Brighton & Hove Council Tax Bands, Charges, Pay Online, Reductions & Help
If you live in Brighton, Hove, Portslade, Rottingdean, Patcham, Kemptown or nearby areas inside Brighton & Hove, this guide helps you understand your 2026/27 Council Tax bill before you click anywhere. You can check bands, compare charges, understand Single Person Discount, Council Tax Reduction, student rules, moving-home steps, payment options, arrears help and official contact routes in one place.
🔒 Official Brighton & Hove Council Tax Resources
Brighton & Hove Council Tax 2026 Guide: What Your Bill Means Before You Pay
Brighton & Hove Council Tax is charged on most homes and helps fund local services, adult social care, police and fire services. Your final bill depends on your property band, the yearly 2026/27 charge, the number of adults in your home, and whether any discount, exemption, Council Tax Reduction, arrears, credit or premium applies.
Many residents search for “Brighton Hove Council Tax pay online”, “Brighton Council Tax bands”, “Brighton Hove Council Tax charges”, “Council Tax Reduction Brighton” or “Brighton Hove Council Tax contact number” because the official site has many separate pages. This guide brings the practical details together first, so you only go to the official website for final tasks like payment, applications, evidence upload, address change or refund request.
The best practical order is simple: check your property band, compare the yearly charge, review whether your household qualifies for a discount or reduction, view your online bill, then pay or contact the council only if something still looks wrong.
Check the bill basics
Confirm your name, address, band, account number, instalment dates and any discount or Council Tax Reduction shown.
Compare band and charge
Use GOV.UK for the band and Brighton & Hove’s official 2026/27 page for the yearly amount.
Reduce or pay correctly
Check Single Person Discount, student rules, disability discounts and Council Tax Reduction before paying the full amount.
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Pay Online, Direct Debit, Card, Mobile Banking and Post
Brighton & Hove’s official payment hub covers Direct Debit, card payment, mobile/online banking, phone payment and postal payment. Direct Debit is usually best for regular monthly instalments, while card or banking payments are useful for one-off payments.
1Open the official Paying your Council Tax pageStart from brighton-hove.gov.uk before entering payment details.▾
Use Brighton & Hove City Council’s official payment page. It links to Direct Debit, card, mobile banking and postal payment routes.
Official page: Paying your Council Tax
2Use your Council Tax account numberThis is the key payment reference.▾
Before paying, find your Council Tax account number on your bill. Use it exactly as shown. This helps the council match your payment to the correct address and account.
3Use Direct Debit if you want stable monthly paymentsGood for avoiding missed instalments.▾
Direct Debit is usually the easiest method if you want the council to collect your instalments automatically. Keep your Council Tax account number and bank details ready before using the Direct Debit page.
Direct Debit page: Pay your Council Tax by Direct Debit
4Use other payment methods only from the official pageCard, banking and post options are listed by the council.▾
If you use card, phone, online banking, mobile banking or post, follow Brighton & Hove’s official “Other ways to pay” instructions. Do not copy bank details or phone numbers from random websites.
Other ways to pay: Other ways to pay your Council Tax
| Payment Method | Best For | What You Need | Practical Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Debit | Regular instalments | Account number and bank details | Best if you forget due dates. |
| Online card payment | One-off payment | Bill and payment card | Save the confirmation. |
| Mobile/online banking | Bank app users | Official bank details and account reference | Use the Council Tax account number as reference. |
| Post | Offline payment | Cheque/postal details from official page | Allow delivery time and keep proof. |
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Login, Online Account, Paperless Bills and Bill Mistake Checks
The online account and bill pages help you view Council Tax bills, go paperless and understand what each line on your bill means. This is useful before contacting the council because many balance, billing and instalment questions can be checked online.
Use it before paying twice
If you recently paid, view your account before making another manual payment. Some payments can take time to show.
Use it before reporting a mistake
Check whether your discount, reduction, move date or instalment plan has already been updated on your latest bill.
1View your account and bills onlineUse the official account page.▾
Open Brighton & Hove’s official “View your Council Tax account and bills” page. Use it to check your latest bill and paperless options.
Official account page: View your Council Tax account and bills
2Read the bill explanation before contactingMany bill sections are easier after reading the guide.▾
Brighton & Hove has an official bill explanation page. Use it to understand account reference, charge period, instalments, discounts and total amount before reporting a mistake.
Bill explanation: Your Council Tax bill explained
3Report a mistake only after checking datesWrong dates create most bill confusion.▾
If your bill looks wrong, check start date, end date, discount date, student course dates, move date and any Council Tax Reduction period first. Then use the official mistake route if needed.
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Bands A to H, GOV.UK Band Checker and 1991 Value Ranges
Every home is placed in a Council Tax band from A to H. The band is based on the property’s value at 1 April 1991, not today’s market value. Brighton & Hove charges are then calculated from that band.
1Check your band on GOV.UKSearch by address or postcode.▾
Use GOV.UK’s official Council Tax band checker. It is the safest way to confirm your property band in England and Wales.
Official band checker: Check your Council Tax band
2Compare the band with Brighton & Hove chargesUse the current year page.▾
After confirming your band, use Brighton & Hove’s 2026/27 Council Tax charge table. The table shows the amount for two or more adults and also the one-adult amount after Single Person Discount.
Official 2026/27 page: How much Council Tax is 2026 to 2027
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Charges 2026/27 by Band, 2 Adults and 1 Adult Amounts
Brighton & Hove’s 2026/27 table shows the yearly Council Tax charge for households with two or more adults and the reduced amount for one adult. The one-adult figure reflects the 25% Single Person Discount.
| Band | Property value range at 1 April 1991 | 2+ adults 2026/27 | 1 adult 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | Up to £40,000 | £1,719.63 | £1,289.72 |
| Band B | Over £40,000 to £52,000 | £2,006.23 | £1,504.67 |
| Band C | Over £52,000 to £68,000 | £2,292.84 | £1,719.63 |
| Band D | Over £68,000 to £88,000 | £2,579.44 | £1,934.58 |
| Band E | Over £88,000 to £120,000 | £3,152.65 | £2,364.49 |
| Band F | Over £120,000 to £160,000 | £3,725.86 | £2,794.40 |
| Band G | Over £160,000 to £320,000 | £4,299.07 | £3,224.30 |
| Band H | Over £320,000 | £5,158.88 | £3,869.16 |
Why your bill may be lower
You may have Single Person Discount, student disregard, Council Tax Reduction, disability reduction, severe mental impairment discount or another exemption.
Why your bill may be higher
You may have arrears, previous-year debt, court costs, a long-term empty property premium, second home premium or a corrected liability period.
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Discounts, Single Person Discount, Students, Disabled People and Severe Mental Impairment
Before paying the full amount, check whether your household qualifies for a discount or exemption. Brighton & Hove has official pages for Single Person Discount, students, disabled people, severe mental impairment, carers, care workers and other categories.
Single Person Discount
If you are the only adult aged 18 or over in your household, you may qualify for a 25% reduction.
Student rules
If everyone is a full-time student, Council Tax is usually not due during course dates. Mixed households may get a 25% disregard discount.
Other discounts
Disabled people, severe mental impairment, carers and certain other residents may qualify under separate rules.
1Start with the official discounts hubChoose the correct discount before applying.▾
Use Brighton & Hove’s Council Tax discounts page to choose the correct discount or exemption type.
Official discounts page: Council Tax discounts
2Apply for Single Person Discount only if it fitsIf another adult moves in, stop it within 21 days.▾
Brighton & Hove says Single Person Discount is a 25% reduction. If you are no longer the only adult living in the property, you must stop the discount within 21 days of the change to avoid extra charges.
Single person page: Single person Council Tax discount
3Students must check course dates carefullyYou still pay outside qualifying course dates.▾
Brighton & Hove says students need to register for Council Tax and provide student registration details. If everyone is a full-time student, none of you usually pay Council Tax during course dates. If one person is not a full-time student, that person may be responsible but can often get a 25% student disregard discount if everyone else is a full-time student.
Student discount page: Council Tax discounts for students
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Reduction, Low Income Support, Weekly Earnings Bands and Backdating
Council Tax Reduction is for eligible residents who need help with Council Tax because of low income, benefits, pension age, household circumstances or financial difficulty. Brighton & Hove uses earnings bands to decide how much reduction working-age residents may receive.
Who should check reduction
Check if you are on a low income, unemployed, receiving Universal Credit, retired, disabled, caring for someone, or your income has dropped.
What to prepare
National Insurance number, Council Tax account number, income proof, benefit details, household details and evidence documents.
| Level | Weekly earnings from 1 April 2026 | Bill payable | Discount not payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 to £93.63 | 18% | 82% maximum |
| 2 | £93.64 to £133.76 | 40% | 60% |
| 3 | £133.77 to £173.89 | 60% | 40% |
| 4 | £173.90 to £227.37 | 80% | 20% |
| 5 | £227.38 to £334.21 | 90% | 10% |
| 6 | £334.22 plus | 100% | No reduction |
1Apply as soon as your income changesDo not wait for arrears.▾
Open the official Council Tax Reduction page and apply if your income or circumstances mean you may need help. Earlier application usually gives the council more time to assess your bill before arrears grow.
Apply for reduction: Apply for a Council Tax Reduction
2Send complete evidenceUnclear documents delay decisions.▾
Make sure income evidence, benefit letters, payslips and household details are readable and match the right person and address. Keep copies of what you submit.
Brighton & Hove Budget Council 2026 Video Context
This official Brighton & Hove City Council video is included for residents who want wider context around the 2026/27 budget and Council Tax decisions. It is not a payment tutorial; use the official payment and account links for personal tasks.
Note: Watch this only for background context. For your own Council Tax bill, band, discount, reduction, payment or refund, use the official Brighton & Hove pages linked in this guide.
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Tips Most Residents Learn Too Late
These checks can help you avoid wrong payments, missed discounts, student-date problems, refund delays and expensive arrears.
Check the one-adult table before applying
Brighton & Hove already shows the one-adult amount. Compare it with your bill before assuming the discount is missing.
Stop Single Person Discount within 21 days
If another adult moves in, stop the discount quickly to avoid extra charges later.
Students must check course dates
You may still owe Council Tax outside course dates, even if you qualify during the course period.
View your online bill before calling
Many questions about instalments, payments and discounts are clearer when you view the latest bill first.
Empty homes can cost much more
Long-term empty homes and second homes can attract extra Council Tax charges, so check the empty property rules.
Apply for reduction before arrears grow
If income drops, apply for Council Tax Reduction early instead of waiting for reminders or enforcement action.
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Change of Address, Moving Home, Student Move and Tenancy Updates
Moving home is one of the most common reasons for wrong Council Tax bills. Brighton & Hove has separate routes for residents moving in, residents moving within or out of the area, students moving into the city, and landlords or agents reporting tenant changes.
| Situation | Official Route | Details to Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Resident moving in | Register or tell council your move details. | New address, move-in date, occupiers and tenancy/ownership details. |
| Resident moving within/out | Tell us you’re moving if you’re a resident. | Old address, new address, moving date and forwarding address. |
| Student moving into Brighton & Hove | Student moving route. | Student details, course details and new address. |
| Landlord or agent tenant change | Change of tenants form. | Tenant names, tenancy dates and property details. |
Official change page: Tell us about a change of address or tenancy
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Arrears, Problems Paying, Reminder Notice and Payment Help
If you cannot pay your Council Tax, act early. Do not wait until reminders, court action or enforcement costs make the bill harder to manage. Check your account, apply for Council Tax Reduction if your income is low, and contact Brighton & Hove before arrears increase.
1Check your latest bill and balanceKnow the exact problem first.▾
View your online bill and check whether the missed amount, instalment plan, discount, reduction or payment date is correct.
2Use Brighton & Hove’s official payment difficulty pageUse it before costs grow.▾
Use Brighton & Hove’s official guidance if you cannot pay. This is better than ignoring letters or waiting for more serious recovery action.
Official help page: What to do if you can’t pay your Council Tax
Brighton & Hove Empty Property and Second Home Council Tax Premiums
If your Brighton & Hove property is empty, furnished as a second home, or empty for a long period, the Council Tax can be higher than the standard band charge. This is an important section for landlords, second-home owners, probate cases and properties between tenancies.
Long-term empty property premiums
Brighton & Hove says empty and unfurnished properties can be charged full Council Tax and long-term empty premiums can apply after 1 year, 5 years and 10 years.
Second home or furnished empty property
From 1 April 2025, Brighton & Hove says empty furnished properties, second homes or furnished lets can face an extra 100% charge from the day they become empty.
Official empty property page: Council Tax for empty properties
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Refunds, Overpayments, Credit Balance and Final Bill Checks
You may have a Council Tax credit if you moved, overpaid, had a discount or reduction applied later, paid after your liability ended, or had your bill corrected. Always check your latest online account before requesting a refund.
Common refund reasons
Moving out, duplicate payment, Direct Debit continuing too long, revised Single Person Discount, Council Tax Reduction or account correction.
What to prepare
Council Tax account number, old address, forwarding address, move date, payment proof and refund bank details through the official route.
Official refund/contact form: Contact Council Tax for help with your bill
Brighton & Hove Council Tax Contact Number, Email, Switchboard and Online Help
Use the right contact route depending on your task. For bill and refund questions, use the Council Tax contact page. For account details, use the online bill page. For general signposting, use the switchboard.
| Contact / Resource | Best For | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Council Tax phone | Council Tax account and bill queries. | 01273 291 291 |
| Council Tax email | Council Tax written queries. | council.tax@brighton-hove.gov.uk |
| General switchboard | If you do not know which council service you need. | 01273 29 00 00 Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm, excluding bank holidays |
| Contact form | Refunds, documents requested by the council, discount correction, complaint or compliment. | Contact Council Tax for help with your bill |
| Online account | View bills, account status and paperless billing. | View your Council Tax account and bills |
Brighton & Hove Council Tax FAQs
Quick answers for residents searching Brighton Hove Council Tax bands, charges, pay online, login, Single Person Discount, student discount, Council Tax Reduction, moving home, refunds, empty homes and contact help.
How do I pay Brighton & Hove Council Tax online?▾
Use Brighton & Hove City Council’s official Paying your Council Tax page. You can choose Direct Debit, card, phone, mobile banking, online banking or post from the official routes.
What is the Brighton & Hove Council Tax phone number?▾
The official Council Tax directory lists 01273 291 291 for Council Tax. For general signposting, the council switchboard is 01273 29 00 00.
What is the Brighton & Hove Council Tax email?▾
Brighton & Hove City Council lists council.tax@brighton-hove.gov.uk for Council Tax contact.
How do I view my Council Tax bills online?▾
Use Brighton & Hove’s official View your Council Tax account and bills page. It also supports paperless bill options.
What are Brighton & Hove Council Tax charges for 2026/27?▾
For 2026/27, Brighton & Hove lists Band A at £1,719.63, Band D at £2,579.44 and Band H at £5,158.88 for a two-or-more-adult household.
How do I check my Brighton & Hove Council Tax band?▾
Use GOV.UK’s Council Tax band checker by postcode or address, then compare the band with Brighton & Hove’s current charge table.
Can I get Single Person Discount?▾
You may qualify if you are the only adult aged 18 or over living in your household. The discount is 25% off your Council Tax bill.
What if another adult moves in?▾
If you are no longer the only adult, Brighton & Hove says you must stop your Single Person Discount within 21 days of the change to avoid extra charges.
Can full-time students get Council Tax discount?▾
If everyone in the property is a full-time student, Council Tax is usually not due during course dates. If one non-student adult lives with full-time students, a 25% student disregard discount may apply.
Can I apply for Council Tax Reduction in Brighton & Hove?▾
Yes. If your income is low or your circumstances changed, use the official Council Tax Reduction page and apply as early as possible.
How do I report moving home?▾
Use Brighton & Hove’s official Tell us about a change of address or tenancy page. Residents, students, landlords and agents have separate routes.
Is UKCouncilTax.org the official council website?▾
No. UKCouncilTax.org is an independent guide. Always use official Brighton & Hove City Council and GOV.UK pages for payments, applications, account updates and legal decisions.