Skip to content
Contact us
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

What is included in my Council Tax?

Council Tax is a local charge used to pay for services in your area, such as waste collection, street lighting, and emergency services. In most of the UK, it only covers local services, but in Scotland, it also includes water and wastewater charges.

What your Council Tax pays for

Your Council Tax helps fund the essential services provided by your local authority. These typically include:

  • Waste and recycling collection

  • Street cleaning and maintenance

  • Libraries and leisure centres

  • Education services

  • Police and fire services

  • Public transport and local infrastructure

  • Social care and community services

You can usually find a breakdown of how your council spends its funding on your local council’s website.
👉 Find your local council

Council Tax in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland

In these regions, water and wastewater are billed separately by your local water company, and are not included in your Council Tax.

You’ll receive a separate bill for water, either directly or through Homebox if it’s part of your bills package.

Council Tax in Scotland

In Scotland, water and wastewater charges are included with your Council Tax bill.
Scottish Water sets these charges, and your local council collects them on their behalf.

For more information, visit:
🔗 Water and Waste Water Charges in Scotland – Scottish Water
🔗 Council Tax and Water Charges – mygov.scot

Important

If you live in Scotland and receive your Council Tax bill directly from your local authority, you’ll see separate line items for:

  • Council Tax

  • Water Supply

  • Wastewater Collection

If you’re in England, Wales, or Northern Ireland, your Council Tax will not include water — Homebox will handle this separately as part of your bills package (if applicable).