Council Tax Moves to 12 Monthly Payments by Default From April 2027

People who become newly liable for Council Tax in England from April 2027 will be put on 12 monthly instalments by default. The same default will apply to existing Council Tax payers from April 2028. Ten-month payment arrangements will still be available to people who request them.

In plain English

At the moment, Council Tax is normally collected in 10 monthly instalments, usually from April to January. That leaves February and March without the standard instalment for that annual bill.

Under the new system, 12 monthly instalments will become the default. The annual bill will be spread across April to March instead. This changes how the bill is paid, not the annual Council Tax charge.

What is changing?

The government is changing the default Council Tax payment arrangement in England from 10 monthly instalments to 12. The change is being phased in, with newly liable taxpayers affected from April 2027 and existing taxpayers from April 2028.

Who will be affected from April 2027?

From April 2027, people who become newly liable for Council Tax in England will be placed on 12 monthly instalments by default.

What changes for existing Council Tax taxpayers from April 2028?

From April 2028, the 12-month payment arrangement will become the default for existing Council Tax taxpayers as well. Households will retain the right to request 10-month billing.

Does this mean Council Tax is going up?

No. This change is about how the annual Council Tax bill is divided between instalments. Moving from 10 payments to 12 does not by itself increase or reduce the annual Council Tax charge.

How will the payments change?

The annual bill will be spread across two more monthly payments. For example, an illustrative £1,200 annual bill would be £120 a month over 10 payments from April to January, or £100 a month over 12 payments from April to March. This is only an example and your actual payment depends on your bill and circumstances.

Can I still pay Council Tax over 10 months?

Yes. The government has said households moving onto the default 12-month arrangement will retain the right to request 10-monthly billing. The 10-month option is not being abolished.

Do I need to do anything?

There is no immediate action required simply because the default is changing. If you are happy to pay over 12 months, you should not need to request anything. If you would rather continue paying over 10 months, use the process your council provides once the new default applies to you.

What happens to February and March payments?

Under the usual 10-month arrangement, standard instalments are normally collected from April to January, so February and March are payment-free months for that annual bill. With 12 monthly instalments, payments continue through February and March.

What about discounts, exemptions and Council Tax Reduction?

This particular reform concerns the timing and number of instalments. It does not itself remove Council Tax discounts, exemptions or Council Tax Reduction. Those arrangements have their own rules and can affect the amount shown on a bill.

Does this apply across the UK?

No. This reform concerns Council Tax in England. Council Tax is administered separately in Scotland and Wales, so the timetable described here should not be assumed to apply elsewhere in the UK.

What should you do when you receive your Council Tax bill?

Check the payment schedule shown on the bill. If you would prefer 10 rather than 12 payments, check your council’s instructions for requesting that arrangement.

What is not changing?

The move to 12 monthly instalments does not itself change your Council Tax band or make your annual Council Tax charge higher or lower. It does not remove the right to request 10 monthly payments, and it is not a UK-wide change.

The bottom line

England is moving towards 12 monthly Council Tax instalments as the default. Newly liable taxpayers will be affected from April 2027, while the new default will apply to existing taxpayers from April 2028. The practical effect is that the annual bill is spread across the full financial year instead of being collected over 10 months. If you prefer the 10-month arrangement, you will still be able to request it.

Information checked

This article was checked against the latest available government information on Council Tax administration, including the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government’s response to its consultation on modernising and improving Council Tax administration and its Council Tax information letter for local authorities.

GOV.UK: Modernising and improving the administration of Council Tax, government response

GOV.UK: Council Tax information letter 3/2026

General information only. Council Tax rules and your individual bill can depend on your circumstances and your local council.