Local government

Sign up for updates to this topic page

On this page

Services

1. Check your Council Tax band

   Find out the Council Tax band for a property in England, Scotland or Wales by looking up the property's postcode online

2. Pay your Council Tax

   Pay Council Tax online or by other methods, like direct debit to your local council

3. Council Tax

   Your Council Tax bill - how to work it out, who has to pay, discounts and exemptions for students and disabled people, second homes, empty properties, paying the bill

4. Find and check your business rates valuation

   How to check the rateable value of your business property - compare it with other properties, request changes to your valuation and challenge the business rates you've been charged

5. Apply for Council Tax Reduction

   Apply to your local council for Council Tax Reduction if you're on a low income or benefits - this has replaced Council Tax Benefit

See more services in this topic

Guidance and regulation

1. Start paying Council Tax
   • Detailed guide
   • 22 January 2016
   • Valuation Office Agency
2. Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance for local government
   • Detailed guide
   • 30 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
3. How domestic properties are assessed for Council Tax bands
   • Detailed guide
   • 13 February 2020
   • Valuation Office Agency
4. Check if your retail, hospitality or leisure business is eligible for business rates relief due to coronavirus (COVID-19)
   • Detailed guide
   • 18 March 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
5. Council tax: COVID-19 hardship fund 2020 to 2021 - guidance
   • Guidance
   • 24 March 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

See more guidance and regulation in this topic

News and communications

17 July 2020 — Press release

New powers and framework to help contain coronavirus (COVID-19) locally

Department of Health and Social Care

1. Government confirms allocations of £500 million additional funding for councils
   • 16 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release
2. Local Government Association annual conference 2020: Secretary of State's speech
   • 2 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Speech
3. Comprehensive new funding package for councils to help address coronavirus pressures and cover lost income during the pandemic
   • 2 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release
4. Coronavirus (COVID-19): ministerial direction for early payment of grants
   • 12 June 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Correspondence

See more news and communications in this topic

Research and statistics

1. Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2020 to 2021
   • 30 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
2. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2020 to 2021 budget
   • 9 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Official statistics
3. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2020 to 2021 budget individual local authority data
   • 9 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Official statistics
4. Local government financial statistics England 2020
   • 8 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
5. Local authority capital expenditure and receipts in England: 2019 to 2020 provisional outturn and 2020 to 2021 forecast
   • 2 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics

See more research and statistics in this topic

Policy papers and consultations

1. Local Government Pension Scheme – amendments to the statutory underpin
   • 16 July 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 08 October 2020
2. Proposed merger of the Northumberland and Tyne and Wear pension funds
   • 14 May 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 01 May 2020
3. Local government pension scheme: changes to the local valuation cycle and management of employer risk
   • 27 February 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 31 July 2019
4. Review of local authority financial reporting and external audit: call for views
   • 5 November 2019
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Closed consultation
   • Date closed 20 December 2019
5. Check, challenge, appeal: interim review of reforms to the business rates appeals system
   • 27 February 2020
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper

See more policy papers and consultations in this topic

Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Schemes awarded the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund
   • 28 February 2020
   • Department for Transport
   • Transparency
2. Access Fund: funding
   • 11 February 2020
   • Department for Transport
   • Transparency
3. NIO Equality Six Monthly Update January - June 2019
   • 13 December 2019
   • Northern Ireland Office
   • Transparency
4. Twenty-fifth meeting of the Libraries Taskforce
   • 11 October 2019
   • Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
   • Corporate report
5. Data share pilot between HMRC and local authorities (T to Z)
   • 12 September 2019
   • HM Revenue & Customs
   • Foi release

See more transparency and freedom of information releases in this topic

Organisations

1. Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
2. Department for Transport
3. Valuation Office Agency
4. HM Treasury
5. Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Show more organisations

1. Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
2. Cabinet Office
3. Ministry of Defence
4. Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport
5. Department for Education
6. Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs
7. Home Office
8. Department of Health & Social Care
9. Office of the Secretary of State for Scotland
10. HM Courts & Tribunals Service
11. Ministry of Justice
12. Department for Work & Pensions
13. HM Revenue & Customs
14. Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
15. Government Actuary's Department
16. Office for Product Safety & Standards
17. Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
18. Office of the Secretary of State for Wales Swyddfa Ysgrifennydd Gwladol Cymru
19. Office for Low Emission Vehicles
20. Public Health England
21. Northern Ireland Office
22. Committee on Standards in Public Life
23. Disclosure & Barring Service
24. Government Digital Service
25. Maritime & Coastguard Agency
26. Bona Vacantia
27. Government Legal Department
28. Office of the Public Guardian
29. Armed Forces' Pay Review Body
30. Crown Commercial Service
31. Government Equalities Office
32. Lammy Review
33. Marine Management Organisation
34. Office for Civil Society
35. The Oil and Pipelines Agency
36. Planning Inspectorate
37. Office of the Leader of the House of Commons

1. Defence Infrastructure Organisation
2. Innovate UK
3. High Speed Two (HS2) Limited
4. Biometrics Commissioner
5. National Probation Service
6. Social Security Advisory Committee
7. British Hallmarking Council
8. Competition and Markets Authority
9. Environment Agency
10. Highways England
11. HM Land Registry
12. Ofsted
13. Single Source Regulations Office

Explore sub-topics

1. Business rates
2. Council Tax
3. Councils and elections
4. Data collection and reporting
5. Local Housing Allowance
6. Local government finance and capital assets
7. Local government pensions