Babergh Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Babergh is £2,341.55 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£108.39) on last year. That is £49.97 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 83rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,245.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Babergh council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,561.03 | £156.10 | £130.09 | £1,170.78 | 5,260 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,821.21 | £182.12 | £151.77 | £1,365.90 | 12,540 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,081.38 | £208.14 | £173.45 | £1,561.03 | 9,460 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,341.55 | £234.16 | £195.13 | £1,756.16 | 7,880 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,861.89 | £286.19 | £238.49 | £2,146.42 | 4,980 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,382.24 | £338.22 | £281.85 | £2,536.68 | 2,730 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,902.58 | £390.26 | £325.22 | £2,926.94 | 1,820 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,683.10 | £468.31 | £390.26 | £3,512.33 | 200 |
- Babergh
- England average
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Where your Babergh council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Babergh but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,341.55 Band D charge, £199.52 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £199.52 | 8.5% | £155.18 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,731.69 | 74.0% | £1,346.87 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £304.47 | 13.0% | £236.81 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £105.87 | 4.5% | £82.34 |
- District council £200 8.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,732 74.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £304 13.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £106 4.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Babergh; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Babergh council tax history
Band D in Babergh has risen from £1,547.00 in 2016/17 to £2,341.55 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.5%, the 232nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Babergh Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,341.55 | +4.9% | £1,821.21 |
| 2025/26 | £2,233.16 | +4.7% | £1,736.90 |
| 2024/25 | £2,132.39 | +4.8% | £1,658.53 |
| 2023/24 | £2,034.74 | +4.2% | £1,582.58 |
| 2022/23 | £1,953.53 | +3.0% | £1,519.41 |
| 2021/22 | £1,896.72 | +4.2% | £1,475.23 |
| 2020/21 | £1,820.21 | +3.9% | £1,415.72 |
| 2019/20 | £1,751.49 | +4.9% | £1,362.27 |
| 2018/19 | £1,669.74 | +4.8% | £1,298.69 |
| 2017/18 | £1,592.60 | +2.9% | £1,238.69 |
| 2016/17 | £1,547.00 | – | £1,203.22 |
Homes by council tax band in Babergh
Babergh has 44,870 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 40% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,821.21 a year (£182.12 a month over 10 instalments).
Babergh compared with East of England
Babergh is the 18th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£49.65 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Maldon | £2,328.37 | +4.3% |
| Uttlesford | £2,333.82 | +4.3% |
| East Suffolk | £2,334.80 | +5.1% |
| Babergh | £2,341.55 | +4.9% |
| West Suffolk | £2,351.47 | +4.8% |
| Rochford | £2,363.48 | +4.2% |
| Stevenage | £2,391.97 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Babergh drops from £1,821.21 to £1,365.90.
- Council Tax Reduction: Babergh runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Babergh's 4.9% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Council Tax Reduction in Babergh can cover the whole bill
Since 1 April 2023, working-age people in Babergh (and neighbouring Mid Suffolk, which shares its revenues service) can get up to 100% off their council tax, the same maximum as pensioners. Support is means-tested on household income and capital. You will not usually qualify with more than £16,000 in savings.
If you are on Universal Credit, Babergh uses your monthly net earnings to set a fixed weekly contribution, so small pay changes don't trigger a new bill each month:
- Non-dependant deductions follow the government's national rates. No deduction is made if you or your partner are registered blind or get Attendance Allowance, the care component of DLA, or PIP.
- Discretionary Financial Assistance is a limited, usually one-off payment for short-term hardship. Anyone who pays council tax can apply, whether or not they get Council Tax Reduction.
| Monthly net earnings (Universal Credit) | You pay each week | A year (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than £326 | Nothing | £0 |
| £326 to £685.99 | £12.46 | £648 |
| £686 to £1,305.99 | £23.54 | £1,224 |
| £1,306 to £2,076.99 | £33.46 | £1,740 |
| £2,077 to £2,668.99 | £49.85 | £2,592 |
| £2,669 to £2,999.99 | £65.31 | £3,396 |
| £3,000 or more | Full council tax | £2,081.38 at Band C |
Empty homes, second homes and payment dates
A home that becomes empty and unfurnished gets 25% off for 28 days, then the full charge. The discount goes with the property, not the owner. After one year empty (two years before April 2024) the bill doubles, then triples after five years and is four times the charge after ten. That means £8,325.51 a year on a Band C home. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, with no minimum period. The council's "Houses for Homes" empty homes team can help owners bring a property back into use.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd or 28th of the month. You can also pay once a year, in two half-yearly instalments, or in 10 or 12 monthly instalments. If two direct debit attempts fail, Babergh stops collecting and you must set it up again. Not reporting a change within 21 days can mean a £70 fine.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Babergh?
£2,341.55 a year in 2026/27, or £234.16 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Babergh?
Band B: 12,540 of 44,870 homes (28%). A Band B bill is £1,821.21 in 2026/27.
How much has Babergh council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,233.16 to £2,341.55 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Babergh?
District council £199.52; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,731.69; Police and crime commissioner £304.47; Parish/town council (average) £105.87 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
Can working-age people get 100% Council Tax Reduction in Babergh?
Yes. Since April 2023 the maximum for working-age claimants is 100%, depending on income and savings, with a £16,000 savings limit.
What direct debit dates does Babergh offer?
The 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd or 28th of the month.
Does Babergh charge extra on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 second homes pay a 100% premium, which doubles the bill, unless an exception applies.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Babergh District Council – Council Tax Reduction (low income) and 2026/27 income bands
- Babergh District Council – Exemptions, discounts and premiums
- Babergh District Council – Council Tax guide (payments and direct debit)