Gloucester Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Gloucester is £2,355.84 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£109.68) on last year. That is £35.68 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 92nd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (29%), so the average bill per home is about £1,970.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South West · Official England government statistics
Gloucester council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,570.56 | £157.06 | £130.88 | £1,177.92 | 17,780 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,832.32 | £183.23 | £152.69 | £1,374.24 | 17,020 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,094.08 | £209.41 | £174.51 | £1,570.56 | 14,490 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,355.84 | £235.58 | £196.32 | £1,766.88 | 6,190 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,879.36 | £287.94 | £239.95 | £2,159.52 | 3,910 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,402.88 | £340.29 | £283.57 | £2,552.16 | 930 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,926.40 | £392.64 | £327.20 | £2,944.80 | 180 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,711.68 | £471.17 | £392.64 | £3,533.76 | 10 |
- Gloucester
- England average
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Where your Gloucester council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Gloucester but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,355.84 Band D charge, £244.13 (10%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £244.13 | 10.4% | £162.75 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,763.46 | 74.9% | £1,175.64 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £340.58 | 14.5% | £227.05 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £7.67 | 0.3% | £5.11 |
- District council £244 10.4%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763 74.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £341 14.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £8 0.3%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Gloucester; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Gloucester council tax history
Band D in Gloucester has risen from £1,535.94 in 2016/17 to £2,355.84 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.1%, the 193rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Gloucester Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,355.84 | +4.9% | £1,570.56 |
| 2025/26 | £2,246.16 | +4.7% | £1,497.44 |
| 2024/25 | £2,145.30 | +4.7% | £1,430.20 |
| 2023/24 | £2,049.27 | +4.8% | £1,366.18 |
| 2022/23 | £1,955.13 | +3.0% | £1,303.42 |
| 2021/22 | £1,897.79 | +4.5% | £1,265.19 |
| 2020/21 | £1,816.07 | +3.6% | £1,210.71 |
| 2019/20 | £1,752.67 | +5.5% | £1,168.45 |
| 2018/19 | £1,661.37 | +4.4% | £1,107.58 |
| 2017/18 | £1,590.61 | +3.6% | £1,060.41 |
| 2016/17 | £1,535.94 | – | £1,023.96 |
Homes by council tax band in Gloucester
Gloucester has 60,510 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 58% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,570.56 a year (£157.06 a month over 10 instalments).
Gloucester compared with South West
Gloucester is the 3rd cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£155.56 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Isles of Scilly | £2,047.96 | +5% |
| Tewkesbury | £2,340.53 | +5.1% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Gloucester drops from £1,570.56 to £1,177.92.
- Council Tax Reduction: Gloucester 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).
Gloucester's 4.9% 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.
Three lines on a Gloucester bill
A Gloucester bill has just three main parts, plus a parish precept only where one applies: Gloucester City Council (£244.13 at Band D), Gloucestershire County Council including adult social care (£1,763.46) and the Police and Crime Commissioner (£340.58). There is no separate fire precept. The city publishes a Band D total of £2,348.17 for a city taxpayer. The area average shown at the top of this page is a little higher because it includes the average of parish precepts.
The city's own share is about 10p in every £1. A Band B household pays the city £189.88 a year.
Empty homes, second homes and the 2024 decisions
Gloucester still gives a 25% discount for the first six months that a home is empty and unfurnished. The discount is tied to the property, so a buyer only gets whatever is left of the six months. After that the full charge applies. Full council agreed on 7 February 2024 to start the empty-homes premium after one year instead of two from 1 April 2025. Homes empty for a year pay 200%, five years 300% and ten years 400%. On a Band C home that ranges from £4,188.16 to £8,376.32.
A separate full council decision on 25 January 2024 brought in a 100% premium on second homes, which the council calls "periodically occupied" homes, from 1 April 2025. A furnished Band D second home pays £4,711.68. A second home that is job-related can apply for a 50% discount instead.
Paying and Council Tax Support
About two-thirds (66%) of Gloucester council taxpayers pay by direct debit. You can choose the 1st, 15th, 22nd or 28th of the month. There is a free 24-hour card payment line, and you can pay with your bill’s barcode at Post Offices and PayPoint stores.
Working-age Council Tax Support follows a locally approved scheme, with a £16,000 savings limit unless you get Pension Credit guarantee credit. Pensioners sharing their home with a low-income adult who pays no rent can claim Second Adult Rebate. Changes in your circumstances must be reported within 21 days.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Gloucester?
£2,355.84 a year in 2026/27, or £235.58 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Gloucester?
Band A: 17,780 of 60,510 homes (29%). A Band A bill is £1,570.56 in 2026/27.
How much has Gloucester council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,246.16 to £2,355.84 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Gloucester?
District council £244.13; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,763.46; Police and crime commissioner £340.58; Parish/town council (average) £7.67 (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 an empty homes discount in Gloucester?
Yes, 25% for up to six months from when a home becomes empty and unfurnished. After that the full charge applies, and a 100% premium starts once it has been empty for a year.
Which direct debit dates does Gloucester City Council offer?
The 1st, 15th, 22nd or 28th of the month.
Why is there no fire charge on my Gloucester council tax bill?
Gloucester bills show only the city, Gloucestershire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner, so there is no separate fire authority precept.
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)
- Gloucester City Council – How much do I pay? (2026/27)
- Gloucester City Council – Empty properties
- Gloucester City Council – Second homes
- Gloucester City Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Gloucester City Council – Council Tax Support