Castle Point Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Castle Point is £2,318.63 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£91.42) on last year. That is £72.89 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 67th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (35%), so the average bill per home is about £2,223.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Castle Point council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,545.75 | £154.58 | £128.81 | £1,159.32 | 3,280 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,803.38 | £180.34 | £150.28 | £1,352.53 | 6,430 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,061.00 | £206.10 | £171.75 | £1,545.75 | 13,890 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,318.63 | £231.86 | £193.22 | £1,738.97 | 8,730 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,833.88 | £283.39 | £236.16 | £2,125.41 | 4,490 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,349.13 | £334.91 | £279.09 | £2,511.85 | 1,930 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,864.38 | £386.44 | £322.03 | £2,898.29 | 770 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,637.26 | £463.73 | £386.44 | £3,477.95 | 70 |
- Castle Point
- England average
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Where your Castle Point council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Castle Point but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,318.63 Band D charge, £298.80 (13%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £298.80 | 12.9% | £265.60 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,641.96 | 70.8% | £1,459.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £275.31 | 11.9% | £244.72 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.52 | 4.0% | £82.24 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £10.04 | 0.4% | £8.92 |
- District council £299 12.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,642 70.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £275 11.9%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £10 0.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Castle Point; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Castle Point council tax history
Band D in Castle Point has risen from £1,596.53 in 2016/17 to £2,318.63 in 2026/27 — 45% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.0%, the 283rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Castle Point Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,318.63 | +4.1% | £2,061.00 |
| 2025/26 | £2,227.21 | +4.0% | £1,979.74 |
| 2024/25 | £2,142.54 | +4.3% | £1,904.48 |
| 2023/24 | £2,054.48 | +3.9% | £1,826.20 |
| 2022/23 | £1,977.10 | +4.1% | £1,757.42 |
| 2021/22 | £1,899.85 | +1.9% | £1,688.76 |
| 2020/21 | £1,864.92 | +3.5% | £1,657.71 |
| 2019/20 | £1,801.83 | +4.8% | £1,601.63 |
| 2018/19 | £1,719.68 | +4.8% | £1,528.60 |
| 2017/18 | £1,641.12 | +2.8% | £1,458.77 |
| 2016/17 | £1,596.53 | – | £1,419.14 |
Homes by council tax band in Castle Point
Castle Point has 39,590 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 25% 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 £2,061.00 a year (£206.10 a month over 10 instalments).
Castle Point compared with East of England
Castle Point is the 13th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£72.57 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | £2,300.18 | +4.2% |
| Broxbourne | £2,306.43 | +4.9% |
| Mid Suffolk | £2,316.88 | +4.9% |
| Castle Point | £2,318.63 | +4.1% |
| Basildon | £2,327.24 | +3.7% |
| Maldon | £2,328.37 | +4.3% |
| Uttlesford | £2,333.82 | +4.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Castle Point drops from £2,061.00 to £1,545.75.
- Council Tax Reduction: Castle Point 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).
Castle Point's 4.1% 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.
Empty homes in Castle Point: full charge from day one, premium after a year
Castle Point Borough Council gives no discount on an empty home. You pay 100% of the council tax from the day it becomes empty unless one of the national exemptions applies. These include a home left empty by someone who has moved into care, a home awaiting probate (and up to six months after probate is granted), and a home left empty by someone who has moved to care for another person.
From 1 April 2026 the long-term empty premium starts after one year empty. The bill doubles after 1 year, triples after 5 years and is four times the normal charge after 10 years. For an average Band C home (£2,061.00 in 2026/27) that means £4,122.01 a year once it has been empty for 12 months.
You can ask for an exception by emailing the council tax team with your account reference and evidence. Exceptions cover homes actively marketed for sale or rent (up to 12 months), homes within 12 months of probate, homes undergoing major repairs (up to 12 months), annexes used as part of the main home, and homes left empty by people living in armed forces accommodation.
Help beyond Council Tax Reduction
If you already get Council Tax Reduction and still cannot pay, Castle Point has an Exceptional Hardship Fund. You must show evidence of what is affecting your ability to pay. The online form is shared with Discretionary Housing Payments, and the council assesses you only for the help that fits your situation.
Castle Point's own share of the Band D bill is £298.80, about 13p in every pound. Essex County Council's £1,641.96 is by far the largest part. Direct debit gives you a choice of payment dates. You can also pay online, through the automated phone line, or by bank transfer quoting your council tax reference.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Castle Point?
£2,318.63 a year in 2026/27, or £231.86 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Castle Point?
Band C: 13,890 of 39,590 homes (35%). A Band C bill is £2,061.00 in 2026/27.
How much has Castle Point council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,227.21 to £2,318.63 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 45%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Castle Point?
District council £298.80; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,641.96; Police and crime commissioner £275.31; Fire and rescue authority £92.52; Parish/town council (average) £10.04 (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.
Is there a discount on empty homes in Castle Point?
No. Empty homes pay 100% from the first day unless an exemption applies. After one year empty, a 100% premium is added, rising to 200% after 5 years and 300% after 10 years.
What is the Exceptional Hardship Fund in Castle Point?
Extra help with council tax for people who already get Council Tax Reduction and can show evidence of hardship or circumstances that stop them paying. You apply through an online form that also covers Discretionary Housing Payments.
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)
- Castle Point Borough Council – Empty Homes Premium
- Castle Point Borough Council – Empty Property Exemptions
- Castle Point Borough Council – Exceptional Hardship Fund
- Castle Point Borough Council – How to pay your Council Tax