Ipswich Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Ipswich is £2,468.25 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£109.71) on last year. That is £76.73 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 176th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (37%), so the average bill per home is about £2,007.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Ipswich council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,645.50 | £164.55 | £137.13 | £1,234.13 | 19,560 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,919.75 | £191.98 | £159.98 | £1,439.81 | 23,360 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,194.00 | £219.40 | £182.83 | £1,645.50 | 11,700 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,468.25 | £246.83 | £205.69 | £1,851.19 | 4,540 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,016.75 | £301.68 | £251.40 | £2,262.56 | 2,380 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,565.25 | £356.53 | £297.10 | £2,673.94 | 980 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,113.75 | £411.38 | £342.81 | £3,085.31 | 390 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,936.50 | £493.65 | £411.38 | £3,702.38 | 20 |
- Ipswich
- England average
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Where your Ipswich council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Ipswich but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,468.25 Band D charge, £432.09 (18%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £432.09 | 17.5% | £336.07 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,731.69 | 70.2% | £1,346.87 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £304.47 | 12.3% | £236.81 |
- District council £432 17.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,732 70.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £304 12.3%
Ipswich council tax history
Band D in Ipswich has risen from £1,657.26 in 2016/17 to £2,468.25 in 2026/27 — 49% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.7%, the 272nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Ipswich Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,468.25 | +4.7% | £1,919.75 |
| 2025/26 | £2,358.54 | +4.6% | £1,834.42 |
| 2024/25 | £2,254.05 | +4.6% | £1,753.15 |
| 2023/24 | £2,154.68 | +4.0% | £1,675.86 |
| 2022/23 | £2,070.82 | +2.9% | £1,610.64 |
| 2021/22 | £2,011.59 | +3.9% | £1,564.57 |
| 2020/21 | £1,935.72 | +3.7% | £1,505.56 |
| 2019/20 | £1,867.05 | +4.7% | £1,452.15 |
| 2018/19 | £1,782.99 | +4.8% | £1,386.77 |
| 2017/18 | £1,701.81 | +2.7% | £1,323.63 |
| 2016/17 | £1,657.26 | – | £1,288.98 |
Homes by council tax band in Ipswich
Ipswich has 62,930 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 68% 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 B, which costs £1,919.75 a year (£191.98 a month over 10 instalments).
Ipswich compared with East of England
Ipswich is the 37th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£77.05 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +4.9% |
| North Norfolk | £2,459.93 | +5.1% |
| Cambridge | £2,467.02 | +4.7% |
| Ipswich | £2,468.25 | +4.7% |
| Bedford | £2,471.74 | +5.1% |
| South Norfolk | £2,482.87 | +4.9% |
| East Cambridgeshire | £2,485.18 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Ipswich drops from £1,919.75 to £1,439.81.
- Council Tax Reduction: Ipswich 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).
Ipswich's 4.7% 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.
Ipswich's 2.98% rise and where the money goes
Ipswich Borough Council raised its share by 2.98% for 2026/27, which it says is 19p a week extra at Band B. Of a Band D bill, Ipswich keeps 18%, Suffolk County Council takes 70% and the Suffolk police and crime commissioner 12%. There is no separate fire precept because Suffolk Fire and Rescue is part of the county council. At Band D, the borough's share is £432.09.
The council leader says Ipswich received its best financial settlement from the government since 2016, and has delivered most of the £19 million savings plan it started in 2024. For the first time in at least a decade, it needs no new savings programme up to 2027. It has allocated more than £70 million to the town centre over the next four years.
Ipswich discounts that others do not offer
If you are struggling, Ipswich has Discretionary Financial Assistance, which can reduce a bill case by case for people facing exceptional financial difficulty. The care leaver reduction has been available since 1 April 2019. To qualify you must be under 25 and have been in Suffolk County Council care for at least 13 weeks since age 14, including on your 16th birthday.
- 25% off for the first 28 days a home is empty and unfurnished. The discount belongs to the property, not the owner.
- 10% off for up to 12 months while an empty home undergoes major repairs or structural alteration.
- Premiums of 200% after 1 year, 300% after 5 and 400% after 10 (the one-year trigger has applied since April 2024). Second homes have paid 200% since April 2025, from day one.
- Payment options: once in April, twice (April and October), or 10 monthly payments on the 1st. Direct debit can be on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd, and you can ask for 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Ipswich?
£2,468.25 a year in 2026/27, or £246.83 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Ipswich?
Band B: 23,360 of 62,930 homes (37%). A Band B bill is £1,919.75 in 2026/27.
How much has Ipswich council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £2,358.54 to £2,468.25 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 49%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Ipswich?
District council £432.09; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,731.69; Police and crime commissioner £304.47 (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 Ipswich Borough Council raise council tax in 2026/27?
Its own share rose 2.98%, about 19p a week at Band B. The county and police set their own increases.
Is there an empty property discount in Ipswich?
Yes, 25% for the first 28 days, or 10% for up to 12 months if the home needs major repairs.
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)
- Ipswich BC – Council Tax information 2026/27 (Leader’s statement, PDF)
- Ipswich BC – Property exemptions, discounts and premiums
- Ipswich BC – Care leaver discount
- Ipswich BC – Choose when to pay your Council Tax
- Ipswich BC – Extra help: Discretionary Financial Assistance