Bolton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bolton is £2,399.74 for 2026/27, up 5.9% (£133.21) on last year. That is £8.22 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 116th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (51%), so the average bill per home is about £1,931.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, North West · Official England government statistics
Bolton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,599.83 | £159.98 | £133.32 | £1,199.87 | 66,090 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,866.46 | £186.65 | £155.54 | £1,399.85 | 23,090 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,133.10 | £213.31 | £177.76 | £1,599.83 | 19,130 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,399.74 | £239.97 | £199.98 | £1,799.80 | 11,100 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,933.02 | £293.30 | £244.42 | £2,199.76 | 5,930 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,466.29 | £346.63 | £288.86 | £2,599.72 | 2,390 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,999.57 | £399.96 | £333.30 | £2,999.68 | 1,950 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,799.48 | £479.95 | £399.96 | £3,599.61 | 250 |
- Bolton
- England average
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Where your Bolton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bolton but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,399.74 Band D charge, £1,953.08 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,915.88 | 79.8% | £1,277.25 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.20 | 1.6% | £24.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.30 | 11.9% | £190.20 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £153.95 | 6.4% | £102.63 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £7.41 | 0.3% | £4.94 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,916 79.8%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.9%
- Mayoral combined authority £154 6.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £7 0.3%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Bolton; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Bolton council tax history
Band D in Bolton has risen from £1,542.52 in 2016/17 to £2,399.74 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.1%, the 60th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Bolton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,399.74 | +5.9% | £1,599.83 |
| 2025/26 | £2,266.53 | +5.5% | £1,511.02 |
| 2024/25 | £2,147.47 | +5.0% | £1,431.65 |
| 2023/24 | £2,044.63 | +4.3% | £1,363.09 |
| 2022/23 | £1,959.66 | +3.8% | £1,306.44 |
| 2021/22 | £1,888.62 | +3.7% | £1,259.08 |
| 2020/21 | £1,820.96 | +3.1% | £1,213.97 |
| 2019/20 | £1,767.03 | +3.9% | £1,178.02 |
| 2018/19 | £1,701.24 | +5.5% | £1,134.16 |
| 2017/18 | £1,612.15 | +4.5% | £1,074.77 |
| 2016/17 | £1,542.52 | – | £1,028.35 |
Homes by council tax band in Bolton
Bolton has 129,930 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 69% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,599.83 a year (£159.98 a month over 10 instalments).
Bolton compared with North West
Bolton is the 6th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£83.48 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Manchester | £2,312.04 | +5.9% |
| Halton | £2,366.61 | +5.2% |
| Ribble Valley | £2,386.50 | +3.8% |
| Bolton | £2,399.74 | +5.9% |
| St Helens | £2,403.38 | +5% |
| Chorley | £2,430.23 | +3.7% |
| South Ribble | £2,442.66 | +3.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Bolton drops from £1,599.83 to £1,199.87.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bolton 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).
Bolton's 5.9% 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.
Why Bolton bills rose 5.88%
Bolton Council raised its own basic council tax by 4.99%, made up of 2.99% general and 2% adult social care. The Greater Manchester Mayor's precepts for police, fire and mayoral services are added on top. Bolton says these take the overall increase to 5.88%. People in Blackrod, Horwich and Westhoughton also pay a town council charge, so Band D in 2026/27 is £2,392.33 in the rest of the borough, £2,414.48 in Westhoughton, £2,432.81 in Horwich and £2,433.52 in Blackrod.
Bolton's Council Tax Support rules
Every working-age claimant in Bolton pays at least 17.5% of the bill, and you cannot claim with £3,000 or more in capital. Pension credit age claimants can have up to £16,000. On a Band A bill of £1,599.83, the most common band in Bolton (66,090 homes), the minimum is £279.97 a year.
Claims start from the Monday after Bolton receives your form and cannot be backdated, so claim as soon as your income drops.
Care leavers, annexes and empty homes
- Care leavers aged 18 to 24 get a 100% local discount, which lasts until their 25th birthday and is applied after Council Tax Support and other discounts. This includes care leavers living with a partner or sharing with a friend as joint tenants. It does not apply if they stay on with their foster carers after 18. Bolton has reciprocal agreements with some neighbouring councils' leaving care teams.
- An annexe used by the main occupier or a non-dependent family member gets 50% off. An annexe lived in by a dependent relative gets 100% off.
- Empty and unfurnished homes pay the full charge for the first year, then 200%, then 300% after five years and 400% after ten. A Band A home empty for five years costs £4,799.48.
- Second homes and furnished homes with no resident pay a 100% premium, which doubles the bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bolton?
£2,399.74 a year in 2026/27, or £239.97 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bolton?
Band A: 66,090 of 129,930 homes (51%). A Band A bill is £1,599.83 in 2026/27.
How much has Bolton council tax gone up?
5.9% this year, from £2,266.53 to £2,399.74 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bolton?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,915.88; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.20; Police and crime commissioner £285.30; Mayoral combined authority £153.95; Parish/town council (average) £7.41 (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 Bolton?
Working-age claimants must have less than £3,000 in capital. Pension credit age claimants can have up to £16,000.
How much of my bill do I pay on Council Tax Support in Bolton?
At least 17.5% if you are working age. Pension credit age claimants can get the whole bill covered.
Can Bolton Council Tax Support be backdated?
No. Awards start the Monday after the council receives your claim.
Why did Bolton council tax go up by more than 4.99%?
Bolton's own share rose 4.99%. The Greater Manchester Mayor's precepts take the overall increase to 5.88%.
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)
- Bolton Council – Council tax bands and charges 2026/27
- Bolton Council – Council tax support
- Bolton Council – Council tax support: when your claim starts
- Bolton Council – Care leavers local discount
- Bolton Council – Charges for unoccupied and unfurnished properties
- Bolton Council – Charges for second homes
- Bolton Council – Annexes