Elmbridge Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Elmbridge is £2,557.75 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£114.83) on last year. That is £166.23 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 239th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (24%), so the average bill per home is about £3,272.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Elmbridge council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,705.17 | £170.52 | £142.10 | £1,278.88 | 460 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,989.36 | £198.94 | £165.78 | £1,492.02 | 1,900 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,273.56 | £227.36 | £189.46 | £1,705.17 | 8,280 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,557.75 | £255.78 | £213.15 | £1,918.31 | 14,270 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,126.14 | £312.61 | £260.51 | £2,344.60 | 11,380 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,694.53 | £369.45 | £307.88 | £2,770.90 | 8,190 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,262.92 | £426.29 | £355.24 | £3,197.19 | 11,490 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,115.50 | £511.55 | £426.29 | £3,836.63 | 4,570 |
- Elmbridge
- England average
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Where your Elmbridge council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Elmbridge but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,557.75 Band D charge, £265.88 (10%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £265.88 | 10.4% | £265.88 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,938.42 | 75.8% | £1,938.42 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £352.57 | 13.8% | £352.57 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £0.88 | 0.0% | £0.88 |
- District council £266 10.4%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938 75.8%
- Police and crime commissioner £353 13.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £1 0.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Elmbridge; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Elmbridge council tax history
Band D in Elmbridge has risen from £1,696.24 in 2016/17 to £2,557.75 in 2026/27 — 51% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.8%, the 216th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Elmbridge Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,557.75 | +4.7% | £2,557.75 |
| 2025/26 | £2,442.92 | +4.7% | £2,442.92 |
| 2024/25 | £2,333.65 | +4.7% | £2,333.65 |
| 2023/24 | £2,229.76 | +3.3% | £2,229.76 |
| 2022/23 | £2,159.03 | +4.5% | £2,159.03 |
| 2021/22 | £2,066.71 | +2.9% | £2,066.71 |
| 2020/21 | £2,009.09 | +3.8% | £2,009.09 |
| 2019/20 | £1,936.13 | +3.9% | £1,936.13 |
| 2018/19 | £1,863.62 | +5.4% | £1,863.62 |
| 2017/18 | £1,767.89 | +4.2% | £1,767.89 |
| 2016/17 | £1,696.24 | – | £1,696.24 |
Homes by council tax band in Elmbridge
Elmbridge has 60,540 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 D, which costs £2,557.75 a year (£255.78 a month over 10 instalments).
Elmbridge compared with South East
Elmbridge is the 46th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£82.30 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Folkestone and Hythe | £2,538.75 | +4.2% |
| Guildford | £2,547.30 | +4.9% |
| Adur | £2,548.28 | +4.8% |
| Elmbridge | £2,557.75 | +4.7% |
| Reigate and Banstead | £2,566.61 | +4.4% |
| West Oxfordshire | £2,566.95 | +5% |
| Vale of White Horse | £2,577.44 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Elmbridge drops from £2,557.75 to £1,918.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Elmbridge 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).
Elmbridge's 4.7% 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.
Elmbridge Council Tax Support: no help in Bands G and H
Elmbridge's working-age Local Council Tax Support scheme has a blunt rule: households liable for a Band G or H home get no support at all. That matters in a borough with 11,490 Band G and 4,570 Band H homes. In Bands E and F, support is capped at the Band D charge.
Working-age claimants who are not in a protected group pay at least 10% of their bill. Families with a child under five, and households where someone is in paid work, pay at least 5%; you get this lower rate only once even if both apply. Pensioners and "vulnerable" households can get 100% support. Vulnerable households include those getting a disability, severe disability or carer premium, the UC carer or disabled child element, the UC limited capability for work-related activity element, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or a war disablement or war widow’s pension.
Worked example: a working-age couple with no earnings and no protected status in a Band D home (£2,557.75 in 2026/27) can get at most 90% and pays £255.78. In a Band F home their support is limited to 90% of the Band D charge, leaving £1,392.55 to pay. Backdating for late claims is limited to one month, and the second-adult rebate is not available.
Premiums, payment dates and where the money goes
Elmbridge gives no discount on empty or uninhabitable homes. Unfurnished homes empty for more than a year pay a 100% premium, more than five years 200%, and more than ten years 300%. Furnished homes that are nobody's main home have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, so a Band G second home pays £8,525.83. On top of the national exceptions, Elmbridge has a local exception (Z1) for furnished homes between tenancies, limited to one month.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 10th or 20th of the month. Bills normally run over 10 months, but you can ask through My Account for 12 instalments. The council does not accept credit cards. More than 75% of payments are made by direct debit, and the council reports a 98.2% collection rate on £154 million collected last year.
Total council tax rose 4.7% for 2026/27. Surrey County Council took its full 4.99% (2.99% general and 2% adult social care). Of the money collected, the county gets about 76%, Surrey Police 14% and Elmbridge Borough Council 10%. Claygate residents also pay a small precept to Claygate Parish Council.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Elmbridge?
£2,557.75 a year in 2026/27, or £255.78 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Elmbridge?
Band D: 14,270 of 60,540 homes (24%). A Band D bill is £2,557.75 in 2026/27.
How much has Elmbridge council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £2,442.92 to £2,557.75 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 51%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Elmbridge?
District council £265.88; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,938.42; Police and crime commissioner £352.57; Parish/town council (average) £0.88 (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.
Can I get council tax support in Elmbridge if I live in a Band G or H home?
No, not if you are of working age. The local scheme gives no support to households liable for Band G or H homes. Pensioners are protected by national rules.
What is the minimum council tax a working-age claimant pays in Elmbridge?
Usually 10% of the bill. Families with a child under five, and households with someone in paid work, pay at least 5%. Vulnerable groups, such as disabled people and carers, can get 100% support.
Which direct debit dates does Elmbridge offer?
The 1st, 10th or 20th of the month (or the next working day).
Why is council tax higher in Claygate?
Residents of Claygate also pay a precept to Claygate Parish Council. The council says Claygate Parish Council takes about 1% of a Claygate bill.
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)
- Elmbridge Borough Council – Local Council Tax Support Scheme Summary 2026 (PDF)
- Elmbridge Borough Council – Empty homes
- Elmbridge Borough Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Elmbridge Borough Council – How your Council Tax is spent
- Elmbridge Borough Council – Help paying your Council Tax bill