Merthyr Tydfil Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Merthyr Tydfil is £2,593.60 for 2026/27, up 5.3% (£129.59) on last year. That is £310.52 above the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 22nd lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (51%), so the average bill per home is about £2,057.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Merthyr Tydfil council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,729.07 | £172.91 | £144.09 | £1,296.80 | 14,160 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £2,017.24 | £201.72 | £168.10 | £1,512.93 | 6,670 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £2,305.42 | £230.54 | £192.12 | £1,729.07 | 2,290 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,593.60 | £259.36 | £216.13 | £1,945.20 | 2,230 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £3,169.96 | £317.00 | £264.16 | £2,377.47 | 1,580 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,746.31 | £374.63 | £312.19 | £2,809.73 | 580 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £4,322.67 | £432.27 | £360.22 | £3,242.00 | 160 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £5,187.20 | £518.72 | £432.27 | £3,890.40 | – |
| I | More than £424,000 | £6,051.73 | £605.17 | £504.31 | £4,538.80 | 10 |
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Wales average
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Where your Merthyr Tydfil council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Merthyr Tydfil but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,593.60 Band D charge, £2,186.33 (84%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £2,186.33 | 84.3% | £1,457.55 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £405.14 | 15.6% | £270.09 |
| Community council (average) | £2.13 | 0.1% | £1.42 |
- County/county borough council £2,186 84.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £405 15.6%
- Community council (average) £2 0.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Merthyr Tydfil; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Merthyr Tydfil council tax history
Band D in Merthyr Tydfil has risen from £1,609.07 in 2016/17 to £2,593.60 in 2026/27 — 61% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.5%, the 15th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Merthyr Tydfil Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,593.60 | +5.3% | £1,729.07 |
| 2025/26 | £2,464.01 | +5.8% | £1,642.67 |
| 2024/25 | £2,329.41 | +8.1% | £1,552.94 |
| 2023/24 | £2,154.90 | +5.1% | £1,436.60 |
| 2022/23 | £2,049.88 | +1.6% | £1,366.59 |
| 2021/22 | £2,017.96 | +3.8% | £1,345.31 |
| 2020/21 | £1,943.69 | +5.1% | £1,295.79 |
| 2019/20 | £1,849.12 | +6.6% | £1,232.75 |
| 2018/19 | £1,735.21 | +4.5% | £1,156.81 |
| 2017/18 | £1,660.05 | +3.2% | £1,106.70 |
| 2016/17 | £1,609.07 | – | £1,072.71 |
Homes by council tax band in Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil has 27,680 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 75% 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 £1,729.07 a year (£172.91 a month over 10 instalments).
Merthyr Tydfil compared with Wales
Merthyr Tydfil is the 22nd cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£267.46 less than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bridgend | £2,477.99 | +5.1% |
| Blaenau Gwent | £2,531.26 | +4.2% |
| Neath Port Talbot | £2,541.39 | +4.1% |
| Merthyr Tydfil | £2,593.60 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Merthyr Tydfil drops from £1,729.07 to £1,296.80.
- Council Tax Reduction: Merthyr Tydfil runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- 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).
Merthyr Tydfil's 5.3% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Why Merthyr Tydfil has the highest Band D in Wales
Merthyr Tydfil's Band D of £2,593.60 is the highest of all 22 Welsh councils. Almost all of it is the county borough's own charge, £2,186.33, plus £405.14 for South Wales Police. Only one area, Trelewis and Bedlinog, has a community council, which adds £33.89 at Band D. Everywhere else pays £2,591.47. Over half of Merthyr's homes are in Band A, according to the Welsh Government, so most households pay far less than Band D. A Band A bill is £1,729.07.
Merthyr also expects to collect less than most councils. Its 2026/27 tax base assumes a 96% collection rate, one of the lowest in Wales.
Premiums in Merthyr Tydfil
Long-term empty homes pay a 100% premium for one to five years, 150% for five to ten years and 200% after ten years. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since April 2024. At the average Band D that is £5,187.20 for a second home and up to £7,780.80 for a home empty over ten years. Unfurnished empty homes are exempt for their first 6 months. Owners can ask for an exception, for example if the home is being sold or let. The revenues team is on 01685 725000.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Merthyr Tydfil?
£2,593.60 a year in 2026/27, or £259.36 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Merthyr Tydfil?
Band A: 14,160 of 27,680 homes (51%). A Band A bill is £1,729.07 in 2026/27.
How much has Merthyr Tydfil council tax gone up?
5.3% this year, from £2,464.01 to £2,593.60 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 61%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Merthyr Tydfil?
County/county borough council £2,186.33; Police and crime commissioner £405.14; Community council (average) £2.13 (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.
Which Welsh council has the highest council tax?
Merthyr Tydfil, with a Band D of £2,593.60 in 2026/27. Over half its homes are in Band A, which costs £1,729.07.
What premium does Merthyr charge on empty homes?
100% after one year, 150% after five years and 200% after ten years.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Merthyr Tydfil CBC – Council Tax Bands and Charges
- Merthyr Tydfil CBC – Council Tax Premiums
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027