Council tax in most of Scotland to be frozen until April 2025 – here's what you need to know

Council tax rises normally take effect on 1 April each year, with local authorities deciding how much to hike rates. Six months ago, most Scottish households experienced a 5% rise in what they pay, as did those in England.

But the new freeze will see council tax rates in most of Scotland unchanged in the 2024/25 council tax year (6 April 2024 to 5 April 2025).

First Minister Humza Yousaf said the decision had been taken in response to the cost-of-living crisis. He added that the Scottish Government would fund the freeze.

In England, nearly all local authorities are set to hike bills by 5%, while most councils in Wales are planning rises of between around 5% to 10%. Northern Ireland uses a different system known as 'rates'.

How to save on council tax bills 

Make sure you're not missing out on support to help pay your council tax bills: 

• Check if you're eligible for a council tax discount. Many people qualify for discounts or reductions of between 25% and 100% off their council tax bill, potentially saving £100s – or even £1,000s – each year.

  This can include full-time students, people on low incomes and/or benefits, adults living alone (or only with under-18s), carers, people with disabilities and households that contain people with what's known as a 'severe mental impairment'.

  However, it's up to YOU to flag to your council whether you might be eligible for a discount. 

• Check and challenge your council tax band if you think it's wrong. Many homes in England and Scotland are in the wrong council tax band, and have been since 1991. However, challenging your band is not something to do speculatively without checking, for one simple reason: you can't just ask for your band to be lowered – only for a reassessment, which means it could be moved up or down, so your bills could rise or fall.