Bedford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bedford is £2,471.74 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£120.80) on last year. That is £80.22 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 179th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,381.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, East of England · Official England government statistics
Bedford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,647.83 | £164.78 | £137.32 | £1,235.87 | 10,820 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,922.46 | £192.25 | £160.21 | £1,441.85 | 19,160 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,197.10 | £219.71 | £183.09 | £1,647.83 | 20,360 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,471.74 | £247.17 | £205.98 | £1,853.80 | 12,690 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,021.02 | £302.10 | £251.75 | £2,265.76 | 9,090 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,570.29 | £357.03 | £297.52 | £2,677.72 | 5,920 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,119.57 | £411.96 | £343.30 | £3,089.68 | 3,320 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,943.48 | £494.35 | £411.96 | £3,707.61 | 250 |
- Bedford
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Bedford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bedford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,471.74 Band D charge, £2,011.28 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,972.97 | 79.8% | £1,753.75 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £38.31 | 1.5% | £34.05 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £297.59 | 12.0% | £264.52 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £122.72 | 5.0% | £109.08 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £40.15 | 1.6% | £35.69 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,973 79.8%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £123 5.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £40 1.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Bedford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Bedford council tax history
Band D in Bedford has risen from £1,634.44 in 2016/17 to £2,471.74 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.5%, the 171st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Bedford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,471.74 | +5.1% | £2,197.10 |
| 2025/26 | £2,350.94 | +5.1% | £2,089.72 |
| 2024/25 | £2,237.26 | +4.9% | £1,988.68 |
| 2023/24 | £2,132.39 | +3.4% | £1,895.46 |
| 2022/23 | £2,062.73 | +3.9% | £1,833.54 |
| 2021/22 | £1,985.33 | +4.0% | £1,764.74 |
| 2020/21 | £1,908.16 | +3.9% | £1,696.14 |
| 2019/20 | £1,837.04 | +3.6% | £1,632.92 |
| 2018/19 | £1,772.80 | +4.0% | £1,575.82 |
| 2017/18 | £1,704.11 | +4.3% | £1,514.76 |
| 2016/17 | £1,634.44 | – | £1,452.84 |
Homes by council tax band in Bedford
Bedford has 81,610 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 37% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,197.10 a year (£219.71 a month over 10 instalments).
Bedford compared with East of England
Bedford is the 38th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£80.54 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | +5.1% |
| Cambridge | £2,467.02 | +4.7% |
| Ipswich | £2,468.25 | +4.7% |
| Bedford | £2,471.74 | +5.1% |
| South Norfolk | £2,482.87 | +4.9% |
| East Cambridgeshire | £2,485.18 | +4.7% |
| Norwich | £2,503.44 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Bedford drops from £2,197.10 to £1,647.83.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bedford 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).
Bedford's 5.1% 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.
How Bedford Borough set the 2026/27 bill
Bedford Borough Council set its 2026/27 council tax at full council on 25 February 2026. It raised its own share by 4.99%: 2.99% general plus 2% for adult social care, just under the 5% referendum limit. The adult social care charge built up since 2016/17 now makes up £343.04 of a Band D bill. The council's figure for the average Band D bill, including police, fire and parishes, is £2,471.74, up from £2,350.94.
Your exact bill depends on where you live. Bedford adds "special area charges" for community centres and parks in the areas that use them, and town and parish councils add an average of £40.15 at Band D (up 4.44%). The budget included £18.319 million of additional investment to meet demand pressures, which the council says are greatest in children's services, housing and adult social care. Its budget table also shows £25.0 million of Exceptional Financial Support set against the 2026/27 net budget of £228.0 million.
| Area (special charges) | Borough Band D before parish, 2026/27 | Change on 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Bedford | £2,027.35 | +4.5% |
| Kempston | £2,010.54 | +4.7% |
| Brickhill | £2,015.18 | +4.8% |
| Rural areas | £1,999.21 | +5.5% |
No empty-home discount, and premiums after one year
Bedford gives no discount when a home first becomes empty, or while it is being repaired, even if it is uninhabitable. From 1 April 2025 a home empty and unfurnished for one year pays a 100% premium (it used to be two years). The premium goes to 200% after five years and 300% after ten. A Band B home, Bedford's most common band with 19,160 homes, empty for six years would pay £5,767.39 instead of £1,922.46.
Furnished second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025. On top of the national exceptions, Bedford won't charge the premium while the owner lacks mental capacity and has nobody appointed to manage their affairs, or for six months after someone is appointed. No premium is charged for any period covered by a discretionary (section 13A) reduction.
Council Tax Support and payment dates
Bedford says Council Tax Support can reduce a bill by up to 100%, depending on circumstances, but its working-age rules are strict. You get nothing if you have more than £8,000 in savings, or if any other adult in the home (not your partner) earns more than £350 a week. Pension-age claimants follow national rules, with a £16,000 savings limit.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 7th, 15th or 25th, over 10 or 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bedford?
£2,471.74 a year in 2026/27, or £247.17 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bedford?
Band C: 20,360 of 81,610 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,197.10 in 2026/27.
How much has Bedford council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,350.94 to £2,471.74 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bedford?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,972.97; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38.31; Police and crime commissioner £297.59; Fire and rescue authority £122.72; Parish/town council (average) £40.15 (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.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Support in Bedford?
£8,000 for working-age claimants and £16,000 for pension-age claimants.
Is there a discount for an empty home in Bedford?
No. Full council tax is charged from the day a home is empty, including during repairs. A 100% premium is added after one year.
Why is my Bedford bill different from my neighbour's in another parish?
Because of parish precepts (an average of £40.15 at Band D) and special area charges for local community centres and parks. Before parish charges, the borough's Band D ranges from £1,999.21 in rural areas to £2,027.35 in Bedford town.
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)
- Bedford Borough Council – Your Council Tax 2026/2027
- Bedford Borough Council – Empty properties and Council Tax
- Bedford Borough Council – Apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- Bedford Borough Council – How to pay your Council Tax