Halton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Halton is £2,366.61 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£117.27) on last year. That is £24.91 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 99th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (46%), so the average bill per home is about £1,923.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, North West · Official England government statistics
Halton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,577.74 | £157.77 | £131.48 | £1,183.31 | 27,390 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,840.70 | £184.07 | £153.39 | £1,380.52 | 12,860 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,103.65 | £210.37 | £175.30 | £1,577.74 | 8,490 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,366.61 | £236.66 | £197.22 | £1,774.96 | 5,300 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,892.52 | £289.25 | £241.04 | £2,169.39 | 4,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,418.44 | £341.84 | £284.87 | £2,563.83 | 1,290 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,944.35 | £394.44 | £328.70 | £2,958.26 | 350 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,733.22 | £473.32 | £394.44 | £3,549.92 | 40 |
- Halton
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Halton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Halton but shared between 6 bodies. Of the £2,366.61 Band D charge, £1,938.81 (82%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,901.88 | 80.4% | £1,267.92 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £36.93 | 1.6% | £24.62 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £295.44 | 12.5% | £196.96 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £100.09 | 4.2% | £66.73 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £24.00 | 1.0% | £16.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £8.27 | 0.3% | £5.51 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,902 80.4%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £295 12.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.2%
- Mayoral combined authority £24 1.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £8 0.3%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Halton; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Halton council tax history
Band D in Halton has risen from £1,486.60 in 2016/17 to £2,366.61 in 2026/27 — 59% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.0%, the 102nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Halton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,366.61 | +5.2% | £1,577.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,249.34 | +5.3% | £1,499.56 |
| 2024/25 | £2,136.80 | +4.9% | £1,424.53 |
| 2023/24 | £2,036.80 | +5.1% | £1,357.87 |
| 2022/23 | £1,937.07 | +3.1% | £1,291.38 |
| 2021/22 | £1,878.82 | +5.0% | £1,252.55 |
| 2020/21 | £1,788.61 | +4.0% | £1,192.41 |
| 2019/20 | £1,719.64 | +5.3% | £1,146.43 |
| 2018/19 | £1,633.00 | +5.2% | £1,088.67 |
| 2017/18 | £1,552.60 | +4.4% | £1,035.07 |
| 2016/17 | £1,486.60 | – | £991.07 |
Homes by council tax band in Halton
Halton has 59,720 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 67% 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 £1,577.74 a year (£157.77 a month over 10 instalments).
Halton compared with North West
Halton is the 4th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£116.61 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan | £2,152.68 | +6% |
| Trafford | £2,291.70 | +8% |
| Manchester | £2,312.04 | +5.9% |
| Halton | £2,366.61 | +5.2% |
| Ribble Valley | £2,386.50 | +3.8% |
| Bolton | £2,399.74 | +5.9% |
| St Helens | £2,403.38 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Halton drops from £1,577.74 to £1,183.31.
- Council Tax Reduction: Halton 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).
Halton's 5.2% 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.
Four charges on a Halton bill, plus six parishes
Homes in Runcorn and Widnes outside the six parishes pay a 2026/27 Band D bill of £2,358.34. Halton Borough Council takes £1,938.81 of that, including the adult social care precept. The Police and Crime Commissioner takes £295.44, the Fire Authority £100.09, and the mayoral precept £24.00. Halton is one of the six councils in the combined authority set up in 2014 for Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral, which now has an elected mayor and raises this precept.
Six parishes add their own precept. Preston Brook has by far the highest, making a Band D bill £2,666.97, about £309 more than in unparished Halton. The other parishes are much closer to the base figure.
| Area | Band A | Band D | Band H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halton (no parish) | £1,572.23 | £2,358.34 | £4,716.68 |
| Hale | £1,635.65 | £2,453.47 | £4,906.94 |
| Moore | £1,584.60 | £2,376.89 | £4,753.78 |
| Daresbury | £1,606.06 | £2,409.09 | £4,818.18 |
| Preston Brook | £1,777.98 | £2,666.97 | £5,333.94 |
| Sandymoor | £1,591.62 | £2,387.43 | £4,774.86 |
| Halebank | £1,634.74 | £2,452.11 | £4,904.22 |
Discounts and collecting arrears in Halton
Halton’s online forms cover Council Tax Reduction based on income, and local discounts and disregards for care leavers, carers and apprentices. There are also reductions for people in hospital, care homes or prison and for severe mental impairment, and a disabled band reduction. Halton's long-term empty homes premium has an exception you can apply for if a home needs major repairs or structural alteration. With 27,390 Band A homes, the most common band, a 25% single person discount takes £394.44 off an average Band A bill.
If you fall into arrears while on Universal Credit, JSA, Income Support, ESA or Pension Credit, Halton can ask the DWP to take payments straight from your benefit. Bills since October 2019 carry an online key, which lets you register for an online account and e-billing to view and print past bills.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Halton?
£2,366.61 a year in 2026/27, or £236.66 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Halton?
Band A: 27,390 of 59,720 homes (46%). A Band A bill is £1,577.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Halton council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,249.34 to £2,366.61 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 59%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Halton?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,901.88; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36.93; Police and crime commissioner £295.44; Fire and rescue authority £100.09; Mayoral combined authority £24.00; Parish/town council (average) £8.27 (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.
What is the mayoral precept on my Halton council tax bill?
A £24.00 Band D charge for the mayoral combined authority that Halton belongs to with Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral. It appears as a separate line from the borough, police and fire charges.
Which part of Halton pays the most council tax?
Preston Brook. Its parish precept makes a Band D bill £2,666.97 in 2026/27, compared with £2,358.34 in unparished parts of Runcorn and Widnes.
Can Halton take council tax arrears from my benefits?
Yes. If you get Universal Credit, JSA, Income Support, ESA or Pension Credit, the council can ask the DWP to deduct payments towards your arrears.
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)
- Halton Borough Council – What is Council Tax? (2026/27 charges)
- Halton Borough Council – Council Tax discounts, exemptions and reductions
- Halton Borough Council – Council Tax FAQs
- Halton Borough Council – Housing Benefits and Council Tax Reduction
- legislation.gov.uk – Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral Combined Authority Order 2014