Cornwall Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cornwall is £2,590.93 for 2026/27, up 5.3% (£131.01) on last year. That is £199.41 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 254th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (26%), so the average bill per home is about £2,306.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Cornwall council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,727.29 | £172.73 | £143.94 | £1,295.46 | 66,460 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,015.17 | £201.52 | £167.93 | £1,511.38 | 73,830 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,303.05 | £230.30 | £191.92 | £1,727.29 | 61,950 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,590.93 | £259.09 | £215.91 | £1,943.20 | 45,300 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,166.69 | £316.67 | £263.89 | £2,375.02 | 26,920 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,742.45 | £374.25 | £311.87 | £2,806.84 | 9,670 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,318.22 | £431.82 | £359.85 | £3,238.66 | 4,410 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,181.86 | £518.19 | £431.82 | £3,886.39 | 450 |
- Cornwall
- England average
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Where your Cornwall council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cornwall but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,590.93 Band D charge, £2,086.36 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,046.62 | 79.0% | £1,591.82 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £39.74 | 1.5% | £30.91 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £303.20 | 11.7% | £235.82 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £201.37 | 7.8% | £156.62 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,047 79.0%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £40 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 11.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £201 7.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cornwall; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cornwall council tax history
Band D in Cornwall has risen from £1,619.75 in 2016/17 to £2,590.93 in 2026/27 — 60% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.9%, the 66th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Cornwall Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,590.93 | +5.3% | £2,015.17 |
| 2025/26 | £2,459.92 | +5.0% | £1,913.27 |
| 2024/25 | £2,342.54 | +5.5% | £1,821.98 |
| 2023/24 | £2,221.39 | +5.3% | £1,727.75 |
| 2022/23 | £2,108.89 | +3.3% | £1,640.25 |
| 2021/22 | £2,041.95 | +5.1% | £1,588.18 |
| 2020/21 | £1,943.26 | +4.3% | £1,511.42 |
| 2019/20 | £1,864.02 | +5.2% | £1,449.79 |
| 2018/19 | £1,772.29 | +5.1% | £1,378.45 |
| 2017/18 | £1,685.51 | +4.1% | £1,310.95 |
| 2016/17 | £1,619.75 | – | £1,259.81 |
Homes by council tax band in Cornwall
Cornwall has 288,990 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 49% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £2,015.17 a year (£201.52 a month over 10 instalments).
Cornwall compared with South West
Cornwall is the 18th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£79.53 less than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Gloucestershire | £2,550.59 | +5.1% |
| Somerset | £2,560.59 | +5% |
| Wiltshire | £2,571.78 | +5.3% |
| Cornwall | £2,590.93 | +5.3% |
| East Devon | £2,595.46 | +5.4% |
| Torridge | £2,601.42 | +4.9% |
| South Hams | £2,615.22 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Cornwall drops from £2,015.17 to £1,511.38.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cornwall 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).
Cornwall's 5.3% 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.
Second homes in Cornwall: double council tax, or business rates
Cornwall Council agreed on 17 January 2023 to charge a 100% premium on second homes, which started on 1 April 2025. It confirmed in its 2026/27 budget that the premium continues. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays double: £5,181.86 at the average Band D rate, or £4,606.10 for a Band C cottage.
Holiday lets are treated differently depending on how much they are actually let. A self-catering property moves from council tax to business rates if it was available to let commercially for at least 140 nights in the last 12 months, will be available for 140 nights in the next 12, and was actually let for at least 70 nights. The Valuation Office Agency decides which list a property belongs on, not the council. Homes that do not meet the test stay on council tax and pay the second homes premium.
- No premium: annexes used as part of the main home, occupied caravan pitches and boat moorings, and seasonal homes where planning rules ban year-round living or occupancy for more than 28 days in a row.
- 12-month exception: homes actively marketed for sale, or for let as someone's main home (not as a holiday let), and homes where probate has recently been granted.
- If you disagree with a premium, you must appeal to the council with supporting evidence.
Cornwall's 2026/27 budget
Cornwall Council set its 2026/27 budget and council tax on 24 February 2026. Its share rose 4.99%, including 2% for adult social care, within the 5% referendum limit. The council says that is £1.91 a week more for a Band D home. The Devon and Cornwall Police and Crime Commissioner added £15 at Band D, the maximum allowed. Town and parish councils face no cap, so the council warns that some total bills may have risen by more than 5%. The council says it must save £59 million in 2026/27, and it has identified £154 million of savings over the three years to 2028/29.
Council Tax Support: no backdating
Cornwall cannot backdate Council Tax Support, so you should apply as soon as your income drops. Support is means-tested. For every £1 of weekly income above the amount the government says you need to live on, your support falls by 20p. Working-age claimants with £6,000 or more in savings are not eligible. Savings between £6,000 and £16,000 count as £1 a week of income for each £250. Cornwall fully ignores war disablement and war widows' pensions.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cornwall?
£2,590.93 a year in 2026/27, or £259.09 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cornwall?
Band B: 73,830 of 288,990 homes (26%). A Band B bill is £2,015.17 in 2026/27.
How much has Cornwall council tax gone up?
5.3% this year, from £2,459.92 to £2,590.93 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 60%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cornwall?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,046.62; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £39.74; Police and crime commissioner £303.20; Parish/town council (average) £201.37 (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 Cornwall charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 furnished homes that are nobody's main residence pay a 100% premium. At Band D that is £5,181.86 in 2026/27.
When does a Cornish holiday let pay business rates instead of council tax?
When it was available to let for at least 140 nights in the last 12 months, will be available for 140 nights in the next 12, and was actually let for at least 70 nights. The Valuation Office Agency decides.
Can Cornwall backdate Council Tax Support?
No. Cornwall Council says it cannot backdate council tax support, so apply as soon as possible.
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)
- Cornwall Council – Second homes
- Cornwall Council – Council Tax 2026
- Cornwall Council – Council tax support
- Cornwall Council – How we calculate council tax support and housing benefit