Council Tax purposes.
Single Person Discount
Aberdeen says a 25% discount can apply if you are the sole occupier of a property.
Student exemption
Student exemption is not automatic. Aberdeen says if the property includes students and non-students, the non-student may qualify for a 25% discount.
Care and other discounts
Some care workers and other disregarded people may qualify for Council Tax discounts depending on eligibility.
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Open Aberdeen’s occupied property discounts page
Choose the correct category before applying.
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Start with Aberdeen’s official Council Tax discounts and exemptions for occupied properties page. It links to Single Person Discount, student exemption and other occupied property routes.
Official page: Council Tax discounts and exemptions for occupied properties
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Apply for Single Person Discount only if it fits
Wrong claims can create backdated bills.
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If another adult lives in the property and is counted for Council Tax, Single Person Discount may not apply. If someone moves in or out, update Aberdeen quickly.
Official page: Apply for single person’s discount
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Use student exemption route for student households
Student exemption is not applied automatically.
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If your household includes full-time students, use Aberdeen’s official student exemption route. Keep course details, tenancy dates and account reference ready.
Official student page: Student exemption on Council Tax
Aberdeen Council Tax Reduction for People on Low Incomes
Council Tax Reduction can help people on low incomes with their Council Tax bill. Aberdeen says entitlement depends on a number of factors, including income and household details.
Who should check reduction
Check if you are on low income, receiving benefits, retired, disabled, unemployed, self-employed with reduced income, or your household income has changed.
Water charges note
If you receive Council Tax Reduction, Scottish Water says a water and waste water charge reduction may also apply automatically.
1
Check Aberdeen’s Council Tax Reduction page
Do this before arrears grow.
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Open Aberdeen’s official Council Tax Reduction page. Read the income and household guidance before applying so you know what information may be needed.
Official page: Council Tax Reduction for people on low incomes
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Prepare evidence clearly
Missing evidence can delay a decision.
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Keep benefit letters, income proof, savings details, tenancy information, household details and identity information ready where needed. Make sure documents are readable and complete.
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Tell Aberdeen if circumstances change
Reduction can change when income or household changes.
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If your income, savings, benefits, student status, household or address changes, update Aberdeen quickly so your Council Tax Reduction and Scottish Water reduction are correct.
Aberdeen Council Tax Tips Most Residents Learn Too Late
These practical checks can help you avoid wrong payments, missed discounts, water-charge confusion, delayed reduction decisions and stressful arrears.
Compare the total, not only Council Tax
Aberdeen’s table includes Scottish Water. If you only look at the Council Tax column, the bill will look lower than the actual total.
Keep your reference number handy
You need the Council Tax reference number for online payment, phone payment, bank transfer and payment enquiries.
Use the phone line with a touch-tone phone
Aberdeen’s phone payment guidance says to use a touch-tone phone and have payment details ready.
Check student exemption early
Aberdeen says student exemption is not automatic. Apply early if the property is a student household.
Check water reduction if you get CTR
Scottish Water says homes receiving Council Tax Reduction may get up to 35% off water and waste water charges through WCRS.
Contact early if you cannot pay
Aberdeen says it may be able to set up a payment plan to help clear arrears if you contact the council early.
Aberdeen Council Tax Moving Home, Change of Address and Account Updates
If you move into Aberdeen, move out of Aberdeen or move within the city, tell the council quickly. Council Tax liability depends on exact dates, occupation, tenancy, ownership and who is responsible for the property.
| Situation | What to Tell Aberdeen | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Moving into Aberdeen | New address, move-in date, occupiers and tenancy or ownership details. | Starts the correct Council Tax account. |
| Moving out of Aberdeen | Leaving date, forwarding address and final bill details. | Helps stop bills after you leave. |
| Moving within Aberdeen | Old and new addresses with exact dates. | Closes one account and opens another. |
| Someone moved in or out | Date and household adult change. | May affect Single Person Discount or exemptions. |
| Income or benefit changed | Income, benefit, savings and household details. | Can affect Council Tax Reduction. |
Official Council Tax hub: Aberdeen Council Tax services
Aberdeen Council Tax Arrears, Unpaid Council Tax, Payment Plan and Recovery Help
Council Tax arrears should be handled early. Aberdeen says if you are struggling to pay Council Tax, contact the council as soon as possible. The council may be able to set up a payment plan to help clear arrears.
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Check the exact unpaid amount
Know whether the issue is payment, discount or reduction.
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Check your bill, payment confirmations and recent account correspondence. Work out whether the arrears are from a missed instalment, delayed payment, cancelled discount, reduction delay or previous-year balance.
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Contact Aberdeen early
Payment plans may be possible.
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Aberdeen’s unpaid Council Tax guidance says to contact the council as soon as you can if you are struggling to pay. Keep your reference number, income situation and affordable payment amount ready.
Official arrears page: How we recover unpaid Council Tax
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Check reduction and money advice together
One fix may not solve the whole problem.
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If income is low, check Council Tax Reduction. If you have rent, utility or other debt pressure too, also use money advice or local support routes rather than waiting until arrears grow.
Aberdeen Council Tax Phone Number, Online Payment Help and Official Contact Routes
Use the right Aberdeen route depending on what you need. Keep your Council Tax reference number, full name, address, payment date, bill amount and reason for contact ready before calling or submitting an enquiry.
| Contact / Resource | Best For | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Council Tax phone payment/contact | Phone payment and Council Tax contact route. | 03000 200 292 Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm |
| Pay Council Tax | Online payment, Direct Debit, bank transfer and payment enquiries. | Pay Council Tax |
| Make a payment portal | Aberdeen online payment system help. | Make a payment |
| Customer Contact Centre | General council contact guidance. | Call our Customer Contact Centre |
| Council Tax Reduction | Low-income help and Council Tax Reduction information. | Council Tax Reduction |
Aberdeen Council Tax 2026 FAQs
Quick answers for residents searching Aberdeen Council Tax bands, 2026/27 charges, how to pay, phone number, Scottish Water charges, discounts, student exemption, Council Tax Reduction and arrears help.
How do I pay Aberdeen Council Tax online?▾
Use Aberdeen City Council’s official Pay Council Tax page. It lists Council Tax online payments, Direct Debit, payment enquiries, bank transfer and phone payment routes.
What is the Aberdeen Council Tax phone number?▾
Aberdeen lists 03000 200 292 for Council Tax phone payment/contact. The listed working hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
What are Aberdeen Council Tax charges for 2026/27?▾
Aberdeen lists 2026/27 total charges including Scottish Water from Band A £1,599.91 to Band H £5,586.11. Band D total is £2,399.86.
Does Aberdeen Council Tax include Scottish Water charges?▾
Yes. Aberdeen’s 2026/27 table includes Council Tax, Scottish Water water supply and Scottish Water waste water collection charges.
How do I check my Aberdeen Council Tax band?▾
Use the Scottish Assessors Association website to check your band. Aberdeen’s Council Tax payment team does not decide property banding.
Can I get Aberdeen Single Person Discount?▾
Yes. Aberdeen says a 25% discount can apply if you are the sole occupier of a property.
Do students in Aberdeen get Council Tax exemption?▾
Aberdeen has a student exemption route. If a property includes both students and non-students, the non-student may qualify for a 25% discount.
Can I claim Aberdeen Council Tax Reduction?▾
Yes. Aberdeen has Council Tax Reduction for people on low incomes. Entitlement depends on income, household and other factors.
Can Scottish Water charges be reduced if I get Council Tax Reduction?▾
Scottish Water says homes receiving Council Tax Reduction may also receive a reduction of up to 35% on water and waste water charges through the Water Charges Reduction Scheme.
What should I do if I cannot pay Aberdeen Council Tax?▾
Aberdeen says to contact the council as soon as possible if you are struggling to pay. The council may be able to set up a payment plan to help clear arrears.
What do I need for Aberdeen Council Tax phone payment?▾
Use a touch-tone phone and have your payment card and Council Tax reference number ready. The reference number is on your Council Tax bill.
Is UKCouncilTax.org the official Aberdeen City Council website?▾
No. UKCouncilTax.org is an independent guide. Always use official Aberdeen City Council, Scottish Assessors and Scottish Water pages for payments, applications, account updates and legal decisions.