Lichfield Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Lichfield is £2,351.90 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£92.69) on last year. That is £39.62 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 90th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,319.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
Lichfield council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,567.93 | £156.79 | £130.66 | £1,175.95 | 6,120 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,829.26 | £182.93 | £152.44 | £1,371.94 | 11,130 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,090.58 | £209.06 | £174.21 | £1,567.93 | 12,640 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,351.90 | £235.19 | £195.99 | £1,763.93 | 7,600 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,874.54 | £287.45 | £239.55 | £2,155.91 | 5,180 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,397.19 | £339.72 | £283.10 | £2,547.89 | 4,060 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,919.83 | £391.98 | £326.65 | £2,939.88 | 2,740 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,703.80 | £470.38 | £391.98 | £3,527.85 | 430 |
- Lichfield
- England average
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Where your Lichfield council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Lichfield but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,351.90 Band D charge, £201.79 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £201.79 | 8.6% | £179.37 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,686.42 | 71.7% | £1,499.04 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £302.57 | 12.9% | £268.95 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £96.77 | 4.1% | £86.02 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £64.35 | 2.7% | £57.20 |
- District council £202 8.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,686 71.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 12.9%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £64 2.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Lichfield; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Lichfield council tax history
Band D in Lichfield has risen from £1,539.00 in 2016/17 to £2,351.90 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.8%, the 271st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Lichfield Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,351.90 | +4.1% | £2,090.58 |
| 2025/26 | £2,259.21 | +4.8% | £2,008.19 |
| 2024/25 | £2,155.20 | +4.7% | £1,915.73 |
| 2023/24 | £2,057.76 | +4.4% | £1,829.12 |
| 2022/23 | £1,971.63 | +2.9% | £1,752.56 |
| 2021/22 | £1,915.61 | +4.7% | £1,702.76 |
| 2020/21 | £1,829.53 | +3.8% | £1,626.25 |
| 2019/20 | £1,762.55 | +4.1% | £1,566.71 |
| 2018/19 | £1,693.45 | +5.6% | £1,505.29 |
| 2017/18 | £1,604.32 | +4.2% | £1,426.06 |
| 2016/17 | £1,539.00 | – | £1,368.00 |
Homes by council tax band in Lichfield
Lichfield has 49,900 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 35% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,090.58 a year (£209.06 a month over 10 instalments).
Lichfield compared with West Midlands
Lichfield is the 12th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£47.77 more than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | £2,334.25 | +4% |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | £2,338.21 | +4.4% |
| East Staffordshire | £2,351.34 | +4.2% |
| Lichfield | £2,351.90 | +4.1% |
| Birmingham | £2,362.90 | +5.2% |
| Wychavon | £2,373.19 | +7.8% |
| Cannock Chase | £2,375.83 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Lichfield drops from £2,090.58 to £1,567.93.
- Council Tax Reduction: Lichfield 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).
Lichfield's 4.1% 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.
Empty homes and second homes in Lichfield District
Lichfield District Council has charged council tax premiums on empty and second homes since 1 April 2025. A furnished home with nobody living in it as their main residence pays double. A home left empty and unfurnished pays nothing extra for its first year. After that, the charge rises in steps the longer it stays empty.
On a Band D home the full 2026/27 charge is £2,351.90, so the doubled bill on a Band D second home is £4,703.80. A Band D home that has been empty for more than 10 years pays £9,407.60.
- Homes actively marketed for sale or rent are exempt from the premium for up to 12 months, and this applies only once per owner.
- Empty homes undergoing major structural work that makes them uninhabitable get up to 12 months off the premium. Kitchen or bathroom refits do not count.
- The council says it may waive the premium for a new owner who buys a home that was already paying the long-term empty charge, as long as it stays empty and unfurnished.
| Status | Charge | Band D bill 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| Empty and unfurnished, up to 1 year | 100% (no premium) | £2,351.90 |
| Empty 1 to 5 years | 200% | £4,703.80 |
| Empty 5 to 10 years | 300% | £7,055.70 |
| Empty more than 10 years | 400% | £9,407.60 |
| Second home (furnished, no resident) | 200% | £4,703.80 |
Paying and getting help in Lichfield
Direct debits are taken over 10 months, April to January, unless you ask for 12 monthly payments. You can choose the 1st, 10th, 18th or 25th of the month. Weekly, fortnightly and four-weekly instalments are also offered.
Working-age residents apply for Local Council Tax Support through the district council. You cannot claim if you have more than £6,000 in savings (pensioners: £16,000), or if you rent from or pay board to a close relative. Pension-age claims are assessed under the national scheme.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Lichfield?
£2,351.90 a year in 2026/27, or £235.19 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Lichfield?
Band C: 12,640 of 49,900 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,090.58 in 2026/27.
How much has Lichfield council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,259.21 to £2,351.90 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Lichfield?
District council £201.79; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,686.42; Police and crime commissioner £302.57; Fire and rescue authority £96.77; Parish/town council (average) £64.35 (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 Lichfield charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 a furnished home with no permanent resident pays 200%. On a Band D home that is £4,703.80 in 2026/27. Exceptions include job-related homes, homes for sale or let (up to 12 months) and holiday homes whose planning rules ban year-round living.
Which direct debit dates does Lichfield offer?
The 1st, 10th, 18th or 25th of the month. Standard collection is 10 payments from April to January, with 12 monthly payments if you ask for them.
What is the savings limit for council tax support in Lichfield?
Working-age claimants must have no more than £6,000 in savings. Pension-age claimants can have up to £16,000.
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)
- Lichfield District Council – Empty homes charges
- Lichfield District Council – Second homes charges
- Lichfield District Council – Pay your council tax
- Lichfield District Council – Apply for council tax support