Buckinghamshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Buckinghamshire is £2,526.58 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£125.05) on last year. That is £135.06 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 220th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,887.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South East · Official England government statistics
Buckinghamshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,684.39 | £168.44 | £140.37 | £1,263.29 | 6,980 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,965.12 | £196.51 | £163.76 | £1,473.84 | 26,570 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,245.85 | £224.58 | £187.15 | £1,684.39 | 54,790 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,526.58 | £252.66 | £210.55 | £1,894.94 | 47,480 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,088.04 | £308.80 | £257.34 | £2,316.03 | 37,030 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,649.50 | £364.95 | £304.13 | £2,737.13 | 29,340 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,210.97 | £421.10 | £350.91 | £3,158.23 | 31,670 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,053.16 | £505.32 | £421.10 | £3,789.87 | 6,190 |
- Buckinghamshire
- England average
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Where your Buckinghamshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Buckinghamshire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,526.58 Band D charge, £2,037.50 (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) | £1,998.82 | 79.1% | £1,776.73 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £38.68 | 1.5% | £34.38 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.8% | £265.14 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £89.46 | 3.5% | £79.52 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £101.34 | 4.0% | £90.08 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,999 79.1%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £39 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £89 3.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £101 4.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Buckinghamshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Buckinghamshire council tax history
Band D in Buckinghamshire has risen from £1,902.84 in 2020/21 to £2,526.58 in 2026/27 — 33% in 6 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.5%, the 54th biggest increase of 296 councils in England. Buckinghamshire was created in 2020, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- Buckinghamshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,526.58 | +5.2% | £2,245.85 |
| 2025/26 | £2,401.53 | +5.0% | £2,134.69 |
| 2024/25 | £2,286.13 | +5.0% | £2,032.12 |
| 2023/24 | £2,176.85 | +5.2% | £1,934.98 |
| 2022/23 | £2,068.31 | +4.3% | £1,838.50 |
| 2021/22 | £1,982.36 | +4.2% | £1,762.10 |
| 2020/21 | £1,902.84 | – | £1,691.41 |
Homes by council tax band in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire has 240,050 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 14% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is C, which costs £2,245.85 a year (£224.58 a month over 10 instalments).
Buckinghamshire compared with South East
Buckinghamshire is the 41st cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£51.13 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mole Valley | £2,519.86 | +4.7% |
| Sevenoaks | £2,522.36 | +4.3% |
| Spelthorne | £2,526.44 | +4.7% |
| Buckinghamshire | £2,526.58 | +5.2% |
| Epsom and Ewell | £2,530.84 | +4.7% |
| Folkestone and Hythe | £2,538.75 | +4.2% |
| Guildford | £2,547.30 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Buckinghamshire drops from £2,245.85 to £1,684.39.
- Council Tax Reduction: Buckinghamshire 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).
Buckinghamshire's 5.2% 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.
Buckinghamshire's new banded Council Tax Reduction scheme
From 1 April 2026 Buckinghamshire Council replaced its means-tested Council Tax Reduction for working-age residents with an income-banded scheme. Your weekly net income is compared with a table for your household type, and you get a fixed discount of 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% or nothing. The council says the aim is to keep support steady from month to month rather than recalculating it after every small change in pay. The lowest-income households can still get the whole bill covered.
If you or your partner get income-related ESA, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Income Support, you go straight into the 100% band. You cannot claim with savings of £6,000 or more if you are working age, or £16,000 or more at pension age (unless you get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit). Pension-age claimants are still assessed under the national scheme. You apply online, and the claim is refused if you do not send evidence within 21 days.
Example: a couple with one child on £300 a week net income falls in the 50% band. On a Band C home at the area average of £2,245.85, that cuts the bill to about £1,122.92.
| Household (weekly net income) | 100% | 75% | 50% | 25% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | £0–£125 | £125.01–£175 | £175.01–£225 | £225.01–£275 |
| Single, 1 child | £0–£225 | £225.01–£275 | £275.01–£325 | £325.01–£375 |
| Single, 2+ children | £0–£300 | £300.01–£350 | £350.01–£400 | £400.01–£450 |
| Couple, no children | £0–£175 | £175.01–£225 | £225.01–£275 | £275.01–£325 |
| Couple, 1 child | £0–£275 | £275.01–£325 | £325.01–£375 | £375.01–£425 |
| Couple, 2+ children | £0–£350 | £350.01–£400 | £400.01–£450 | £450.01–£500 |
How Buckinghamshire set its 2026/27 increase
Buckinghamshire Council raised its own charge by 4.99%: 2.99% for general costs and services, and 2% ring-fenced for adult social care. Bills round this to 5.0%. The council notes this is within the referendum limit for councils with social-care duties, so no special government permission was needed. The council's share of an average Band D bill is £2,037.50. The rest goes to Thames Valley Police, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority and the parish or town council.
Buckinghamshire is a single unitary council, so the parish or town council precept is the main reason two homes in the same band pay different amounts. The council publishes a full list of charges by parish for each year.
Empty homes, second homes and instalments
- Buckinghamshire stopped giving a 10% discount on second homes from 1 April 2023, so they pay the full charge. Its 2025/26 premiums policy said the new second homes premium would not be charged that year. A 50% discount remains for job-related second homes, such as a caretaker's or publican's tied accommodation.
- From 1 April 2024 the council removed both the one-month 100% discount on empty, unfurnished homes and the 50% discount on homes needing structural repair. Empty homes pay the full charge from the first day.
- Long-term empty homes have paid a premium since 1 April 2025: 200% after 1 year (before then it started at 2 years), 300% after 5 years and 400% after 10 years. The premium follows the property, so a buyer inherits the clock.
- Care leavers who grew up in Buckinghamshire's care and have their own tenancy have their council tax paid until age 21. You apply for Council Tax Reduction first, then for the care leaver discount.
- Bills are normally spread over 10 monthly instalments. You can ask for 12 (April to March), and if you are up to date the council can spread what is left of the year to 1 March.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Buckinghamshire?
£2,526.58 a year in 2026/27, or £252.66 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Buckinghamshire?
Band C: 54,790 of 240,050 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,245.85 in 2026/27.
How much has Buckinghamshire council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,401.53 to £2,526.58 at Band D. Since 2020/21 it has risen 33%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Buckinghamshire?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,998.82; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38.68; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Fire and rescue authority £89.46; Parish/town council (average) £101.34 (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.
How much Council Tax Reduction can I get in Buckinghamshire?
Working-age claimants get 100%, 75%, 50%, 25% or 0% off, depending on weekly net income and household type. For example, a single person with no children and under £125 a week gets 100%. Pension-age claimants can also get up to 100% under the national scheme.
Is there a second home discount in Buckinghamshire?
No. The 10% second home discount ended on 1 April 2023. Only job-related second homes still get a 50% discount.
Do empty homes get any discount in Buckinghamshire?
No. Since 1 April 2024 an empty, unfurnished home pays the full charge from day one, and the premium starts after a year empty.
Did Buckinghamshire need government permission for its 2026/27 rise?
No. Its 4.99% rise (2.99% core plus 2% adult social care) is within the referendum limit for social-care authorities.
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)
- Buckinghamshire Council – Council Tax bands and charges (2026/27 increase)
- Buckinghamshire Council – Apply for Council Tax Reduction (income bands from April 2026)
- Buckinghamshire Council – Council Tax for long-term empty properties
- Buckinghamshire Council – Empty property discounts and exemptions
- Buckinghamshire Council – Second home council tax discount
- Buckinghamshire Council – Council Tax Discounts and Premiums Policy 2025-26 (PDF)
- Buckinghamshire Council – Care leaver council tax discount
- Buckinghamshire Council – Get help paying your Council Tax (12 instalments)