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SNP proposals to shake up council tax in Scotland have been branded “yet another brutal raid on household finances”.

The Scottish Conservatives are launching a campaign against the Nationalists’ plans and will lead a parliamentary debate on the subject tomorrow (Wednesday).

Last year, John Swinney’s government published proposals that would create four new council tax bands, and result in average hikes of hundreds, or even thousands, of pounds to some bills. The consultation on these proposals closed last week.

These plans are separate to the SNP’s new mansion tax that was announced in last month’s Scottish Budget.

Outlining the Scottish Conservatives’ opposition to the council tax proposals, shadow finance secretary Craig Hoy warned that the SNP’s plans include a potential revaluation of every home in Scotland that could see them forced into higher bands, leading to “staggering increases”.

He added that the SNP – having made Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK – could not be trusted to reshape the tax system. 

Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for finance and local government Craig Hoy said: “If this council tax shake-up goes ahead it will mean another brutal raid on household finances by the SNP.

“John Swinney has already clobbered Scots with the highest taxes in the UK, yet he’s planning to pile on even more pain.

“The nationalists’ proposals include a revaluation of every single house in Scotland – which could force householders into higher council tax bands at a time when bills are already sky high and rising.

“The Scottish Conservatives will fight tooth and nail against the SNP’s staggering increases, which in some cases will amount to thousands of pounds.

“Hard-pressed Scots are sick of being used as a cash cow to fund the Nationalists’ out-of-control benefits bill.

“Despite promising to reform council tax before they were first elected, the SNP have done nothing for almost two decades except starve councils of funding.

“The SNP can’t be trusted to reshape the tax system because every time they tinker with it, Scots end up paying more and getting less.”

Notes to editors

Current council tax bands, average bills and increases under the SNP’s proposals are in the table below. Under the SNP’s plans, all homes would be revalued, meaning that even if you do not currently fall into one of these council tax bands, you could be moved upwards into one. (Scottish Government, 27 October 2025, p30, link; Scottish Government, accessed 2 February 2026, link):