How to Find Your Council Tax Account Number - 5 Places to Check

Your council tax account number appears on your paper bill, email bill, bank statement, online council portal, and Direct Debit confirmation. There were 27.0 million properties on the Council Tax list as at 31 March 2024, each assigned a unique account reference number by a local billing authority.

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What Is a Council Tax Account Number?

A council tax account number is a unique numeric reference assigned by a local authority to identify a property and its payment records. It is also referred to as a council tax reference number or account reference.

The number links a household to all billing, payment, discount, and exemption records held by the council. It is required when making payments, registering for an online account, and contacting the council about a bill.

What Does a Council Tax Account Number Look Like?

Council tax account numbers are between 8 and 12 digits. The exact format varies by local authority. Examples include:

• Chelmsford City Council: 8-digit number starting with 8
• Bracknell Forest Council: 8-digit number starting with 2
• West Berkshire Council: 8-digit number starting with 3
• Thurrock Council: 10-digit number starting with 22
• Stoke-on-Trent City Council: 12-digit number

Some councils label it "Account Reference" or "Account Number" on official bills. Both terms refer to the same reference.

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Where Can You Find Your Council Tax Account Number?

There are 5 places to find a council tax account number. These are the paper bill, email correspondence, bank statement, online council portal, and Direct Debit confirmation.

How Do You Find Your Council Tax Account Number on a Paper Bill?

The council tax account number appears at the top of the first page of a paper bill, typically in the top right corner. It is labelled "Account Number" or "Account Reference."

The account number also appears on reminder notices and final notices sent by the council. It sits in the same position on all official correspondence.

What If You Have Opted for Paperless Billing?

Search your email inbox for messages with the subject line "Council Tax Bill" or "Payment Confirmation." The council tax account reference number is included in these email communications.

How Do You Find Your Council Tax Account Number on a Bank Statement?

The council tax account number appears as part of the payment reference on a bank statement when Direct Debit or standing order is in use.

If you have a Direct Debit set up for council tax, your account number is the last 8 digits of the payment reference number. This can be found in bank statements or in the Direct Debit management section of banking apps.

Steps to find the reference on a bank statement:

1. Open your bank statement or mobile banking app

2. Search for a payment made to your local council

3. Locate the payment reference field next to the transaction

4. Identify the last 8 digits - this is your account reference

How Do You Find Your Council Tax Account Number Online?

Log into your council's online portal and navigate to the council tax section to find your account reference number.

Most councils now offer online account portals where you can view your council tax account details. Steps to locate the number online:

1. Go to your local council's website

2. Select "My Account" or "Council Tax"

3. Sign in using your registered email and password

4. View the account overview page - the reference number appears here

Local authorities in England collected £41.2 billion in council tax in 2024-25 across 19.0 million Band D equivalent dwellings. Most councils have moved billing and account management to digital portals to support this scale of administration.

How Do You Find Your Council Tax Account Number in Emails?

Search your email inbox for the phrase "council tax" and filter for messages from your local council. The account number appears in emails from the council about bills, as well as in Direct Debit confirmations.

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What If You Cannot Find Your Council Tax Account Number?

Contact your local council directly by phone, email, or online enquiry form to retrieve your council tax account reference. The council will verify your identity before disclosing it.

Most councils require 2 pieces of information to confirm identity. These are:

1. Full name and address as registered on the council tax account

2. A secondary security question - examples include the last payment date, number of adults at the property, or payment method

The council tax account number is an important piece of personal data used as part of security checks to verify identity. If a taxpayer cannot provide it, the council may be unable to discuss the account by phone.

How Do You Request a Council Tax Account Number From Your Council?

Request a copy of your council tax bill from your local authority's Revenue Services team. The council will post a paper copy of the bill to the property address.

What Information Do You Need to Request a Council Tax Account Number?

The table below shows the 3 pieces of information most councils require to issue a replacement council tax account number, along with the purpose of each.

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Why Do You Need a Council Tax Account Number?

A council tax account reference is required for 5 purposes. These are:

1. Making a council tax payment online or by phone

2. Registering for an online council tax account

3. Setting up or amending a Direct Debit

4. Applying for a discount, exemption, or council tax reduction

5. Contacting the council about a bill, arrears, or change of circumstances

The average Band D council tax set by local authorities in England for 2024-25 is £2,171, an increase of £106 or 5.1% on the 2023-24 figure. Accurate account identification ensures all payments are applied to the correct property record and prevents billing errors.

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What If You Are a New Resident With No Account Number?

A council tax account number is only issued after a new resident registers a property with the local authority. The council sends an initial bill containing the account reference to the registered address.

Steps for a new resident to obtain a council tax account number:

1. Notify your local council of your move-in date and property address

2. Complete the council's registration or "moving into the area" form online or by post

3. Wait for the council to issue an initial bill - the account number is printed on it

4. Use the account number from the bill to register for online account access

If you have just moved into an area, complete the "moving into the borough" form first. The council will then send a bill including your account number.

In England, 24.7 million dwellings were liable for council tax as at September 2023. New registrations are processed by 296 billing authorities across England.

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How to Find Your Council Tax Account Number - Summary

A council tax account number is found in 5 places: a paper bill, an email bill, a bank statement, a council online portal, and a Direct Debit confirmation. The reference is between 8 and 12 digits and varies in format by local authority. New residents receive their account number only after registering with their local council. If the reference cannot be located, the council reissues it by post following identity verification, with most councils requiring a full name, property address, and 1 secondary security detail.