Millions of households across the UK are preparing for higher Council Tax bills from 1st April 2026. According to recent government data, most local authorities in England are increasing rates by 5%, which will add approximately £111 a year to a typical Band D property bill.
The rises come as local councils continue to face significant funding pressures to maintain essential services such as social care, waste collection, and road maintenance. In this article we explain the upcoming increases and what you can do to manage the rising costs.
How much is Council Tax going up in England?
The vast majority of councils in England will raise Council Tax by 5% for the 2026/27 tax year. This is the maximum amount local authorities are normally allowed to increase bills by without holding a local referendum.
For a typical Band D property, the average bill in England will rise from £2,281 to £2,392. However, some areas will see even larger increases.
Seven councils in England have been granted special permission by the government to raise Council Tax above the 5% cap due to exceptional financial circumstances. These include:
- North Somerset - 9%
- Shropshire - 9%
- Worcestershire - 9%
- Trafford - 7.5%
- Warrington - 7.5%
- Windsor & Maidenhead - 7.5%
- Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole - 6.75%
What about Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland?
The picture varies across the rest of the UK. In Scotland, households will experience Council Tax increases ranging from 4% to 10%, depending on their local authority. For example, the City of Edinburgh is implementing a 4% rise, while Aberdeenshire and Moray are applying a 10% increase.
In Wales, most councils are raising bills by between 4% and 5%. Northern Ireland uses a different system known as domestic rates, and local councils there are introducing increases ranging from 1.96% to 4.5%.
How to find out your new Council Tax rate
The simplest way to see exactly how much your Council Tax is going up by is to check your annual bill. Local councils typically send these out by post or email in March, ready for the new tax year on 6th April.
If your bill has not arrived yet, or you want to prepare your budget in advance, you can easily find the information online by following these steps:
- Find your Council Tax band - If you do not know what band your property is in, you can check this for free using the Council Tax valuation list on the GOV.UK website. Simply enter your postcode to find your property's official band.
- Check your local council's website - Most local authorities have already published their updated 2026/27 Council Tax charges online. You can usually find these figures by searching for the 'Council Tax' section on your specific local council's website.
- Match your band to the new rates - Once you have found the updated figures for your local area, simply look for the annual or monthly charge that corresponds to your specific property band.
Many councils also offer an online portal where you can log in to view your specific account balance, check your new payment schedule, and manage your direct debit.
How is your Council Tax bill calculated?
Council Tax bills can seem complicated because they are made up of several different elements. The exact percentage rise you see will depend on which charges apply to your area. Your total bill usually includes:
- Your local council element - These funds are for the general council services. If you live in an area with two tiers of local government, this is split between your county council and your district or borough council.
- Adult social care - Councils with social care responsibilities can add a specific charge to help fund these services. This is usually capped at a 2% increase.
- Mayoral charges - If you live in a region with a combined authority mayor, such as London or Manchester, a separate charge is added to fund regional transport, policing, and fire services.
- Other associated costs - This covers additional fees for local police units, fire and rescue authorities, and any town or parish councils.
What to do if you’re struggling to afford your Council Tax
It is important not to ignore your bill, even if the upcoming increase will put a strain on your finances. Council Tax arrears can escalate quickly, so the best first step is to contact your local council immediately to discuss setting up an affordable payment plan. You can also ask to spread your bill over 12 months, rather than the standard 10 months, which will lower your monthly outgoings. If you miss a Council Tax payment, you will be sent a notice that gives you seven days to pay the amount owed. Not making this payment within the timeframe will mean you are asked to pay the full year's Council Tax instead.
If you do not then pay the full year's Council Tax payment, you may be sent a 'liability order', which is a legal demand for payment. You may have to pay legal fees in addition to the Council Tax that you owe if this happens. If you have received a liability order, you can contact your local Citizens Advice or speak to your local council. Further details can be found in our article 'Council tax explained and what to do if you're struggling to pay'.
Finally, if you believe your home is in the wrong Council Tax band, you have the right to challenge it. Be aware that requesting a review could result in your band going up rather than down, so it is wise to research property bands in your street before proceeding.
If you are struggling to afford your monthly bills and feel overwhelmed by debt, there are a number of debt charities and websites that offer free help and advice. We list some below but more information can be found in our article 'Where to get free debt advice'.
Websites and charities to get free debt help and advice:
- Citizens Advice
- MoneyHelper (formerly the Money Advice Service)
- National Debtline
- Payplan
- StepChange
- The money charity
- Turn2us
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