Council tax per month: 10 or 12 payments
The monthly cost is the yearly bill divided by the number of payments. GOV.UK says the cost is usually split into 10 monthly payments, and that your council can help if you have trouble paying, for example by spreading the payments over 12 months instead of 10. A yearly bill of £2,312.04 (Band D in Manchester in 2026/27) comes to £231.20 a month over 10 payments, or £192.67 over 12.
For the monthly cost of each band in your own council, choose your council on the front page: its table gives every band a year, over 10 payments and over 12 payments.
What each band costs a month
The table gives, for each band, the lowest and the highest yearly amount among all councils in England, Scotland and Wales in 2026/27, and what they come to a month.
| Band | Lowest a year | Over 10 payments | Over 12 payments | Highest a year | Over 10 payments | Over 12 payments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | £685.47 (Wandsworth) | £68.55 | £57.12 | £1,843.35 (Dorset) | £184.34 | £153.61 |
| B | £799.72 (Wandsworth) | £79.97 | £66.64 | £2,150.57 (Dorset) | £215.06 | £179.21 |
| C | £913.96 (Wandsworth) | £91.40 | £76.16 | £2,457.80 (Dorset) | £245.78 | £204.82 |
| D | £1,028.21 (Wandsworth) | £102.82 | £85.68 | £2,765.02 (Dorset) | £276.50 | £230.42 |
| E | £1,256.70 (Wandsworth) | £125.67 | £104.73 | £3,379.47 (Dorset) | £337.95 | £281.62 |
| F | £1,485.19 (Wandsworth) | £148.52 | £123.77 | £3,993.92 (Dorset) | £399.39 | £332.83 |
| G | £1,713.68 (Wandsworth) | £171.37 | £142.81 | £4,608.37 (Dorset) | £460.84 | £384.03 |
| H | £2,056.42 (Wandsworth) | £205.64 | £171.37 | £5,530.04 (Dorset) | £553.00 | £460.84 |
| I | £4,697.42 (Cardiff) | £469.74 | £391.45 | £6,051.73 (Merthyr Tydfil) | £605.17 | £504.31 |
Monthly figures are the yearly amount divided by 10 or 12, rounded to the nearest penny. Band I exists only in Wales, so its row compares Welsh councils only. The amounts are not counted in the same way in each nation: English figures are averages for the whole council area, parish charges included, and Scottish figures leave out water and sewerage charges.
What the bill tells you
According to GOV.UK, your council tax bill tells you how much you have to pay for the year, how that amount has been worked out, and the dates you have to pay. The bill also shows which other payment methods you can use; GOV.UK says you can usually pay online, and in cash at post offices, banks, newsagents and convenience stores through Paypoint, Payzone or Quickcards.
If you fall behind with payments, the council can take action to reclaim the debt. If you have paid too much and have not received an automatic refund, contact your council.
Paying less
The monthly amount is lower if part of the bill is taken off: see council tax discounts and exemptions. Spreading the bill over 12 payments lowers each payment but not the yearly total.
Want the figures for your own council? Set the front page for your council.