Cherwell Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cherwell is £2,582.96 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£119.09) on last year. That is £191.44 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 250th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (27%), so the average bill per home is about £2,522.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Cherwell council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,721.97 | £172.20 | £143.50 | £1,291.48 | 6,270 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,008.97 | £200.90 | £167.41 | £1,506.73 | 16,800 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,295.96 | £229.60 | £191.33 | £1,721.97 | 20,010 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,582.96 | £258.30 | £215.25 | £1,937.22 | 12,810 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,156.95 | £315.70 | £263.08 | £2,367.71 | 9,350 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,730.94 | £373.09 | £310.91 | £2,798.21 | 4,550 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,304.93 | £430.49 | £358.74 | £3,228.70 | 2,930 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,165.92 | £516.59 | £430.49 | £3,874.44 | 270 |
- Cherwell
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Cherwell council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cherwell but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,582.96 Band D charge, £163.50 (6%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £163.50 | 6.3% | £145.33 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £2,006.78 | 77.7% | £1,783.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.5% | £265.14 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £114.40 | 4.4% | £101.69 |
- District council £164 6.3%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £2,007 77.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £114 4.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cherwell; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cherwell council tax history
Band D in Cherwell has risen from £1,660.57 in 2016/17 to £2,582.96 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.6%, the 82nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Cherwell Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,582.96 | +4.8% | £2,295.96 |
| 2025/26 | £2,463.87 | +4.8% | £2,190.11 |
| 2024/25 | £2,351.01 | +4.8% | £2,089.79 |
| 2023/24 | £2,242.65 | +4.9% | £1,993.47 |
| 2022/23 | £2,137.84 | +4.7% | £1,900.30 |
| 2021/22 | £2,040.90 | +3.4% | £1,814.13 |
| 2020/21 | £1,974.06 | +4.0% | £1,754.72 |
| 2019/20 | £1,898.84 | +4.0% | £1,687.86 |
| 2018/19 | £1,825.17 | +5.5% | £1,622.37 |
| 2017/18 | £1,730.39 | +4.2% | £1,538.12 |
| 2016/17 | £1,660.57 | – | £1,476.06 |
Homes by council tax band in Cherwell
Cherwell has 72,990 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 32% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,295.96 a year (£229.60 a month over 10 instalments).
Cherwell compared with South East
Cherwell is the 51st cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£107.51 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| West Oxfordshire | £2,566.95 | +5% |
| Vale of White Horse | £2,577.44 | +4.9% |
| Brighton and Hove | £2,580.54 | +5% |
| Cherwell | £2,582.96 | +4.8% |
| Surrey Heath | £2,585.16 | +4.8% |
| Tandridge | £2,594.85 | +5% |
| South Oxfordshire | £2,597.57 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Cherwell drops from £2,295.96 to £1,721.97.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cherwell 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).
Cherwell's 4.8% 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.
Cherwell keeps less than 7p in every pound
Cherwell District Council collects the bill for the whole of north Oxfordshire, including Banbury and Bicester, but keeps only about 6.33% of it. In 2026/27 it raised its share by £5 a year for an average Band D home, a 3.2% rise that the council says is in line with government expectations for districts, taking it to £163.50. The council says it also found over £1.7 million of efficiency savings. After lobbying, it received £4.4 million more government funding than first forecast. Its own net budget for the year is £32.3 million.
The rest of the bill is split between Oxfordshire County Council (about 77.7%, or £2,006.78 at Band D), Thames Valley Police (about 11.6%) and town and parish councils (about 4.4%, an average of £114.40). There is no separate fire precept line on Cherwell bills, so almost all of the year-on-year change in your bill comes from the county and police decisions.
Second homes: premium delayed to April 2027
Unlike many councils that began doubling second-home bills in April 2025, Cherwell has not yet started. In 2026/27 a furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays the standard 100% charge, with no discount. From 1 April 2027 that rises to a 200% charge. On today's average Band D figure that would be £5,165.92, before any 2027/28 increase. One exception gets 50% off: a home provided by an employer, occupied under the employment contract and within the grounds of the workplace.
Empty homes in Cherwell
- Empty and unfurnished: 25% discount for up to 6 months, then the full charge. The discount period does not restart when the property changes hands.
- Uninhabitable or under structural repair: no discount at all.
- Long-term empty premium (since 1 April 2025): double after 1 year, triple after 5 years, four times after 10 years. A Band D home empty for 10 years pays £10,331.84.
- Exceptions to the premiums must be applied for each time. The council treats them as discretionary.
- An annexe lived in by a relative of the main household can get 50% off if planning rules stop it being let or sold separately.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cherwell?
£2,582.96 a year in 2026/27, or £258.30 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cherwell?
Band C: 20,010 of 72,990 homes (27%). A Band C bill is £2,295.96 in 2026/27.
How much has Cherwell council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,463.87 to £2,582.96 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cherwell?
District council £163.50; County council (incl. adult social care) £2,006.78; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Parish/town council (average) £114.40 (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.
Does Cherwell charge double council tax on second homes?
Not yet. In 2026/27 second homes pay the normal 100% charge. From 1 April 2027 Cherwell will charge 200%.
How much did Cherwell District Council increase council tax in 2026/27?
By £5 a year for a Band D home (3.2%) on its own share. Most of the bill goes to Oxfordshire County Council and Thames Valley Police.
Is there a discount on an empty home in Cherwell?
Yes, 25% for up to six months if it is empty and unfurnished. There is no discount for homes needing structural repair, and a 100% premium applies after a year.
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)
- Cherwell District Council – About your Council Tax 2026-2027
- Cherwell District Council – Council Tax explanatory notes 2026-27
- Cherwell District Council – Pay your Council Tax