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. 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

4. 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

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. How to check and challenge your rateable value
   • Detailed guide
   • 14 May 2018
   • Valuation Office Agency
3. How domestic properties are assessed for Council Tax bands
   • Detailed guide
   • 26 January 2017
   • Valuation Office Agency
4. Traffic signs manual
   • Guidance
   • 23 February 2017
   • Department for Transport
5. How non-domestic (business) properties are valued
   • Detailed guide
   • 1 April 2017
   • Valuation Office Agency

See more guidance and regulation in this topic

News and communications

7 November 2018 — Press release

Tax rules for second-homes to be reviewed by ministers

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

1. Budget to support new housing, high streets and local services
   • 1 November 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release
2. National Association of Local Councils conference 2018
   • 31 October 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Speech
3. A120 Little Hadham bypass: Highways Act orders
   • 31 October 2018
   • Department for Transport
   • Decision
4. Local government finance settlement date confirmed in government response to Hudson review
   • 24 October 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Press release

See more news and communications in this topic

Research and statistics

1. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2017 to 2018 individual local authority data - outturn
   • 15 November 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
2. Local authority revenue expenditure and financing England: 2017 to 2018 final outturn
   • 15 November 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • National statistics
3. Council Taxbase 2018 in England
   • 14 November 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Official statistics
4. Alcohol and late night refreshment licensing England and Wales 31 March 2018
   • 25 October 2018
   • Home Office
   • National statistics
5. Local government finance: review of governance and processes
   • 24 October 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Independent report

See more research and statistics in this topic

Policy papers and consultations

1. Business rates treatment of self-catering accommodation
   • 7 November 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 16 January 2019
2. Disqualification criteria for councillors and mayors
   • 18 October 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 08 December 2017
3. Local government pension scheme: technical amendments to benefits
   • 4 October 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Open consultation
   • Closing date 29 November 2018
4. Local authority parking: contravention codes and penalties
   • 6 September 2018
   • Department for Transport
   • Consultation outcome
   • Date closed 16 February 2016
5. Business rates retention: response to the Select Committee report
   • 1 August 2018
   • Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government
   • Policy paper

See more policy papers and consultations in this topic

Transparency and freedom of information releases

1. Traffic Commissioners: annual report 2017 to 2018
   • 22 August 2018
   • Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
   • Corporate report
2. Deputy Traffic Commissioners: spending April 2014 to March 2015
   • 2 August 2018
   • Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
   • Transparency
3. Traffic Commissioners: register of interests April 2017 to March 2018
   • 2 August 2018
   • Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
   • Transparency
4. Traffic Commissioners: salaries, April 2015 to March 2016
   • 2 August 2018
   • Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
   • Transparency
5. Traffic Commissioners: register of interests, April 2015 to March 2016
   • 2 August 2018
   • Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
   • Transparency

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. Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain

Show more organisations

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

Explore these 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