Epping Forest Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Epping Forest is £2,277.21 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£90.52) on last year. That is £114.31 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 43rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (24%), so the average bill per home is about £2,578.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Epping Forest council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,518.14 | £151.81 | £126.51 | £1,138.61 | 2,140 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,771.16 | £177.12 | £147.60 | £1,328.37 | 5,240 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,024.19 | £202.42 | £168.68 | £1,518.14 | 12,100 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,277.21 | £227.72 | £189.77 | £1,707.91 | 14,250 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,783.26 | £278.33 | £231.94 | £2,087.44 | 10,370 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,289.30 | £328.93 | £274.11 | £2,466.98 | 7,170 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,795.35 | £379.54 | £316.28 | £2,846.51 | 6,360 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,554.42 | £455.44 | £379.54 | £3,415.82 | 1,270 |
- Epping Forest
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Epping Forest council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Epping Forest but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,277.21 Band D charge, £177.12 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £177.12 | 7.8% | £177.12 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,641.96 | 72.1% | £1,641.96 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £275.31 | 12.1% | £275.31 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.52 | 4.1% | £92.52 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £90.30 | 4.0% | £90.30 |
- District council £177 7.8%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,642 72.1%
- Police and crime commissioner £275 12.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £90 4.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Epping Forest; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Epping Forest council tax history
Band D in Epping Forest has risen from £1,561.33 in 2016/17 to £2,277.21 in 2026/27 — 46% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.4%, the 238th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Epping Forest Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,277.21 | +4.1% | £2,277.21 |
| 2025/26 | £2,186.69 | +4.1% | £2,186.69 |
| 2024/25 | £2,100.67 | +4.9% | £2,100.67 |
| 2023/24 | £2,002.25 | +4.1% | £2,002.25 |
| 2022/23 | £1,923.28 | +4.2% | £1,923.28 |
| 2021/22 | £1,845.47 | +1.6% | £1,845.47 |
| 2020/21 | £1,815.71 | +3.4% | £1,815.71 |
| 2019/20 | £1,755.72 | +4.6% | £1,755.72 |
| 2018/19 | £1,678.60 | +4.8% | £1,678.60 |
| 2017/18 | £1,601.93 | +2.6% | £1,601.93 |
| 2016/17 | £1,561.33 | – | £1,561.33 |
Homes by council tax band in Epping Forest
Epping Forest has 58,900 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 13% 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 £2,277.21 a year (£227.72 a month over 10 instalments).
Epping Forest compared with East of England
Epping Forest is the 5th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£113.99 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Brentwood | £2,258.14 | +4.2% |
| Southend-on-Sea | £2,265.17 | +5.1% |
| Tendring | £2,269.63 | +4.2% |
| Epping Forest | £2,277.21 | +4.1% |
| Braintree | £2,280.34 | +3.9% |
| Colchester | £2,282.85 | +4.1% |
| Peterborough | £2,293.47 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Epping Forest drops from £2,277.21 to £1,707.91.
- Council Tax Reduction: Epping Forest 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).
Epping Forest's 4.1% 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.
Who raised what in Epping Forest for 2026/27
Epping Forest District Council raised its own Band D charge by 2.98%, or £5.13, to £177.12. That is within the limit for district councils of 2.99% or £5, whichever is higher. The biggest cash rise came from Essex County Council: up £62.37 (3.95%) to £1,641.96, below the 4.99% it was allowed. Essex Police added 5.74% and Essex Fire and Rescue 5.65%. The average town and parish charge rose 3.59%. In total a Band D bill went up by £90.52.
| Body | Band D 2026/27 | Share | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex County Council | £1,641.96 | 72.10% | £62.37 (3.95%) |
| Essex Police | £275.31 | 12.09% | £14.94 (5.74%) |
| Epping Forest District Council | £177.12 | 7.78% | £5.13 (2.98%) |
| Essex Fire and Rescue | £92.52 | 4.06% | £4.95 (5.65%) |
| Town and parish councils (average) | £90.30 | 3.97% | £3.13 (3.59%) |
Epping Forest's banded Council Tax Support
Since 1 April 2024 working-age Council Tax Support has been a banded discount of 75%, 50% or 25%, set by household type and net weekly income. Everyone of working age pays at least 25%. People getting income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support get the full 75%. Joint savings above £6,000 rule you out.
The discount is applied after the single person discount, not added to it. Worked example: a single person with no other income in a Band C home starts with £2,024.19. The 25% single person discount brings this to £1,518.14, and the 75% support (code A1) to £379.53 for 2026/27.
- A single person qualifies for 75% only on weekly income up to £105. A single parent with two children keeps 75% up to £260 a week.
- Households where everyone gets a qualifying disability benefit and no one is paid Carer’s Allowance for them stay at 75% up to £420 a week.
- The first £20 a week of earnings is ignored, as are DLA, PIP, child benefit and child maintenance. Other adults living with you do not reduce your support.
Second homes from April 2026
The council gave 12 months' notice in February 2025 and has charged a 100% premium on furnished second homes since 1 April 2026. A Band D second home now pays £4,554.42. Long-term empty homes have paid 200% after one year since April 2025 (it used to be two years), 300% after five years and 400% after ten. Payment options include direct debit, card payments online or through a 24-hour phone line, and cash with an AllPay card at Post Offices and PayPoint stores.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Epping Forest?
£2,277.21 a year in 2026/27, or £227.72 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Epping Forest?
Band D: 14,250 of 58,900 homes (24%). A Band D bill is £2,277.21 in 2026/27.
How much has Epping Forest council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,186.69 to £2,277.21 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 46%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Epping Forest?
District council £177.12; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,641.96; Police and crime commissioner £275.31; Fire and rescue authority £92.52; Parish/town council (average) £90.30 (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.
How much did Epping Forest District Council increase council tax in 2026/27?
Its own share rose 2.98% (£5.13) to £177.12 at Band D. The whole Band D bill rose £90.52, mostly because of Essex County Council and Essex Police.
What is the most council tax support a working-age person can get in Epping Forest?
75% of the bill after other discounts. Working-age claimants always pay at least 25%.
When did Epping Forest start charging double on second homes?
From 1 April 2026, following 12 months’ notice given at the council meeting on 20 February 2025.
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)
- Epping Forest District Council – About your Council Tax
- Epping Forest District Council – Council Tax Support for working age people
- Epping Forest District Council – Council Tax premium for long term empty properties and second homes
- Epping Forest District Council – Pay your Council Tax