Central Bedfordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Central Bedfordshire is £2,516.16 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£122.02) on last year. That is £124.64 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 213th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (27%), so the average bill per home is about £2,502.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, East of England · Official England government statistics
Central Bedfordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,677.44 | £167.74 | £139.79 | £1,258.08 | 11,370 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,957.01 | £195.70 | £163.08 | £1,467.76 | 25,850 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,236.59 | £223.66 | £186.38 | £1,677.44 | 37,160 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,516.16 | £251.62 | £209.68 | £1,887.12 | 27,230 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,075.31 | £307.53 | £256.28 | £2,306.48 | 18,040 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,634.45 | £363.45 | £302.87 | £2,725.84 | 10,360 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,193.60 | £419.36 | £349.47 | £3,145.20 | 5,790 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,032.32 | £503.23 | £419.36 | £3,774.24 | 410 |
- Central Bedfordshire
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Central Bedfordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Central Bedfordshire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,516.16 Band D charge, £1,931.54 (77%) 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) | £1,894.75 | 75.3% | £1,684.22 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £36.79 | 1.5% | £32.70 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £297.59 | 11.8% | £264.52 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £122.72 | 4.9% | £109.08 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £164.31 | 6.5% | £146.05 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,895 75.3%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.8%
- Fire and rescue authority £123 4.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £164 6.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Central Bedfordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Central Bedfordshire council tax history
Band D in Central Bedfordshire has risen from £1,725.44 in 2016/17 to £2,516.16 in 2026/27 — 46% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 20.2%, the 291st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Central Bedfordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,516.16 | +5.1% | £2,236.59 |
| 2025/26 | £2,394.14 | +5.2% | £2,128.12 |
| 2024/25 | £2,275.55 | +4.9% | £2,022.71 |
| 2023/24 | £2,169.76 | +1.3% | £1,928.68 |
| 2022/23 | £2,142.09 | +2.3% | £1,904.08 |
| 2021/22 | £2,093.05 | +4.9% | £1,860.49 |
| 2020/21 | £1,996.19 | +3.9% | £1,774.39 |
| 2019/20 | £1,921.20 | +2.4% | £1,707.73 |
| 2018/19 | £1,876.22 | +4.5% | £1,667.75 |
| 2017/18 | £1,795.33 | +4.1% | £1,595.85 |
| 2016/17 | £1,725.44 | – | £1,533.72 |
Homes by council tax band in Central Bedfordshire
Central Bedfordshire has 136,210 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 27% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,236.59 a year (£223.66 a month over 10 instalments).
Central Bedfordshire compared with East of England
Central Bedfordshire is the 42nd cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£124.96 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Norfolk | £2,482.87 | +4.9% |
| East Cambridgeshire | £2,485.18 | +4.7% |
| Norwich | £2,503.44 | +4.7% |
| Central Bedfordshire | £2,516.16 | +5.1% |
| South Cambridgeshire | £2,536.25 | +5% |
| Fenland | £2,537.74 | +4.3% |
| Huntingdonshire | £2,556.40 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Central Bedfordshire drops from £2,236.59 to £1,677.44.
- Council Tax Reduction: Central Bedfordshire 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).
Central Bedfordshire'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 Support in Central Bedfordshire is capped at 75%
From April 2026 the most a working-age household can get from Central Bedfordshire's Council Tax Support scheme is 75% of the bill, after other discounts. Everyone of working age therefore pays at least a quarter. For a single person in a Band B flat (£1,957.01 at the area average), the single person discount comes off first. The 75% award then leaves about £366.94 to pay.
The scheme is banded. Weekly income is placed in one of four bands, giving 75%, 55%, 40% or 25% off, with separate limits for each household size. Your bill does not change while your income stays within the same band. Extra income disregards apply if anyone in the household gets specified disability benefits.
| Discount | Single person | Single + 1 child | Single + 2 children | Single + 3 or more children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 75% | £0–£126.48 | £0–£204.60 | £0–£285.21 | £0–£328.61 |
| 55% | £126.49–£173.61 | £204.61–£279.00 | £285.22–£353.42 | £328.62–£396.82 |
| 40% | £173.62–£248.01 | £279.01–£341.01 | £353.43–£415.43 | £396.83–£458.84 |
| 25% | £248.02–£310.02 | £341.02–£403.02 | £415.44–£477.43 | £458.85–£520.85 |
No grace period for empty homes, and a second homes premium from April 2026
Central Bedfordshire gives no automatic discount on empty homes, even if they are for sale or being repaired. The full charge applies from the first day. After a year empty and unfurnished the bill doubles, after 5 years it triples, and after 10 years it is four times the normal charge. From April 2026 a furnished second home pays a 100% premium from the day it becomes a second home. That is £5,032.32 at the average Band D rate.
You must apply online for the 12-month exceptions, such as a home actively marketed for sale or rent, or one undergoing major repairs. Other exceptions have no time limit, including job-related homes, armed forces homes, family annexes, unoccupied caravans and boats, and seasonal homes restricted by planning conditions.
Town and parish charges, and when you pay
Town and parish councils add an average of £164.31 to a Band D bill in Central Bedfordshire, and each sets its own amount, so your bill depends on your town or parish as well as your band. The most common band is Band C, with about 37,160 homes on the VOA list. Only about 410 are in Band H.
Standard instalments are due on the 5th of each month from April to January. Direct debit payers can switch to the 9th, 19th or last day of the month, pay over 12 months, or pay yearly or half-yearly. If you pay another way, you can choose weekly or fortnightly payments instead.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Central Bedfordshire?
£2,516.16 a year in 2026/27, or £251.62 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Central Bedfordshire?
Band C: 37,160 of 136,210 homes (27%). A Band C bill is £2,236.59 in 2026/27.
How much has Central Bedfordshire council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,394.14 to £2,516.16 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 46%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Central Bedfordshire?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,894.75; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36.79; Police and crime commissioner £297.59; Fire and rescue authority £122.72; Parish/town council (average) £164.31 (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 Support in Central Bedfordshire?
75% of the bill for working-age claimants from April 2026, after other discounts. Pension-age claimants are assessed under the national scheme.
Is there a discount if my Central Bedfordshire home is empty while I sell it?
No. There is no grace period. You pay the full charge from day one. You can apply for an exception so the premium does not apply for up to 12 months while the home is actively marketed.
What direct debit dates does Central Bedfordshire offer?
The 5th, 9th, 19th or the last day of the month. Payments due on a weekend or bank holiday are taken the next working day.
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)
- Central Bedfordshire Council – Council Tax Support (2026 income bands)
- Central Bedfordshire Council – Council Tax on empty homes
- Central Bedfordshire Council – Council Tax instalment options
- Central Bedfordshire Council – Council Tax Direct Debit
- Central Bedfordshire Council – Council Tax bands and charges 2026-27