Forest of Dean Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Forest of Dean is £2,443.42 for 2026/27, up 5% (£116.54) on last year. That is £51.90 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 151st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,268.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South West · Official England government statistics
Forest of Dean council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,628.95 | £162.89 | £135.75 | £1,221.71 | 7,240 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,900.44 | £190.04 | £158.37 | £1,425.33 | 10,470 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,171.93 | £217.19 | £180.99 | £1,628.95 | 9,290 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,443.42 | £244.34 | £203.62 | £1,832.57 | 6,210 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,986.40 | £298.64 | £248.87 | £2,239.80 | 4,710 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,529.38 | £352.94 | £294.12 | £2,647.04 | 2,200 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,072.37 | £407.24 | £339.36 | £3,054.28 | 1,050 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,886.84 | £488.68 | £407.24 | £3,665.13 | 80 |
- Forest of Dean
- England average
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Where your Forest of Dean council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Forest of Dean but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,443.42 Band D charge, £218.29 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £218.29 | 8.9% | £169.78 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,763.46 | 72.2% | £1,371.58 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £340.58 | 13.9% | £264.90 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £121.09 | 5.0% | £94.18 |
- District council £218 8.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763 72.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £341 13.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £121 5.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Forest of Dean; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Forest of Dean council tax history
Band D in Forest of Dean has risen from £1,579.02 in 2016/17 to £2,443.42 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.0%, the 158th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Forest of Dean Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,443.42 | +5.0% | £1,900.44 |
| 2025/26 | £2,326.88 | +4.8% | £1,809.80 |
| 2024/25 | £2,220.50 | +4.9% | £1,727.06 |
| 2023/24 | £2,116.43 | +5.0% | £1,646.11 |
| 2022/23 | £2,016.42 | +3.1% | £1,568.33 |
| 2021/22 | £1,955.01 | +4.5% | £1,520.56 |
| 2020/21 | £1,869.96 | +3.7% | £1,454.41 |
| 2019/20 | £1,803.52 | +5.6% | £1,402.74 |
| 2018/19 | £1,708.37 | +4.4% | £1,328.73 |
| 2017/18 | £1,635.76 | +3.6% | £1,272.26 |
| 2016/17 | £1,579.02 | – | £1,228.13 |
Homes by council tax band in Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean has 41,250 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 43% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,900.44 a year (£190.04 a month over 10 instalments).
Forest of Dean compared with South West
Forest of Dean is the 10th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£67.98 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £2,435.58 | +7.5% |
| Swindon | £2,438.10 | +5.2% |
| Plymouth | £2,441.85 | +5% |
| Forest of Dean | £2,443.42 | +5% |
| Torbay | £2,470.25 | +5.1% |
| North Somerset | £2,491.22 | +8.6% |
| Stroud | £2,491.36 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Forest of Dean drops from £1,900.44 to £1,425.33.
- Council Tax Reduction: Forest of Dean 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).
Forest of Dean'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.
Empty homes in the Forest of Dean still get a discount
Forest of Dean District Council still gives a discount on ordinary empty homes. An unoccupied, substantially unfurnished home gets 25% off for its first six months. A home that needs major repair or structural work to be habitable gets 25% off for up to 12 months. On a Band C home (£2,171.93 in 2026/27), six months at 25% off saves £271.49.
After six months the full charge applies. Under a policy agreed at full council on 14 September 2023, a home that has been empty and unfurnished for a year has paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025. The premium rises to 200% after five years and 300% after ten.
| Time empty and unfurnished | Charge | Band D bill (2026/27) |
|---|---|---|
| First 6 months | 75% (25% discount) | £1,832.57 |
| 6 to 12 months | 100% | £2,443.42 |
| 1 to 5 years | 200% | £4,886.84 |
| 5 to 10 years | 300% | £7,330.26 |
| 10 years or more | 400% | £9,773.68 |
Second homes and holiday lets in the Forest
At the same September 2023 meeting, the council agreed a 100% premium on second homes from 1 April 2025, so a Band D weekend cottage now pays £4,886.84. The council's guidance says a general second home used for weekends and holidays, with no restriction on year-round use, gets no exception. Homes on caravan pitches or boat moorings, and homes whose planning conditions stop anyone staying more than 28 days in a row, do not pay the premium. If you think your property is a holiday let, it stays on council tax until the Valuation Office Agency agrees to move it to business rates.
Paying and getting help
Bills are normally paid in 10 monthly instalments, and sometimes over 12. You can be sent at most two reminders a year. After that the right to pay by instalments is cancelled and the whole year’s charge becomes due.
When you apply for Council Tax Support, you have one calendar month to send all the evidence asked for, such as payslips, a full Universal Credit statement and two months of bank statements, or the claim is treated as defective. The council aims to decide complete claims within 14 days. If you are still struggling, you can apply to its Exceptional Support Fund (formerly the Hardship Fund). Single pensioners who share their home with a low-income adult who pays no rent can claim Second Adult Rebate.
Gloucestershire County Council takes £1,763.46 of each Band D bill. The district keeps £218.29. Town and parish councils add their own precepts on top.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Forest of Dean?
£2,443.42 a year in 2026/27, or £244.34 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Forest of Dean?
Band B: 10,470 of 41,250 homes (25%). A Band B bill is £1,900.44 in 2026/27.
How much has Forest of Dean council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,326.88 to £2,443.42 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Forest of Dean?
District council £218.29; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763.46; Police and crime commissioner £340.58; Parish/town council (average) £121.09 (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.
Is there a discount on empty homes in the Forest of Dean?
Yes. Empty, unfurnished homes get 25% off for up to six months, and homes needing major repair get 25% off for up to 12 months. After a year empty a 100% premium applies.
Does the Forest of Dean charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes, since 1 April 2025. A Band D second home pays £4,886.84 in 2026/27.
How long do I have to send evidence for a Council Tax Support claim in the Forest of Dean?
One calendar month from submitting the application, or the claim is treated as defective.
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)
- Forest of Dean District Council – Reductions for empty properties
- Forest of Dean District Council – Council Tax on long term empty properties
- Forest of Dean District Council – Second homes
- Forest of Dean District Council – Pay Council Tax
- Forest of Dean District Council – Council Tax Support