Mid Sussex Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Mid Sussex is £2,474.26 for 2026/27, up 5% (£117.77) on last year. That is £82.74 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 181st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,699.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Mid Sussex council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,649.51 | £164.95 | £137.46 | £1,237.13 | 2,340 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,924.42 | £192.44 | £160.37 | £1,443.32 | 7,940 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,199.34 | £219.93 | £183.28 | £1,649.51 | 15,680 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,474.26 | £247.43 | £206.19 | £1,855.70 | 17,920 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,024.10 | £302.41 | £252.01 | £2,268.07 | 12,560 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,573.93 | £357.39 | £297.83 | £2,680.45 | 9,290 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,123.77 | £412.38 | £343.65 | £3,092.83 | 5,080 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,948.52 | £494.85 | £412.38 | £3,711.39 | 450 |
- Mid Sussex
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Mid Sussex council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Mid Sussex but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,474.26 Band D charge, £202.22 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £202.22 | 8.2% | £202.22 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,890.36 | 76.4% | £1,890.36 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 11.4% | £281.91 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £99.77 | 4.0% | £99.77 |
- District council £202 8.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890 76.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 11.4%
- Parish/town council (average) £100 4.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Mid Sussex; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Mid Sussex council tax history
Band D in Mid Sussex has risen from £1,571.13 in 2016/17 to £2,474.26 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.2%, the 148th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Mid Sussex Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,474.26 | +5.0% | £2,474.26 |
| 2025/26 | £2,356.49 | +4.9% | £2,356.49 |
| 2024/25 | £2,245.92 | +5.0% | £2,245.92 |
| 2023/24 | £2,138.80 | +4.9% | £2,138.80 |
| 2022/23 | £2,038.26 | +3.2% | £2,038.26 |
| 2021/22 | £1,975.94 | +4.9% | £1,975.94 |
| 2020/21 | £1,883.48 | +4.2% | £1,883.48 |
| 2019/20 | £1,808.37 | +5.5% | £1,808.37 |
| 2018/19 | £1,713.61 | +5.2% | £1,713.61 |
| 2017/18 | £1,629.08 | +3.7% | £1,629.08 |
| 2016/17 | £1,571.13 | – | £1,571.13 |
Homes by council tax band in Mid Sussex
Mid Sussex has 71,260 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 14% 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 £2,474.26 a year (£247.43 a month over 10 instalments).
Mid Sussex compared with South East
Mid Sussex is the 31st cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£1.19 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Dover | £2,461.74 | +4.1% |
| Chichester | £2,469.68 | +5.3% |
| Tonbridge and Malling | £2,471.83 | +4.1% |
| Mid Sussex | £2,474.26 | +5% |
| Arun | £2,487.24 | +4.9% |
| Thanet | £2,490.90 | +4.2% |
| Runnymede | £2,492.99 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Mid Sussex drops from £2,474.26 to £1,855.70.
- Council Tax Reduction: Mid Sussex 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).
Mid Sussex'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.
Mid Sussex's two-track Council Tax Support: protected and non-protected households
Mid Sussex District Council's working-age scheme treats two groups differently. Protected households can get up to 100% off. Everyone else is capped at 60%. Protected households include lone parents with a child under 5. They also include people getting DLA, PIP, Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, the support component of ESA, the Universal Credit limited capability for work and work-related activity element, any disability premium, or a War Widow's or War Disablement Pension.
Income is worked out weekly and compared with a set allowance for living costs. The more your income goes over that allowance (your "excess income"), the lower the band you fall into. Worked example: a non-protected household £40 a week over its allowance gets 45% off. On a Band D home (£2,474.26 in 2026/27), that leaves £1,360.84 to pay. A protected household with the same income gets 80% off and pays £494.85.
- Savings over £16,000 rule you out, unless you are a pensioner on the guarantee element of Pension Credit.
- Since 2020, self-employed claimants have been assessed on a Minimum Income Floor. This is assumed earnings at the National Living Wage (£12.71 an hour in 2026/27) for up to 35 hours a week, depending on caring responsibilities.
- Unusually, working-age Council Tax Support can be backdated by up to a year if you show continuous good cause. Working-age Housing Benefit can only be backdated by one month.
| Weekly excess income | Protected group | Non-protected group |
|---|---|---|
| Less than £30 | 100% | 60% |
| £30 to £59.99 | 80% | 45% |
| £60 to £94.99 | 60% | 35% |
| £95 to £129.99 | 40% | 25% |
| £130 to £164.99 | 20% | 15% |
| £165+ | 0% | 0% |
Empty homes, second homes and paying in Mid Sussex
Mid Sussex gives no discount on empty, unfurnished homes. From 1 April 2025, the premium starts after one year empty instead of two. A Band D home empty for over a year pays £4,948.52 in 2026/27. From the same date, second homes, which used to pay the normal 100%, pay a 100% premium. Exceptions follow the national classes, such as homes for sale or let (12 months), seasonal homes with planning limits, and occupied caravan pitches and moorings. An exception removes only the premium, not the normal bill.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 10th or 20th of the month. You can pay over 10 or 12 months, twice a year, or once a year.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Mid Sussex?
£2,474.26 a year in 2026/27, or £247.43 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Mid Sussex?
Band D: 17,920 of 71,260 homes (25%). A Band D bill is £2,474.26 in 2026/27.
How much has Mid Sussex council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,356.49 to £2,474.26 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Mid Sussex?
District council £202.22; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890.36; Police and crime commissioner £281.91; Parish/town council (average) £99.77 (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.
Who can get 100% council tax support in Mid Sussex?
Working-age households in the protected group with low income. These include lone parents with a child under 5, and people getting disability benefits such as PIP, DLA or the ESA support component. Other working-age households can get up to 60%.
How far back can Mid Sussex backdate Council Tax Support?
Up to one year for working-age claimants and up to three months for pensioners. You must ask in writing and show continuous good cause.
What direct debit dates does Mid Sussex offer?
The 1st, 10th or 20th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments, or as half-yearly or annual payments.
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)
- Mid Sussex District Council – Council Tax Support Scheme 2026/27 (PDF)
- Mid Sussex District Council – Backdating
- Mid Sussex District Council – Minimum Income Floor for Council Tax Support
- Mid Sussex District Council – Unoccupied properties
- Mid Sussex District Council – How to pay