City of London Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in City of London is £1,329.56 for 2026/27, up 4.4% (£55.49) on last year. That is £1,061.96 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 3rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band E (36%), so the average bill per home is about £1,728.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
City of London council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £886.37 | £88.64 | £73.86 | £664.78 | – |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,034.10 | £103.41 | £86.18 | £775.58 | 350 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,181.83 | £118.18 | £98.49 | £886.37 | 690 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £1,329.56 | £132.96 | £110.80 | £997.17 | 940 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £1,625.02 | £162.50 | £135.42 | £1,218.76 | 2,880 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £1,920.48 | £192.05 | £160.04 | £1,440.36 | 1,390 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £2,215.93 | £221.59 | £184.66 | £1,661.95 | 1,500 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £2,659.12 | £265.91 | £221.59 | £1,994.34 | 310 |
- City of London
- England average
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Where your City of London council tax goes
Your bill is collected by City of London but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £1,329.56 Band D charge, £1,112.38 (84%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,091.25 | 82.1% | £1,333.75 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £21.13 | 1.6% | £25.83 |
| Greater London Authority | £176.38 | 13.3% | £215.58 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £40.80 | 3.1% | £49.87 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,091 82.1%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £21 1.6%
- Greater London Authority £176 13.3%
- Parish/town council (average) £41 3.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across City of London; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
City of London council tax history
Band D in City of London has risen from £931.20 in 2016/17 to £1,329.56 in 2026/27 — 43% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.7%, the 74th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- City of London Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,329.56 | +4.4% | £1,625.02 |
| 2025/26 | £1,274.07 | +4.6% | £1,557.20 |
| 2024/25 | £1,217.89 | +6.3% | £1,488.53 |
| 2023/24 | £1,145.64 | +6.6% | £1,400.23 |
| 2022/23 | £1,074.57 | +2.4% | £1,313.36 |
| 2021/22 | £1,049.44 | +4.2% | £1,282.65 |
| 2020/21 | £1,007.19 | +3.6% | £1,231.01 |
| 2019/20 | £972.66 | +4.2% | £1,188.81 |
| 2018/19 | £933.41 | +0.2% | £1,140.83 |
| 2017/18 | £931.20 | +0.0% | £1,138.13 |
| 2016/17 | £931.20 | – | £1,138.13 |
Homes by council tax band in City of London
City of London has 8,060 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 4% 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 E, which costs £1,625.02 a year (£162.50 a month over 10 instalments).
City of London compared with London
City of London is the 3rd cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£760.52 more than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wandsworth | £1,028.21 | +3.1% |
| Westminster | £1,049.55 | +3% |
| City of London | £1,329.56 | +4.4% |
| Hammersmith and Fulham | £1,519.51 | +4.7% |
| Kensington and Chelsea | £1,666.65 | +4.7% |
| Tower Hamlets | £1,837.78 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band E bill in City of London drops from £1,625.02 to £1,218.76.
- Council Tax Reduction: City of London 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).
City of London's 4.4% 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.
How the Square Mile bill is built
The City of London Corporation's 2026/27 Band D bill of £1,329.56 has three parts. The Corporation's own services take £1,012.50, adult social care £140.68, and the Greater London Authority £176.38. The GLA share is far smaller than the £510.51 paid in London boroughs such as Camden. The Corporation is also the police authority for the Square Mile and runs the City of London Police, which is funded through its City Fund.
For 2026/27 the Corporation raised its share by the full 4.99% allowed without a referendum: 2.99% general and 2% for adult social care. With the GLA's 3% rise, the overall Band D bill went up £55.49 (4.4%).
| Element | 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Fund services | £983.27 | £1,012.50 | +2.99% |
| Adult social care | £119.55 | £140.68 | +£21.13 |
| Greater London Authority | £171.25 | £176.38 | +3.00% |
| Total Band D | £1,274.07 | £1,329.56 | +4.4% |
Why council tax raises so little in the City
The whole Square Mile has a council tax base of only 10,402.90 Band D-equivalent homes. Council tax is expected to raise about £14.1 million in 2026/27, including the GLA share. Most City Fund spending is paid for by other sources: government formula funding of £219.2 million, a £77.9 million business rate premium, the City Offset from business rates and interest on cash balances.
Unlike most of England, few City homes are in the lowest bands. VOA data show 2,880 homes in Band E, the most common band, and only about 1,040 in Bands B and C combined, so a typical bill is above the Band D figure. A Band E flat pays £1,625.02.
The Temples, main residence and paying
- The Corporation sets charges for three areas: Inner Temple, Middle Temple, and the City excluding the Temples (a special expense area). For 2026/27 all three pay the same amount in every band.
- If you have homes in the City and elsewhere, the Corporation decides which is your main residence using factors the High Court has identified. These include where your partner and dependent children live, where most of your belongings are, which home you intend to return to, and your weekly pattern of time at each. Couples are normally treated as having one main residence between them.
- The Corporation asks for payment by direct debit, online, by phone or by bank transfer. Quote only your eight-digit account number, which starts with an 8. Only pay the City of London if your property is inside the Square Mile.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in City of London?
£1,329.56 a year in 2026/27, or £132.96 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in City of London?
Band E: 2,880 of 8,060 homes (36%). A Band E bill is £1,625.02 in 2026/27.
How much has City of London council tax gone up?
4.4% this year, from £1,274.07 to £1,329.56 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 43%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in City of London?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,091.25; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £21.13; Greater London Authority £176.38; Parish/town council (average) £40.80 (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.
Why is City of London council tax so low?
The Corporation funds most of its local authority spending from government formula funding, a business rate premium, business rate income and interest on reserves, so council tax covers a small share. Its GLA precept is also £176.38 at Band D, against £510.51 in London boroughs.
How much did City of London council tax rise in 2026/27?
By 4.4% at Band D, from £1,274.07 to £1,329.56. The Corporation's own share rose 4.99% (2.99% general plus 2% adult social care) and the GLA share 3%.
Do the Inner and Middle Temple pay different council tax?
They are charged as separate areas, but for 2026/27 the amounts are identical to the rest of the City in every band.
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)
- City of London Corporation – Council tax and business rates booklet 2026/27 (PDF)
- City of London Corporation – Council tax bands and charges
- City of London Corporation – Council tax discounts (sole or main residence)
- City of London Corporation – View and pay council tax online