Boston Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Boston is £2,308.73 for 2026/27, up 3.2% (£72.11) on last year. That is £82.79 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 62nd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (48%), so the average bill per home is about £1,806.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
Boston council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,539.15 | £153.92 | £128.26 | £1,154.36 | 15,720 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,795.68 | £179.57 | £149.64 | £1,346.76 | 6,750 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,052.20 | £205.22 | £171.02 | £1,539.15 | 6,300 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,308.73 | £230.87 | £192.39 | £1,731.55 | 2,430 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,821.78 | £282.18 | £235.15 | £2,116.34 | 890 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,334.83 | £333.48 | £277.90 | £2,501.12 | 240 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,847.88 | £384.79 | £320.66 | £2,885.91 | 80 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,617.46 | £461.75 | £384.79 | £3,463.10 | 20 |
- Boston
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Boston council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Boston but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,308.73 Band D charge, £269.37 (12%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £269.37 | 11.7% | £179.58 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,673.01 | 72.5% | £1,115.34 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £333.09 | 14.4% | £222.06 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £33.26 | 1.4% | £22.17 |
- District council £269 11.7%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,673 72.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £333 14.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £33 1.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Boston; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Boston council tax history
Band D in Boston has risen from £1,529.03 in 2016/17 to £2,308.73 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.2%, the 280th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Boston Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,308.73 | +3.2% | £1,539.15 |
| 2025/26 | £2,236.62 | +3.3% | £1,491.08 |
| 2024/25 | £2,165.35 | +4.7% | £1,443.57 |
| 2023/24 | £2,067.74 | +4.8% | £1,378.49 |
| 2022/23 | £1,973.29 | +4.5% | £1,315.53 |
| 2021/22 | £1,888.73 | +2.5% | £1,259.15 |
| 2020/21 | £1,842.00 | +3.5% | £1,228.00 |
| 2019/20 | £1,779.55 | +5.2% | £1,186.37 |
| 2018/19 | £1,690.88 | +5.0% | £1,127.25 |
| 2017/18 | £1,610.23 | +5.3% | £1,073.49 |
| 2016/17 | £1,529.03 | – | £1,019.35 |
Homes by council tax band in Boston
Boston has 32,430 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 £1,539.15 a year (£153.92 a month over 10 instalments).
Boston compared with East Midlands
Boston is the 5th cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£148.68 more than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Lindsey | £2,275.88 | +3.4% |
| South Holland | £2,278.20 | +3.3% |
| Derby | £2,306.00 | +5% |
| Boston | £2,308.73 | +3.2% |
| Lincoln | £2,323.08 | +2.7% |
| North Kesteven | £2,337.81 | +3.4% |
| Chesterfield | £2,339.49 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Boston drops from £1,539.15 to £1,154.36.
- Council Tax Reduction: Boston 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).
Boston's 3.2% 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.
Boston's premiums: second homes from 2025, empty homes after two years
Boston Borough Council approved a 100% second homes premium on 4 March 2024, and it has applied since 1 April 2025. A furnished home that is nobody's main home therefore pays £4,617.46 at Band D, or £3,078.31 at Band A. For unfurnished homes, Boston still starts the long-term empty premium after two years, not one: 200% after two years, 300% after five and 400% after ten.
A home that becomes empty and unfurnished gets 100% off for up to one month, and the month does not restart when the home is sold. Homes empty for less than two years that need major repairs or structural work can get 25% off for up to 12 months. Boston says there is no extra allowance for a home that is up for sale, although the national 12-month exception from the premium applies.
Council Tax Support and where your money goes
For claims made since 1 April 2025, you cannot get Council Tax Support with £10,000 or more in savings (unless you get Pension Credit). Claims made before then used the old £16,000 limit. If you claim Universal Credit, you can simply confirm on that claim that you want a council tax discount, and Boston will assess you from the UC data without a separate form. Young people leaving care can get help with council tax up to their 25th birthday.
Boston collects council tax from more than 32,000 households but keeps just over 10% of each bill. Most goes to Lincolnshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, with parish councils and drainage board levies set separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Boston?
£2,308.73 a year in 2026/27, or £230.87 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Boston?
Band A: 15,720 of 32,430 homes (48%). A Band A bill is £1,539.15 in 2026/27.
How much has Boston council tax gone up?
3.2% this year, from £2,236.62 to £2,308.73 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Boston?
District council £269.37; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,673.01; Police and crime commissioner £333.09; Parish/town council (average) £33.26 (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.
When does the empty homes premium start in Boston?
After a home has been empty and unfurnished for two years. It then pays 200%, rising to 300% after five years and 400% after ten.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Support in Boston?
£10,000 for claims made from 1 April 2025, unless you get Pension Credit. Earlier claims used £16,000.
How much of my Boston council tax does the borough council keep?
Just over 10%. The rest goes mainly to Lincolnshire County Council and the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner.
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)
- Boston Borough Council – Council Tax additional charges (premiums)
- Boston Borough Council – Unfurnished properties
- Boston Borough Council – Council Tax Support
- Boston Borough Council – How is my Council Tax spent?