Harlow Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Harlow is £2,298.69 for 2026/27, up 3.7% (£82.26) on last year. That is £92.83 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 55th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (48%), so the average bill per home is about £2,107.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Harlow council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,532.46 | £153.25 | £127.71 | £1,149.35 | 2,620 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,787.87 | £178.79 | £148.99 | £1,340.90 | 8,390 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,043.28 | £204.33 | £170.27 | £1,532.46 | 19,650 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,298.69 | £229.87 | £191.56 | £1,724.02 | 5,250 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,809.51 | £280.95 | £234.13 | £2,107.13 | 3,090 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,320.33 | £332.03 | £276.69 | £2,490.25 | 1,200 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,831.15 | £383.12 | £319.26 | £2,873.36 | 430 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,597.38 | £459.74 | £383.12 | £3,448.04 | 20 |
- Harlow
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Harlow council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Harlow but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,298.69 Band D charge, £288.90 (13%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £288.90 | 12.6% | £256.80 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,641.96 | 71.4% | £1,459.52 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £275.31 | 12.0% | £244.72 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.52 | 4.0% | £82.24 |
- District council £289 12.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,642 71.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £275 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.0%
Harlow council tax history
Band D in Harlow has risen from £1,616.88 in 2016/17 to £2,298.69 in 2026/27 — 42% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 20.2%, the 292nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Harlow Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,298.69 | +3.7% | £2,043.28 |
| 2025/26 | £2,216.43 | +3.5% | £1,970.16 |
| 2024/25 | £2,140.47 | +4.3% | £1,902.64 |
| 2023/24 | £2,052.81 | +3.5% | £1,824.72 |
| 2022/23 | £1,983.87 | +3.7% | £1,763.44 |
| 2021/22 | £1,912.23 | +1.9% | £1,699.76 |
| 2020/21 | £1,876.89 | +3.5% | £1,668.35 |
| 2019/20 | £1,813.58 | +4.6% | £1,612.07 |
| 2018/19 | £1,733.43 | +4.3% | £1,540.83 |
| 2017/18 | £1,662.06 | +2.8% | £1,477.39 |
| 2016/17 | £1,616.88 | – | £1,437.23 |
Homes by council tax band in Harlow
Harlow has 40,650 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 27% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,043.28 a year (£204.33 a month over 10 instalments).
Harlow compared with East of England
Harlow is the 9th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£92.51 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Braintree | £2,280.34 | +3.9% |
| Colchester | £2,282.85 | +4.1% |
| Peterborough | £2,293.47 | +4.9% |
| Harlow | £2,298.69 | +3.7% |
| Chelmsford | £2,300.18 | +4.2% |
| Broxbourne | £2,306.43 | +4.9% |
| Mid Suffolk | £2,316.88 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Harlow drops from £2,043.28 to £1,532.46.
- Council Tax Reduction: Harlow 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).
Harlow's 3.7% 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.
Council Tax Support in Harlow covers up to 76%
Harlow's 2026/27 Council Tax Support scheme caps the maximum award for working-age claimants at 76% of the bill, so everyone of working age pays at least 24%. On a Band C home, the most common band in Harlow, that minimum is about £490.39 a year out of £2,043.28. Working-age claimants cannot have more than £6,000 in savings. Pension-age claimants can have up to £16,000, or more if they get guarantee Pension Credit. If you get support but still cannot pay, you can ask Harlow for an Exceptional Hardship Payment.
Harlow Council keeps only 12.6% of a Band D bill (£288.90). Essex County Council takes 71.4%, Essex Police 12.0% and Essex fire 4.0%. Harlow's own share works out at about £5.56 a week for a Band D household.
Empty homes, second homes and care leavers
Harlow is unusual in still giving a short break on empty homes. An empty, unfurnished home can get 100% off for up to 3 months. The discount belongs to the property, not the owner, and the home must be lived in for over 6 weeks before it can be claimed again. Premiums then apply:
- Care leavers up to 21 who were looked after by Essex County Council have their bill reduced as if they were not counted. Essex tells Harlow directly, so you do not need to apply.
- Direct debits run over 10 or 12 months, on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th. Ask before 1 April to get the full 12 instalments. If you ask between 1 April and 15 May, the rest of the year's bill is spread over the remaining months.
| Status | Charge | Band D bill 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Empty and unfurnished, first 3 months | 0% (100% discount) | £0.00 |
| Empty 3 months to 1 year | 100% | £2,298.69 |
| Empty 1 year or more | 200% | £4,597.38 |
| Empty 5 years or more (from April 2026) | 300% | £6,896.07 |
| Empty 10 years or more (from April 2026) | 400% | £9,194.76 |
| Second home (from April 2025) | 200% | £4,597.38 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Harlow?
£2,298.69 a year in 2026/27, or £229.87 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Harlow?
Band C: 19,650 of 40,650 homes (48%). A Band C bill is £2,043.28 in 2026/27.
How much has Harlow council tax gone up?
3.7% this year, from £2,216.43 to £2,298.69 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 42%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Harlow?
District council £288.90; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,641.96; Police and crime commissioner £275.31; Fire and rescue authority £92.52 (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.
Does Harlow give a discount on empty homes?
Yes, 100% for up to 3 months while a home is empty and unfurnished. After that the full charge applies, and a 100% premium is added after a year.
How much Council Tax Support can I get in Harlow?
Up to 76% of your bill if you are working age. Pensioners can get up to 100% under the national rules.
How much of my Harlow council tax does Harlow Council keep?
About 13%. At Band D that is £288.90 of the £2,298.69 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)
- Harlow Council – Council Tax Support scheme 2026 to 2027 (PDF)
- Harlow Council – Apply for Council Tax Support
- Harlow Council – Unfurnished properties
- Harlow Council – Second homes
- Harlow Council – Discounts for care leavers
- Harlow Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Harlow Council – Where your Council Tax goes