Council Tax Rates 2026
Discover average Council Tax rates for 2026 across all UK regions and property bands. Use our free estimator to evaluate your local authority bill and understand rate increases.
Estimate Your Local Rate
Select your region to see the average Band D rate, choose your property band, or manually input your specific local authority’s rate for a precise calculation.
Region & Band Details
Select your region and property band to estimate your 2026 bill
Rate Evaluation
Calculated annual and monthly council tax estimates
Average Council Tax Rates by Region
Estimated average Band D Council Tax rates across English regions for the 2025/2026 financial year. Rates include local council and precept charges (e.g., police, fire, adult social care).
| Region | Average Band D Rate | Estimated Band A | Estimated Band H |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West | £2,200 | £1,467 | £4,400 |
| East of England | £2,150 | £1,433 | £4,300 |
| South East | £2,100 | £1,400 | £4,200 |
| West Midlands | £2,050 | £1,367 | £4,100 |
| London | £2,000 | £1,333 | £4,000 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £2,000 | £1,333 | £4,000 |
| East Midlands | £1,950 | £1,300 | £3,900 |
| North West | £1,900 | £1,267 | £3,800 |
| North East | £1,850 | £1,233 | £3,700 |
Council Tax Rates FAQ
Everything you need to know about Council Tax rates, regional differences, and annual increases in the UK.
Council Tax rates vary because each local authority sets its own budget based on the cost of providing local services (e.g., social care, waste collection, policing). Areas with higher service demands or lower central government funding often have higher Council Tax rates.
Local councils in England can generally increase Council Tax by up to 2.99% without holding a local referendum. Additionally, councils with adult social care responsibilities can add an extra ‘precept’ of up to 2%, making the maximum typical increase around 4.99%.
For the 2025/2026 tax year, the average Band D Council Tax rate across England is approximately £2,000 to £2,200 per year, though this varies significantly. London and the South East often see different averages compared to the North East or North West due to varying local authority budgets.
Local authorities in England and Wales typically set and announce their Council Tax rates for the upcoming financial year in February or early March, with the new rates taking effect on 1 April.