Chelmsford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Chelmsford is £2,300.18 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£93.21) on last year. That is £91.34 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 56th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (29%), so the average bill per home is about £2,363.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Chelmsford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,533.45 | £153.35 | £127.79 | £1,150.09 | 5,210 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,789.03 | £178.90 | £149.09 | £1,341.77 | 10,990 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,044.60 | £204.46 | £170.38 | £1,533.45 | 24,100 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,300.18 | £230.02 | £191.68 | £1,725.13 | 18,710 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,811.33 | £281.13 | £234.28 | £2,108.50 | 11,650 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,322.48 | £332.25 | £276.87 | £2,491.86 | 6,690 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,833.63 | £383.36 | £319.47 | £2,875.23 | 4,640 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,600.36 | £460.04 | £383.36 | £3,450.27 | 460 |
- Chelmsford
- England average
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Where your Chelmsford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Chelmsford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,300.18 Band D charge, £234.85 (10%) 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 | £234.85 | 10.2% | £208.76 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,641.96 | 71.4% | £1,459.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £275.31 | 12.0% | £244.72 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.52 | 4.0% | £82.24 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £55.54 | 2.4% | £49.37 |
- District council £235 10.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,642 71.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £275 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £56 2.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Chelmsford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Chelmsford council tax history
Band D in Chelmsford has risen from £1,563.07 in 2016/17 to £2,300.18 in 2026/27 — 47% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.2%, the 249th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Chelmsford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,300.18 | +4.2% | £2,044.60 |
| 2025/26 | £2,206.97 | +4.0% | £1,961.75 |
| 2024/25 | £2,122.14 | +4.8% | £1,886.35 |
| 2023/24 | £2,024.84 | +4.1% | £1,799.86 |
| 2022/23 | £1,945.76 | +4.2% | £1,729.56 |
| 2021/22 | £1,867.21 | +2.0% | £1,659.74 |
| 2020/21 | £1,831.19 | +3.6% | £1,627.72 |
| 2019/20 | £1,767.96 | +4.7% | £1,571.52 |
| 2018/19 | £1,687.81 | +4.8% | £1,500.28 |
| 2017/18 | £1,610.68 | +3.0% | £1,431.72 |
| 2016/17 | £1,563.07 | – | £1,389.40 |
Homes by council tax band in Chelmsford
Chelmsford has 82,450 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 20% 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 £2,044.60 a year (£204.46 a month over 10 instalments).
Chelmsford compared with East of England
Chelmsford is the 10th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£91.02 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Colchester | £2,282.85 | +4.1% |
| Peterborough | £2,293.47 | +4.9% |
| Harlow | £2,298.69 | +3.7% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Chelmsford drops from £2,044.60 to £1,533.45.
- Council Tax Reduction: Chelmsford 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).
Chelmsford's 4.2% 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.
Council Tax Reduction in Chelmsford: everyone of working age pays 23%
Chelmsford City Council's scheme covers at most 77% of the bill for working-age claimants. You pay at least 23% whatever your income. You also cannot claim with more than £6,000 in savings or capital. Pension-age claimants can have up to £16,000 (with no limit if they get Pension Credit Guarantee Credit) and can also apply for Second Adult Rebate.
Example: a single working-age resident with no income in a Band B flat. The area-average Band B charge is £1,789.03. After the 25% single person discount (£1,341.77) and the maximum 77% reduction, about £308.61 is left to pay for the year, or £30.86 a month over 10 instalments.
Empty homes and second homes in Chelmsford
- Short-term empty discount: an empty, unfurnished home can get a discount for up to three months in total. This allowance belongs to the property, so a new owner only gets whatever time the previous owner did not use. A new discount needs at least six weeks of occupation in between. White goods do not count when the council decides whether a home is furnished.
- Long-term empty premium (since 1 April 2024): double the bill after 1 year empty, three times after 5 years and four times after 10 years. A Band D home empty for over 10 years pays £9,200.72 at the area average.
- Second homes premium (since 1 April 2025): 100% on top of the full charge, including homes owned by companies and by owners whose main home is outside the UK. A Band D second home pays £4,600.36.
- If partners claim to have main homes at different addresses, the council says it will check. It can ask for GP, bank, DVLA and school details and use credit reference agencies.
- Listing a second home for sale or let gives up to 12 months without the premium. This runs from the first date it was listed, even if you take it off the market and relist it.
Parish precepts, special expenses and paying
Chelmsford bills have up to five parts: Essex County Council (£1,641.96 at Band D), Chelmsford City Council (£234.85), Essex Police, Essex Fire and Rescue, and either a parish precept or, in unparished parts of the city, a "special expenses" charge for local facilities. The amount for your exact area is in the council's 2026/27 charges table.
Direct debit can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments. The council does not accept American Express for card payments.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Chelmsford?
£2,300.18 a year in 2026/27, or £230.02 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Chelmsford?
Band C: 24,100 of 82,450 homes (29%). A Band C bill is £2,044.60 in 2026/27.
How much has Chelmsford council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,206.97 to £2,300.18 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 47%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Chelmsford?
District council £234.85; 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) £55.54 (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 Chelmsford?
77% for working-age claimants, so you pay at least 23% of the bill. The savings limit is £6,000 for working age and £16,000 for pension age.
How long is the empty property discount in Chelmsford?
Up to three months in total per property, not per owner. After that the full charge applies, and a 100% premium is added once the home has been empty and unfurnished for 12 months.
Do overseas owners pay the second homes premium in Chelmsford?
Usually, yes. The council says owners whose main home is not in the UK may need to pay. A Chelmsford property that is furnished and nobody's main home pays the 100% premium, so double council tax, unless an exception applies.
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)
- Chelmsford City Council – Find out if you can claim Council Tax Reduction
- Chelmsford City Council – Short-term empty properties
- Chelmsford City Council – Long-term empty properties
- Chelmsford City Council – Second homes
- Chelmsford City Council – Bands and amounts
- Chelmsford City Council – Pay your Council Tax