Aberdeen City Council

Aberdeen Visitor Levy Guide for STL Operators

Understand Aberdeen visitor levy rules, rate and cap details, booking cutoffs, and recordkeeping essentials for STL providers.

Aberdeen has approved a 7% visitor levy from 1 April 2027, but some operational details still need careful watching.

Bookings made from 1 October 2026 for stays from launch are in scope. Provider retention remains less settled than in some other council schemes.

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Key levy details

Levy rate: 7%
Cap: No cap
Effective from: 1 April 2027
Advance booking cutoff: 1 October 2026
Provider retention: TBC

Scheme details still being finalized

Provider retention percentage remains under review after business engagement.

What operators should track

Accurate accommodation charge per booking in pence.
Check-in and check-out dates so nights subject to levy are calculated correctly.
Booking date for cutoff handling where the scheme requires it.
Any exemption status and supporting notes for auditability.
Quarter totals: levy collected, provider retention, and council amount due.

Who this affects

Accommodation providers in Aberdeen City Council's area once the approved scheme starts.
Operators with hotels, serviced accommodation, self-catering properties, guest accommodation, and short-term lets.
Hosts who will need to separate accommodation revenue from extras before calculating levy.

Booking rule to watch

Aberdeen has approved a 7% levy from 1 April 2027 for bookings made from 1 October 2026. Provider retention should still be checked against the latest council publications.

Example calculation

A realistic booking scenario

A two-night Aberdeen stay with a GBP 500 accommodation charge and no extras.

Accommodation charge: £500.00
Charge subject to levy: £500.00
Nights subject to levy: 2 of 2
Levy estimate: £35.00

This example uses the approved 7% rate and the published 1 October 2026 advance booking date.

Check your own booking

Return and recordkeeping notes

Treat Aberdeen as a watch-list council until the remaining operational guidance is final.
Avoid hardcoding assumptions about provider retention in spreadsheets until the final percentage is confirmed.
Keep accommodation-only values clean so the calculation can be updated quickly if final guidance adds more detail.

Scheme source checked 25 July 2026 from Aberdeen City Council committee minutes.

Local FAQs

What is Aberdeen's approved visitor levy rate?

Aberdeen has approved a 7% visitor levy from 1 April 2027.

Are all Aberdeen visitor levy details final?

Not yet. The start date, rate, full-stay treatment, and 1 October 2026 advance booking date are published, but provider retention still needs final confirmation.

What should Aberdeen hosts do now?

Hosts can prepare by separating accommodation charges from extras, keeping booking dates visible, and monitoring council updates before the 2027 start date.