Midlothian council tax 2026/27
Midlothian has the highest Band D council tax in Scotland for 2026/27, at £1,816.16. Bills went up 9%.
- Up 9% on 2025/26
- Highest of 32 councils with 2026/27 figures
- With water and waste water: £2,468.48
Midlothian council tax charges by band
Council tax plus Scottish Water's water and waste water charges, before any discount.
| Band | Council tax | Water and waste water | Total a year | 10 payments | 12 payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Band Aup to £27,000 in 1991 | £1,210.77 | £434.88 | £1,645.65 | £164.57 | £137.14 |
| Band B£27,001 to £35,000 in 1991 | £1,412.57 | £507.36 | £1,919.93 | £191.99 | £159.99 |
| Band C£35,001 to £45,000 in 1991 | £1,614.36 | £579.84 | £2,194.20 | £219.42 | £182.85 |
| Band D£45,001 to £58,000 in 1991 | £1,816.16 | £652.32 | £2,468.48 | £246.85 | £205.71 |
| Band E£58,001 to £80,000 in 1991 | £2,386.23 | £797.28 | £3,183.51 | £318.35 | £265.29 |
| Band F£80,001 to £106,000 in 1991 | £2,951.26 | £942.24 | £3,893.50 | £389.35 | £324.46 |
| Band G£106,001 to £212,000 in 1991 | £3,556.65 | £1,087.20 | £4,643.85 | £464.39 | £386.99 |
| Band Hover £212,000 in 1991 | £4,449.59 | £1,304.64 | £5,754.23 | £575.42 | £479.52 |
Band D in Midlothian compared with the lowest, the average and the highest council
Council tax £1,816.16 plus water and waste water £652.32 a year.
Midlothian council tax band D: the highest in Scotland
Midlothian Council's Band D for 2026/27 is £1,816.16. No other Scottish council charges more.
The bill rose 9%, or £149.96, from £1,666.20, the sixth largest rise in Scotland. Midlothian is now about £163 above the Scottish average of £1,653.
The gap to Edinburgh and the Borders
Crossing a council boundary makes a real difference here. Edinburgh charges £190.11 less at Band D. Scottish Borders is £197.64 less, and East Lothian £118.54 less.
Against South Lanarkshire, the lowest in Scotland, the Band D gap is £347.69 a year.
Midlothian council tax bands in practice
A Band B home pays £1,412.57 in council tax for 2026/27. Water and waste water add £507.36, bringing the year to £1,919.93. Where one adult lives alone, the council tax part falls to £1,059.43.
Spread across 12 months, that is £159.99 a month. The standard 10 instalments give £191.99.
Empty homes premiums up to 500%
From 1 April 2026 Midlothian charges graduated premiums on long-term empty homes. They start at 100% and can reach 500%.
The council says similar premiums will normally apply to second homes. It does not state an exact second homes rate.
Pay council tax in Midlothian
The council's pay council tax page lists the ways to pay, including Direct Debit. Report moves and changes in your household as soon as they happen.
Reducing the bill
One adult living alone gets 25% off. Council Tax Reduction can cut the bill by up to 100% for lower-income households.
Quick answers
- Which council has the highest council tax in Scotland?
Midlothian, with a 2026/27 Band D of £1,816.16. That is about £163 above the Scottish average of £1,653.
- Did Midlothian council tax go up in 2026?
Yes, by 9%. A Band D bill rose £149.96, from £1,666.20.
- Is Midlothian council tax more than Edinburgh?
Yes. At Band D, Midlothian charges £190.11 a year more than Edinburgh's £1,626.05.
- What premium do empty homes pay in Midlothian?
From 1 April 2026, long-term empty homes pay graduated premiums from 100% up to 500%. Similar premiums normally apply to second homes.