What is council tax?
Customer Services
Telephone: Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm Thursday 8am to 8pm Saturday 9am to noon
Address: Council Headquarters Newtown St Boswells Melrose TD6 0SA
Tel: 0300 100 1800
Council tax was introduced on 1 April 1993 and is a contribution towards the cost of local authority services, payable in respect of domestic properties.
It is a property based tax payable by the resident owners or tenants of each property. Each property is given a valuation band which then determines the amount of council tax to be paid. If the property is on mains water and sewerage a charge for this will be included along with the council tax, again this amount is determined by the band of the property.
The council tax that you pay is a contribution towards the cost of council services. Usually the resident owner or tenant of a property pays. If you are living with your partner or spouse then you will be jointly liable for council tax for your property.
You may still have to pay council tax if you are the owner or the tenant of a:
- second home
- holiday home
- empty property.
More information
- find out how much council tax to pay in the Borders
- find out about council tax valuation bands
- see if your property could qualify for a council tax discount or council tax exemption
- look at your options on how, when and where to pay council tax
- see what help is available if you can't afford to pay your council tax
- look at what happens if you don't pay your council tax
- what to do if you think your council tax is wrong
- how to report a change of circumstances
- read our 2012/13 Council Tax and Non Domestic Rates leaflet.
