You pay council tax to your local council , using the payment details on your council tax bill or your council’s official website.

Who you pay

  • Council tax is a local tax collected by the council responsible for your area, not the national government or your landlord (except in a few special cases).
  • Your bill will show the council’s name (for example, “Manchester City Council” or “Wandsworth Council”) and exactly how and where to pay.

Who is responsible for paying

  • Usually, the person living in the property as their main home and aged 18 or over is the one who has to pay (the “liable person”).
  • If you live with a partner, you are normally both “jointly and severally liable”, meaning the council can ask either of you for the full amount.

Special situations

  • If the property is empty, the owner (not a tenant) usually has to pay council tax to the local council.
  • In some houses in multiple occupation (for example, bedsits with separate tenancy agreements), the landlord can be the one liable and will pay the council, often rolling the cost into your rent.

How to find who to pay

  • Check your latest council tax bill or any letter you’ve had about council tax; it will list the council’s name, bank details, online payment link, and phone number.
  • If you are not sure which council you are under, you can use an online “find your local council” tool by entering your postcode, then go to that council’s website and look for the council tax section.

TL;DR: You pay council tax directly to your local council shown on your bill, not to central government and usually not to your landlord, unless your tenancy agreement and the liability rules for your type of property say otherwise.