Households in England face paying up to 9% more in council tax after most local authorities hiked rates on 1 April.
The average council tax bill for a Band D property in England has increased by 4.9% since April 2025, bringing a typical bill to £2,392, up £111.
However, as local authorities set their own rates, you may be paying more or less depending on where you live.
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Of the 384 total local authorities in England, 274 decided to hike rates by the maximum 5% available to them without a local referendum. 50 more hiked rates by close to the maximum, and 21 either made no change or decreased rates for average Band D properties.
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Band D is the standard measure of council tax, with all other bands being set as a proportion of this band. Council tax bands range from A (cheapest) to H (most expensive) and are determined by how much your house cost in 1991.
Residents of Shropshire will be feeling the most pain after their local council hiked tax by a staggering 9%, costing £162 extra a year for an average Band D property.
But hikes were also substantial in North Somerset where bills rose by an average of 8.6%, Trafford (8%), Wyre Forest (7.9%), or Wychavon (7.8%).
Increases of over 5% are usually subject to a local referendum, but these councils were given exceptional permission by the government to instigate the rises due to their “challenging financial position.”
Meanwhile, the smallest increase was 2%, which occurred in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Rutland, and Merton.
There were no major authorities where there was no change or where rates were decreased – this only occurred in minor authorities (like city councils) where residents also have to pay council tax to the county council.
Why is council tax increasing?
It is not abnormal for council tax to rise. In the same way household costs increase due to inflation, so does the cost of running local services.
However, the average 4.9% price hike is much higher than inflation, which averaged 3% in the year to February 2026, the latest month for which there is official data.
The reason council tax is on the up in so many parts of England is because many local authorities are under great financial pressure to deliver public services.
In particular, the cost of providing social care, which mostly lies with local authorities, has increased in recent years and now amounts to an average of around 65% of total council spending.
At the same time, funding from the central government has fallen in real terms, meaning that locals have to pay more tax to make up the shortfall.
How can I save on my council tax bill?
Unfortunately, for most people there is no easy way for you to pay less council tax as the amount you pay is determined by the band your house is in.
However, in some exceptional circumstances, your home may be in an incorrect council tax band.
This may be because surveyors in 1991 accidentally put your home in the wrong band and the error has persisted, or perhaps the value of your property has since fallen.
If you think this is the case, you are allowed to challenge your council tax band through the Valuation Office (VO).
They are legally required to review your band if you have been paying council tax on your property for less than six months, your band has been changed in the last six months, or if there has been a physical change to your local area.
Otherwise, you can request a “band review”, though this is an informal process and the VO has no legal requirement to consider them.
That being said, the VO states that band reviews are taken forward when there is strong evidence to show a property is in the wrong band.
But beware – asking the VO to review your council tax band could mean they find you, or your neighbours, are paying less than you need to, so only challenge your band if you think you have strong evidence you are paying too much.
You might be able to get a council tax reduction, depending on your personal circumstances.
For example, those who live alone are entitled to a 25% discount, known as the single person discount. There are also discounts for people with certain disabilities. Similarly, households where everyone is a full-time student don’t have to pay any council tax at all.
If you are on a low income or live with someone who is, you could also qualify for a council tax reduction. The exact criteria vary from council to council.
Ultimately, the best way to work out what you are eligible for is to visit your local council’s website. If you can't find the information you need there, it is worth getting in touch with the council directly.
