Skip to content
Taupia logoTaupia logo
2026/27 council tax

How much is council tax in East Lothian?

Short answer

Band D council tax in East Lothian is £1,697.62 a year for 2026/27, or about £169.76 a month over 10 instalments. Band A is £1,131.75 and Band H is £4,159.17. If you are the only adult in the home, you get 25% off. These figures leave out the water and sewerage charges on the same bill.

Updated

  • £1,698

    Band D a year in East Lothian, 2026/27

  • £1,132

    Band A a year, the lowest band

  • 25%

    Off if you are the only adult in the home

See the band and charge for an address

Pick the address to see its council, its council tax band and the council's charge for that band this year. If you already live there, you can apply a discount to see what you would pay.

Are you moving in, or already living there?

You pick your exact address on the next screen. Nothing is priced before that.

England, Scotland and Wales. In Scotland it shows the council. The charge is the council's figure for the band; parish charges can make a bill slightly different.

Every band's yearly and monthly charge in East Lothian for 2026/27, from the government's own table, with how it compares and how to register when you move in.

What does the East Lothian council tax figure include?

  • The 2026/27 Band D figure for East Lothian is the Scottish Government's figure for council tax alone. Councils in Scotland also collect water and sewerage charges on the same bill, and those are not in these figures.
  • Each band is a fixed share of Band D set by Scottish law: Band A is 240/360 of Band D and Band H is 882/360.
  • The figures are for a full year at the full rate. Discounts, exemptions and council tax reduction come off the bill your council sends.
Sources (2)

How does council tax in East Lothian compare with other councils?

  • At £1,697.62, Band D in East Lothian is the 11th highest of the 32 councils in Scotland.
  • Across Scotland, Band D runs from £1,468.47 in South Lanarkshire to £1,816.16 in Midlothian.
  • Your home's band moves the bill more than your council does: in every council, the top band pays at least three times Band A.
Sources (2)

Who pays less council tax?

  • If you are the only adult in the home, you get 25% off. You have to apply to the council for it.
  • A home where everyone is a full-time student pays nothing. Students apply with a certificate from their university or college.
  • Some people are not counted when the council works out how many adults live in a home, such as students and carers, so a home can get a discount even with two adults in it.
  • If you are on a low income you can apply to your council for Council Tax Reduction.
Sources (2)

How do I start paying council tax in East Lothian?

Four steps, from checking the council to choosing how to pay.

  1. 1

    Check the council for the address

    Postcodes can cross council boundaries, so confirm that the address is in East Lothian with mygov.scot's council finder.

  2. 2

    Register from your move-in date

    Tell the council the date you became responsible for the home and the names of the adults who live there.

  3. 3

    Claim any discount before the first bill

    Apply for the 25% discount if you live alone, or for an exemption if everyone is a full-time student.

  4. 4

    Choose how to pay

    Bills are usually split into 10 monthly payments. Ask the council if you would rather pay over 12 months.

Sources (2)

Where does Taupia fit with council tax in East Lothian?

  • The address block above shows the council, band and yearly charge for an exact address, then the energy supplier, water company and broadband deals there.
  • Taupia compares energy, broadband and mobile deals and switches once your household approves. Nothing changes without your approval.
  • Taupia does not set up council tax or switch water: register with the council yourself.
  • Taupia is free to use.
How Taupia is free to use

Council tax in East Lothian by band, 2026/27

BandA yearA month, over 10
Band A£1,131.75£113.18
Band B£1,320.37£132.04
Band C£1,509.00£150.90
Band D£1,697.62£169.76
Band E£2,230.48£223.05
Band F£2,758.63£275.86
Band G£3,324.51£332.45
Band H£4,159.17£415.92

Council tax in East Lothian: common questions

How much is Band D council tax in East Lothian?

Band D council tax in East Lothian is £1,697.62 for 2026/27, or about £169.76 a month over the usual 10 instalments. That is the full yearly charge before any discount, and a home in another band pays a fixed share of it. Water and sewerage charges are added on the same bill in Scotland.

What is the cheapest council tax band in East Lothian?

Band A is the cheapest, at £1,131.75 a year in East Lothian for 2026/27. Band H is the most expensive, at £4,159.17. Your band depends on the home's value at the valuation date, not on who lives there.

How do I find my council tax band in East Lothian?

Search the address on the Scottish Assessors Association website, or look at a council tax bill for the home. The band belongs to the home, so it stays the same when people move in or out.

Do I get a discount on council tax in East Lothian if I live alone?

Yes. If you are the only adult in the home you get 25% off, which takes Band D in East Lothian to £1,273.22 a year. The discount is not added for you: apply to the council when you register.

When do I start paying council tax in East Lothian after moving in?

From the date you become responsible for the home, which is usually your tenancy start or completion date. Register with the council as soon as you move in, and the first bill covers the rest of the financial year.

More on council tax

Checking a band, registering at a new home and the discounts that cut the bill.

Start here

Council tax band checker

Recommended

Where to look up the band for any address, and how to challenge it.

Moving to an address in East Lothian?

Pick the address above to see its council, band and yearly charge, then its energy supplier, water company and broadband. Taupia is free, and nothing changes without your approval.

Start with your postcodeEvery council's Band D

Cite this page

Taupia. "How much is council tax in East Lothian?". Last updated 14 November 2026. https://taupia.com/council-tax/east-lothian