Scottish Borders council tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in the Scottish Borders is £1,618.52 for 2026/27, up 8.5%. Second homes now pay 225%.
- Up 8.5% on 2025/26
- 8th lowest of 32 councils with 2026/27 figures
- With water and waste water: £2,270.84
Scottish Borders 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 | £1,079.01 | £434.88 | £1,513.89 | £151.39 | £126.16 |
| Band B£27,001 to £35,000 in 1991 | £1,258.85 | £507.36 | £1,766.21 | £176.62 | £147.18 |
| Band C£35,001 to £45,000 in 1991 | £1,438.68 | £579.84 | £2,018.52 | £201.85 | £168.21 |
| Band D£45,001 to £58,000 in 1991 | £1,618.52 | £652.32 | £2,270.84 | £227.08 | £189.24 |
| Band E£58,001 to £80,000 in 1991 | £2,126.56 | £797.28 | £2,923.84 | £292.38 | £243.65 |
| Band F£80,001 to £106,000 in 1991 | £2,630.10 | £942.24 | £3,572.34 | £357.23 | £297.70 |
| Band G£106,001 to £212,000 in 1991 | £3,169.60 | £1,087.20 | £4,256.80 | £425.68 | £354.73 |
| Band Hover £212,000 in 1991 | £3,965.37 | £1,304.64 | £5,270.01 | £527.00 | £439.17 |
Band D in Scottish Borders compared with the lowest, the average and the highest council
Council tax £1,618.52 plus water and waste water £652.32 a year.
Scottish Borders Council raised Band D by £126.80 for 2026/27, to £1,618.52. That is an 8.5% rise on last year's £1,491.72.
The 8.5% rise matched Dumfries and Galloway's. The Borders sit about £35 below the Scottish average of £1,653. They rank eighth lowest of the 32 councils.
Second homes charged 225% from April 2026
From 1 April 2026, second homes in the Borders are charged 225% council tax. That is more than double the normal bill for the band.
Before 1 April 2026, premiums were capped at 100%, so a charge at this level was not possible.
How the Borders compare with Lothian neighbours
Midlothian charges £197.64 more at Band D, and East Lothian £79.10 more. West Lothian is only £9.07 higher.
To the west, Dumfries and Galloway is £39.87 cheaper. South Lanarkshire is £150.05 cheaper.
A Band E bill
For a Band E home, council tax is £2,126.56 this year. Scottish Water adds £797.28, so the year's bill is £2,923.84.
Over 10 instalments from April to January, that is £292.38 a month, or £243.65 over 12. A single adult in Band E pays £1,594.92 in council tax. Where one adult lives alone, the 25% discount applies to water and waste water too.
Pay council tax in the Scottish Borders
Pay through the council's payments page or by Direct Debit. Bills normally run as 10 instalments, April to January. Tell the council when you move or when your household changes.
A single adult gets 25% off. Council Tax Reduction can help lower-income households, alongside any discount.
Quick answers
- How much is Band D council tax in the Scottish Borders?
£1,618.52 for 2026/27, up 8.5% from £1,491.72.
- What do second homes pay in the Scottish Borders?
From 1 April 2026, second homes are charged 225% council tax.
- Is council tax higher in Midlothian than the Borders?
Yes. Midlothian's Band D is £197.64 a year more than the Borders' £1,618.52.
- How much is a Band C council tax bill in the Borders per month?
Band C is £1,438.68 for 2026/27. Over 12 months that is £119.89 a month, or £143.87 over 10.