Merton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Merton is £2,146.76 for 2026/27, up 2.5% (£52.33) on last year. That is £244.76 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 20th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (32%), so the average bill per home is about £2,277.
Updated 2026-10-03 · London borough, London · Official England government statistics
Merton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,431.17 | £143.12 | £119.26 | £1,073.38 | 1,190 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,669.70 | £166.97 | £139.14 | £1,252.28 | 8,590 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,908.23 | £190.82 | £159.02 | £1,431.17 | 24,180 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,146.76 | £214.68 | £178.90 | £1,610.07 | 28,320 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,623.82 | £262.38 | £218.65 | £1,967.86 | 13,600 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,100.88 | £310.09 | £258.41 | £2,325.66 | 5,970 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,577.93 | £357.79 | £298.16 | £2,683.45 | 4,180 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,293.52 | £429.35 | £357.79 | £3,220.14 | 1,860 |
- Merton
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Merton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Merton but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,146.76 Band D charge, £1,636.25 (76%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for greater london authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,604.29 | 74.7% | £1,604.29 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £31.96 | 1.5% | £31.96 |
| Greater London Authority | £510.51 | 23.8% | £510.51 |
- Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,604 74.7%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £32 1.5%
- Greater London Authority £511 23.8%
Merton council tax history
Band D in Merton has risen from £1,382.45 in 2016/17 to £2,146.76 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.6%, the 123rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Merton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,146.76 | +2.5% | £2,146.76 |
| 2025/26 | £2,094.43 | +4.8% | £2,094.43 |
| 2024/25 | £1,999.28 | +5.8% | £1,999.28 |
| 2023/24 | £1,889.27 | +6.1% | £1,889.27 |
| 2022/23 | £1,781.43 | +4.2% | £1,781.43 |
| 2021/22 | £1,709.14 | +5.9% | £1,709.14 |
| 2020/21 | £1,613.63 | +3.9% | £1,613.63 |
| 2019/20 | £1,552.90 | +5.8% | £1,552.90 |
| 2018/19 | £1,468.06 | +3.4% | £1,468.06 |
| 2017/18 | £1,419.73 | +2.7% | £1,419.73 |
| 2016/17 | £1,382.45 | – | £1,382.45 |
Homes by council tax band in Merton
Merton has 87,890 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 11% 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 D, which costs £2,146.76 a year (£214.68 a month over 10 instalments).
Merton compared with London
Merton is the 17th cheapest of 33 councils in London, where the average Band D across councils is £2,090.08 (£56.68 less than here). Cheapest: Wandsworth (£1,028.21); most expensive: Kingston upon Thames (£2,609.20).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Barnet | £2,132.60 | +4.8% |
| Ealing | £2,138.53 | +4.8% |
| Bromley | £2,140.04 | +4.8% |
| Merton | £2,146.76 | +2.5% |
| Hounslow | £2,185.56 | +4.8% |
| Barking and Dagenham | £2,198.51 | +4.8% |
| Camden | £2,207.55 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Merton drops from £2,146.76 to £1,610.07.
- Council Tax Reduction: Merton 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).
Merton's 2.5% 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.
The Wimbledon Common levy: why some Merton bills are higher
Merton homes within three-quarters of a mile of Wimbledon Common pay an extra levy on top of the normal charge. The council collects it and passes it to the Wimbledon and Putney Commons Conservators, who look after the Common. The government's Band D figure for Merton (£2,146.76) is an average across the borough, so it falls between the two rates the council publishes.
If you are not sure whether your street is inside the levy area, the council asks you to contact its council tax team. Your bill will show the levy if it applies.
| Band | Outside levy area | Inside levy area | Levy |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,427.01 | £1,454.60 | £27.59 |
| B | £1,664.85 | £1,697.03 | £32.18 |
| C | £1,902.69 | £1,939.47 | £36.78 |
| D | £2,140.52 | £2,181.90 | £41.38 |
| E | £2,616.19 | £2,666.77 | £50.58 |
| F | £3,091.86 | £3,151.63 | £59.77 |
| G | £3,567.53 | £3,636.50 | £68.97 |
| H | £4,281.04 | £4,363.80 | £82.76 |
Council Tax Support in Merton can still cover the whole bill
Merton's local scheme still lets working-age residents get up to 100% of their council tax paid. "Maximum CTS" is your full bill after any single person discount or disabled relief, minus deductions for other adults in the home. You get the maximum if your income is below your "applicable amount" or you get income-related ESA and similar benefits.
If your income is above the applicable amount, support falls by 20p for every £1 over (a 20% taper). The council's own example: a £20-a-week bill with a 25% single person discount gives maximum support of £15. If income is £10 a week over the applicable amount, support falls by £2 to £13 a week. Savings over £16,000 rule you out. For working-age claimants, savings above £6,000 count as £1 a week of income for every £250.
Premiums and paying in Merton
Merton has charged a 100% premium on homes empty for one year or more since 1 April 2024. The premium is 200% after five years and 300% after ten. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025. You can apply for an exception, for example for a home being actively marketed for sale or let (12 months), an occupied caravan pitch or boat mooring, or a seasonal home that planning rules stop being lived in all year. For sale or let, you must send a link to the live advert.
Instalments are due on the 1st of each month, April to January. To spread payments over 12 months, phone the council. If you pay late, the council cancels your instalments and the whole balance becomes due through the magistrates' court.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Merton?
£2,146.76 a year in 2026/27, or £214.68 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Merton?
Band D: 28,320 of 87,890 homes (32%). A Band D bill is £2,146.76 in 2026/27.
How much has Merton council tax gone up?
2.5% this year, from £2,094.43 to £2,146.76 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Merton?
Borough council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,604.29; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £31.96; Greater London Authority £510.51 (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.
What is the Wimbledon Common levy on Merton council tax?
An extra charge for homes within three-quarters of a mile of Wimbledon Common. It pays for upkeep of the Common. In 2026/27 it adds £41.38 to a Band D bill, from £2,140.52 to £2,181.90.
Can working-age residents get 100% council tax support in Merton?
Yes. If your income is below your applicable amount, or you get certain benefits such as income-related ESA, support can cover your whole bill after discounts and any deductions for other adults.
When did Merton start charging a premium on second homes?
From 1 April 2025. A second home pays double, so a Band D second home outside the levy area costs £4,281.04 in 2026/27.
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)
- London Borough of Merton – Council Tax charges and bands
- London Borough of Merton – Empty and second home premiums
- London Borough of Merton – Calculating Council Tax Support
- London Borough of Merton – Paying your Council Tax