Bradford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bradford is £2,360.73 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£114.58) on last year. That is £30.79 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 95th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (41%), so the average bill per home is about £1,968.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, Yorkshire and The Humber · Official England government statistics
Bradford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,573.82 | £157.38 | £131.15 | £1,180.37 | 92,940 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,836.12 | £183.61 | £153.01 | £1,377.09 | 47,150 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,098.43 | £209.84 | £174.87 | £1,573.82 | 42,010 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,360.73 | £236.07 | £196.73 | £1,770.55 | 19,180 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,885.34 | £288.53 | £240.44 | £2,164.00 | 13,460 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,409.94 | £340.99 | £284.16 | £2,557.46 | 6,310 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,934.55 | £393.46 | £327.88 | £2,950.91 | 3,840 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,721.46 | £472.15 | £393.46 | £3,541.10 | 330 |
- Bradford
- England average
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Where your Bradford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Bradford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,360.73 Band D charge, £1,965.28 (83%) 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 A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,927.84 | 81.7% | £1,285.23 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.44 | 1.6% | £24.96 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £278.28 | 11.8% | £185.52 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £89.49 | 3.8% | £59.66 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £27.68 | 1.2% | £18.45 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,928 81.7%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £278 11.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £89 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £28 1.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Bradford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Bradford council tax history
Band D in Bradford has risen from £1,414.28 in 2016/17 to £2,360.73 in 2026/27 — 67% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 31.4%, the 8th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Bradford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,360.73 | +5.1% | £1,573.82 |
| 2025/26 | £2,246.15 | +9.3% | £1,497.43 |
| 2024/25 | £2,055.35 | +5.1% | £1,370.23 |
| 2023/24 | £1,955.79 | +5.3% | £1,303.86 |
| 2022/23 | £1,857.47 | +3.4% | £1,238.31 |
| 2021/22 | £1,796.19 | +5.2% | £1,197.46 |
| 2020/21 | £1,707.63 | +4.1% | £1,138.42 |
| 2019/20 | £1,640.11 | +4.3% | £1,093.41 |
| 2018/19 | £1,572.92 | +6.1% | £1,048.61 |
| 2017/18 | £1,482.27 | +4.8% | £988.18 |
| 2016/17 | £1,414.28 | – | £942.85 |
Homes by council tax band in Bradford
Bradford has 225,220 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 62% 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 £1,573.82 a year (£157.38 a month over 10 instalments).
Bradford compared with Yorkshire and The Humber
Bradford is the 8th cheapest of 15 councils in Yorkshire and The Humber, where the average Band D across councils is £2,374.19 (£13.46 more than here). Cheapest: Doncaster (£2,167.75); most expensive: North Yorkshire (£2,544.34).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wakefield | £2,296.89 | +5.1% |
| Barnsley | £2,325.96 | +3.8% |
| North Lincolnshire | £2,348.46 | +4.9% |
| Bradford | £2,360.73 | +5.1% |
| Rotherham | £2,381.53 | +4.3% |
| Calderdale | £2,420.15 | +5.1% |
| Kirklees | £2,441.07 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Bradford drops from £1,573.82 to £1,180.37.
- Council Tax Reduction: Bradford 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).
Bradford'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.
Council Tax Reduction in Bradford is capped at a Band A bill
Bradford's working-age Council Tax Reduction can be no more than 72.5% of a Band A charge, whatever band your home is in. That makes the minimum payment much higher in bigger homes. The council says you will "usually need to pay at least 27.5%" of your own bill.
Worked example: in 2026/27 the most a working-age claimant can get is £1,141.02, which is 72.5% of the £1,573.82 Band A charge. A Band A household therefore pays at least £432.80. A Band C household pays at least £957.41, about 46% of its bill. Pension-age claimants can get up to 100%.
Bradford Council raised its own share by 4.99% for 2026/27. Parish, West Yorkshire Police and West Yorkshire Fire precepts are added on top, so the "overall change" on your bill will differ.
Empty, second and holiday homes in Bradford
Most empty homes get no discount. A home that is vacant (unoccupied and substantially unfurnished) pays 200% after one year (since April 2024), 300% after five years (since April 2020) and 400% after ten (since April 2021). The clock does not reset when the home is sold. Second and holiday homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, so £4,721.46 at Band D.
If an empty home needs major structural work, Bradford gives 100% off for one month from the start of the works. After that, the full charge applies but with no premium for up to another 11 months. Kitchen and bathroom refits, rewiring, plastering and modernisation do not qualify. Photos alone are not enough evidence; you need surveyors' reports or builders' estimates.
Care leavers and direct debit dates
Care leavers supported by Bradford Council can be exempt until the end of the financial year in which they turn 25, if everyone in the home is a Bradford care leaver. If all but one person is, a discount applies instead. Your Through Care key worker applies for you. Direct debit payers can choose the 5th, 10th, 15th, 25th or 28th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Bradford?
£2,360.73 a year in 2026/27, or £236.07 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Bradford?
Band A: 92,940 of 225,220 homes (41%). A Band A bill is £1,573.82 in 2026/27.
How much has Bradford council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,246.15 to £2,360.73 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 67%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Bradford?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,927.84; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.44; Police and crime commissioner £278.28; Fire and rescue authority £89.49; Parish/town council (average) £27.68 (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 maximum Council Tax Reduction in Bradford?
72.5% of a Band A charge for working-age claimants, which is £1,141.02 in 2026/27. People in higher bands pay the rest of their bill.
Does Bradford charge more for holiday homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 furnished homes with no permanent resident, including holiday homes, pay a 100% premium.
What direct debit dates does Bradford offer?
The 5th, 10th, 15th, 25th or 28th of the month.
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)
- Bradford Council – Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction
- Bradford Council – Council Tax bills (increase for 2026-27)
- Bradford Council – Empty properties and second or holiday homes
- Bradford Council – Care leavers Council Tax exemption
- Bradford Council – Pay your Council Tax