Isles of Scilly Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Isles of Scilly is £2,047.96 for 2026/27, up 5% (£97.93) on last year. That is £343.56 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 12th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band E (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,521.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Isles of Scilly council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,365.31 | £136.53 | £113.78 | £1,023.98 | 10 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,592.86 | £159.29 | £132.74 | £1,194.64 | 30 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,820.41 | £182.04 | £151.70 | £1,365.31 | 110 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,047.96 | £204.80 | £170.66 | £1,535.97 | 270 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,503.06 | £250.31 | £208.59 | £1,877.30 | 330 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £2,958.16 | £295.82 | £246.51 | £2,218.62 | 270 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,413.27 | £341.33 | £284.44 | £2,559.95 | 130 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,095.92 | £409.59 | £341.33 | £3,071.94 | 10 |
- Isles of Scilly
- England average
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Where your Isles of Scilly council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Isles of Scilly but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,047.96 Band D charge, £1,744.76 (85%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,711.53 | 83.6% | £2,091.87 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £33.23 | 1.6% | £40.61 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £303.20 | 14.8% | £370.58 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,712 83.6%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £33 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 14.8%
Isles of Scilly council tax history
Band D in Isles of Scilly has risen from £1,290.87 in 2016/17 to £2,047.96 in 2026/27 — 59% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.6%, the 126th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Isles of Scilly Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band E |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,047.96 | +5.0% | £2,503.06 |
| 2025/26 | £1,950.03 | +5.0% | £2,383.37 |
| 2024/25 | £1,857.35 | +5.0% | £2,270.09 |
| 2023/24 | £1,769.18 | +5.1% | £2,162.33 |
| 2022/23 | £1,682.56 | +3.2% | £2,056.46 |
| 2021/22 | £1,630.84 | +5.2% | £1,993.25 |
| 2020/21 | £1,549.65 | +4.0% | £1,894.02 |
| 2019/20 | £1,489.34 | +4.3% | £1,820.30 |
| 2018/19 | £1,428.26 | +6.1% | £1,745.65 |
| 2017/18 | £1,346.18 | +4.3% | £1,645.33 |
| 2016/17 | £1,290.87 | – | £1,577.73 |
Homes by council tax band in Isles of Scilly
Isles of Scilly has 1,160 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 3% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is E, which costs £2,503.06 a year (£250.31 a month over 10 instalments).
Isles of Scilly compared with South West
Isles of Scilly is the 1st cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£463.44 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band E bill in Isles of Scilly drops from £2,503.06 to £1,877.30.
- Council Tax Reduction: Isles of Scilly 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).
Isles of Scilly'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.
How the Council of the Isles of Scilly sets its tax
The Council of the Isles of Scilly raised its own share by 4.99% for 2026/27. The Devon and Cornwall police and crime commissioner raised the police share by 5.2%, so the overall Band D bill rose 5.02%. The islands' whole tax base is just 1,432.9 Band D equivalent homes (1,160 homes on the valuation list). Council tax raises £2,429,055 of the council's £8.3 million budget. Government grants supply about £4.9 million and business rates £1.18 million.
The bill funds two levies you will not see elsewhere. The Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority receives £46,738, and the Environment Agency £2,875 for flood and coastal erosion work. There is no separate fire precept on the bill.
Second homes and staff housing on Scilly
The council charges a 100% premium on second homes from the first day, and a long-term empty premium after one year, both from 1 April 2025. It has added a local exception that matters on the islands. No premium is charged on a home used as staff accommodation, owned or rented by a local employer. The same applies where an islands employee rents the home but keeps their main home elsewhere in the UK. In practice, housing for island workers is not charged as a second home.
Scilly still gives a 50% discount for up to six months on a home that is empty and substantially unfurnished, and the discount stays with the property rather than the owner. Council Tax Support cannot be backdated, so the council asks people to apply as soon as they think they qualify.
Council tax queries go to the revenues team on 0300 1234 105 (option 1), with post to a PO Box in Truro.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Isles of Scilly?
£2,047.96 a year in 2026/27, or £204.80 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Isles of Scilly?
Band E: 330 of 1,160 homes (28%). A Band E bill is £2,503.06 in 2026/27.
How much has Isles of Scilly council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £1,950.03 to £2,047.96 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 59%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Isles of Scilly?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,711.53; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £33.23; Police and crime commissioner £303.20 (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.
Do staff houses on the Isles of Scilly pay the second homes premium?
No. The council’s 2026-27 policy exempts homes used to house people employed by local island businesses from both premiums.
Why is there an Inshore Fisheries levy on Scilly council tax?
The council must pay a levy (£46,738 in 2026/27) to the Isles of Scilly Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority for its work under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
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)
- Council of the Isles of Scilly – Council Tax leaflet 2026/27 (PDF)
- Council of the Isles of Scilly – Empty Homes and Second Homes Premium Policy 2026-27 (PDF)
- Council of the Isles of Scilly – Council Tax