Cotswold Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Cotswold is £2,391.65 for 2026/27, up 5% (£114.95) on last year. That is £0.13 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 114th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,612.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South West · Official England government statistics
Cotswold council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,594.43 | £159.44 | £132.87 | £1,195.83 | 3,670 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,860.17 | £186.02 | £155.01 | £1,395.13 | 5,440 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,125.91 | £212.59 | £177.16 | £1,594.43 | 11,560 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,391.65 | £239.17 | £199.30 | £1,793.74 | 7,800 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,923.13 | £292.31 | £243.59 | £2,192.35 | 6,750 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,454.61 | £345.46 | £287.88 | £2,590.95 | 5,340 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,986.08 | £398.61 | £332.17 | £2,989.56 | 4,970 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,783.30 | £478.33 | £398.61 | £3,587.48 | 790 |
- Cotswold
- England average
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Where your Cotswold council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Cotswold but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,391.65 Band D charge, £163.93 (7%) 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 | £163.93 | 6.9% | £145.72 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,763.46 | 73.7% | £1,567.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £340.58 | 14.2% | £302.74 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £123.68 | 5.2% | £109.94 |
- District council £164 6.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763 73.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £341 14.2%
- Parish/town council (average) £124 5.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Cotswold; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Cotswold council tax history
Band D in Cotswold has risen from £1,536.05 in 2016/17 to £2,391.65 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.7%, the 113th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Cotswold Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,391.65 | +5.0% | £2,125.91 |
| 2025/26 | £2,276.70 | +4.9% | £2,023.73 |
| 2024/25 | £2,169.77 | +5.1% | £1,928.68 |
| 2023/24 | £2,063.63 | +4.9% | £1,834.34 |
| 2022/23 | £1,966.88 | +3.4% | £1,748.34 |
| 2021/22 | £1,902.36 | +4.7% | £1,690.99 |
| 2020/21 | £1,817.20 | +3.9% | £1,615.29 |
| 2019/20 | £1,749.25 | +5.5% | £1,554.89 |
| 2018/19 | £1,657.79 | +4.3% | £1,473.59 |
| 2017/18 | £1,589.70 | +3.5% | £1,413.07 |
| 2016/17 | £1,536.05 | – | £1,365.38 |
Homes by council tax band in Cotswold
Cotswold has 46,320 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 £2,125.91 a year (£212.59 a month over 10 instalments).
Cotswold compared with South West
Cotswold is the 6th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£119.75 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Gloucester | £2,355.84 | +4.9% |
| Cheltenham | £2,369.52 | +4.9% |
| Bath and North East Somerset | £2,383.42 | +5.2% |
| Cotswold | £2,391.65 | +5% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £2,435.58 | +7.5% |
| Swindon | £2,438.10 | +5.2% |
| Plymouth | £2,441.85 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Cotswold drops from £2,125.91 to £1,594.43.
- Council Tax Reduction: Cotswold 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).
Cotswold's 5% 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.
From Cirencester to the smallest hamlets: parish charges in the Cotswolds
Cotswold District Council publishes its charges parish by parish, and the parish precept is what separates one bill from another. Parishes that levy no precept, such as Ashley, Colesbourne, Farmington and Notgrove, pay the base Band D charge of £2,267.97 in 2026/27. Cirencester Town Council adds the most, taking Band D there to £2,537.78, which is £269.81 more. The district-wide average shown above is £2,391.65.
| Parish or town | Band A 2026/27 | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Cirencester | £1,691.85 | £2,537.78 |
| Tetbury | £1,638.70 | £2,458.05 |
| Cowley | £1,614.82 | £2,422.23 |
| Lechlade | £1,610.13 | £2,415.19 |
| Moreton-in-Marsh | £1,608.03 | £2,412.05 |
| Bourton-on-the-Water | £1,605.23 | £2,407.84 |
| Chipping Campden | £1,581.96 | £2,372.94 |
| No parish precept (e.g. Ashley, Notgrove) | £1,511.98 | £2,267.97 |
Second homes in the Cotswolds
At a full council meeting on 20 March 2024, Cotswold District Council decided to charge a 100% premium on second homes from 1 April 2025. A weekend or holiday home that you can use all year round pays double: £4,535.94 at Band D in a parish with no precept, or £4,783.30 at the district average. A furnished home put up for sale or let escapes the premium for 12 months. After that it is charged until sold or let.
If you think your property is a holiday let rather than a second home, the council keeps charging council tax until the Valuation Office Agency agrees to move it to the business rates list. Empty, unfurnished homes get no discount, and a 100% premium is added once they have been empty for 12 months.
Council Tax Support: banded, with a Band E cap
Cotswold's 2026/27 working-age scheme puts combined net weekly income into five bands, giving 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% or 20% off. Anyone on Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance goes straight into the top band. Support is worked out on no more than a Band E charge, so homes in Bands F to H pay the difference. The savings limit is £10,000. If you get disability premiums, ESA or the limited-capability-for-work element of Universal Credit, a means-tested calculation is used instead of the bands.
| Discount | Single person (weekly income) | Couple | Couple with 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0 – £154.48 | £0 – £183.08 | £0 – £280.35 |
| 80% | £154.49 – £204.48 | £183.09 – £223.08 | £280.36 – £330.35 |
| 60% | £204.49 – £254.48 | £223.09 – £273.08 | £330.36 – £380.35 |
| 40% | £254.49 – £304.48 | £273.09 – £323.08 | £380.36 – £430.35 |
| 20% | £304.49 – £354.48 | £323.09 – £373.08 | £430.36 – £480.35 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Cotswold?
£2,391.65 a year in 2026/27, or £239.17 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Cotswold?
Band C: 11,560 of 46,320 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,125.91 in 2026/27.
How much has Cotswold council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,276.70 to £2,391.65 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Cotswold?
District council £163.93; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763.46; Police and crime commissioner £340.58; Parish/town council (average) £123.68 (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.
Which Cotswold parish has the highest council tax?
Cirencester, at £2,537.78 for Band D in 2026/27. Parishes with no precept pay £2,267.97.
Do Cotswold second homes pay double council tax?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 a furnished home that is nobody's main residence and can be used all year pays a 100% premium.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Support in Cotswold district?
£10,000 for working-age claimants under the 2026/27 scheme. Support is also capped at a Band E charge.
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)
- Cotswold District Council – Council Tax charges 2026-27 by parish (PDF)
- Cotswold District Council – Second homes
- Cotswold District Council – Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- Cotswold District Council – Council Tax bands, charges and appeals