Milton Keynes Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Milton Keynes is £2,372.21 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£114.23) on last year. That is £19.31 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 101st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,203.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South East · Official England government statistics
Milton Keynes council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,581.47 | £158.15 | £131.79 | £1,186.11 | 18,080 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,845.05 | £184.51 | £153.75 | £1,383.79 | 36,330 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,108.63 | £210.86 | £175.72 | £1,581.47 | 32,830 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,372.21 | £237.22 | £197.68 | £1,779.16 | 16,830 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,899.37 | £289.94 | £241.61 | £2,174.53 | 13,500 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,426.53 | £342.65 | £285.54 | £2,569.89 | 7,290 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,953.68 | £395.37 | £329.47 | £2,965.26 | 3,260 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,744.42 | £474.44 | £395.37 | £3,558.32 | 180 |
- Milton Keynes
- England average
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Where your Milton Keynes council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Milton Keynes but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,372.21 Band D charge, £1,847.53 (78%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,812.34 | 76.4% | £1,409.60 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.19 | 1.5% | £27.37 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 12.6% | £232.00 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £89.46 | 3.8% | £69.58 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £136.94 | 5.8% | £106.51 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,812 76.4%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 12.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £89 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £137 5.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Milton Keynes; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Milton Keynes council tax history
Band D in Milton Keynes has risen from £1,505.09 in 2016/17 to £2,372.21 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.9%, the 65th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Milton Keynes Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,372.21 | +5.1% | £1,845.05 |
| 2025/26 | £2,257.98 | +5.0% | £1,756.21 |
| 2024/25 | £2,150.46 | +5.1% | £1,672.58 |
| 2023/24 | £2,046.12 | +5.3% | £1,591.43 |
| 2022/23 | £1,943.08 | +4.0% | £1,511.28 |
| 2021/22 | £1,869.18 | +3.3% | £1,453.81 |
| 2020/21 | £1,810.05 | +3.6% | £1,407.82 |
| 2019/20 | £1,746.63 | +4.4% | £1,358.49 |
| 2018/19 | £1,672.69 | +5.9% | £1,300.98 |
| 2017/18 | £1,579.23 | +4.9% | £1,228.29 |
| 2016/17 | £1,505.09 | – | £1,170.63 |
Homes by council tax band in Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes has 128,300 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 42% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,845.05 a year (£184.51 a month over 10 instalments).
Milton Keynes compared with South East
Milton Keynes is the 14th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£103.24 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| East Hampshire | £2,343.92 | +5% |
| Gosport | £2,344.29 | +4.8% |
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | +4.8% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | +5.1% |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 | +4.1% |
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | +5.1% |
| Hart | £2,400.02 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Milton Keynes drops from £1,845.05 to £1,383.79.
- Council Tax Reduction: Milton Keynes 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).
Milton Keynes's 5.1% 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.
Council Tax Reduction in Milton Keynes: 80% for most, 100% for vulnerable groups
Working-age residents on a low income in Milton Keynes can get up to 80% off their council tax, so most pay at least 20%. On a Band B home (£1,845.05 in 2026/27), that is at least £369.01 a year. Working-age savings must be under £6,000. Pension-age claimants can have up to £16,000 and can get up to 100% off.
The council lets some working-age people it considers vulnerable get up to 100% off:
- people getting a War Pension, War Widow's Pension or War Disablement Pension;
- care leavers under 25;
- people diagnosed as terminally ill;
- people with a mental health condition that seriously affects their ability to manage money, who have no partner or other person handling their finances. Evidence from a health or social care professional is needed, and the council has an evidence form for 2026.
Terminal illness support: 100% off for any band, regardless of income
Since 18 November 2025, Milton Keynes City Council has run a local scheme for households where someone has a terminal illness. The household gets 100% off its council tax for up to 12 months, in any band from A to H, whatever its income or benefits. The ill person can be any household member, including an adult relative living there. You need an SR1 form (the "Special Rules" form) from a medical professional, emailed to the council as well as to the DWP. The council cannot see SR1 forms held by the DWP.
The award can be backdated to the Special Rules date if that was within the last 12 months. If the person dies before the 12 months end, support continues until the 12 months are up or the household stops being liable, whichever comes first. The scheme only covers a main home. Second homes still pay in full, plus any premium.
Empty homes, second homes and paying in Milton Keynes
Empty, unfurnished homes get 100% off for just 14 days. The 14 days do not restart when the owner changes. Homes that need major repairs to be habitable can get 50% off for up to 12 months. After 12 months empty, a 100% premium is added, and higher premiums apply the longer it stays empty. Moving someone in for a short time does not reset the clock: if the home is empty again within six weeks, the premium comes straight back. Since 1 April 2025, second homes have paid a 100% premium. Tied job-related homes and armed forces homes can get 50% off instead, with no premium.
Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 20th or 28th, over 10 or 12 months. If a direct debit fails three times, you cannot pay that way any more. If you do not report a change affecting a discount within 21 days, you can be fined £70.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Milton Keynes?
£2,372.21 a year in 2026/27, or £237.22 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Milton Keynes?
Band B: 36,330 of 128,300 homes (28%). A Band B bill is £1,845.05 in 2026/27.
How much has Milton Keynes council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,257.98 to £2,372.21 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Milton Keynes?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,812.34; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.19; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Fire and rescue authority £89.46; Parish/town council (average) £136.94 (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 Milton Keynes give free council tax for terminal illness?
Yes. Since 18 November 2025, a household where someone is terminally ill can get 100% off for up to 12 months, in any band and whatever its income. Ask a medical professional to email an SR1 form to the council.
What is the maximum council tax reduction in Milton Keynes?
80% for most working-age claimants, so at least £369.01 a year on a Band B home in 2026/27. Up to 100% for pensioners, care leavers under 25, war pensioners, people who are terminally ill and some people with serious mental health conditions.
How long is the empty property discount in Milton Keynes?
14 days at 100%, for a home that is empty and unfurnished. A change of owner does not restart it.
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)
- Milton Keynes City Council – Information on claiming Council Tax Reduction
- Milton Keynes City Council – Council Tax Support for terminally ill households
- Milton Keynes City Council – Council Tax premiums
- Milton Keynes City Council – Discounts and exemptions for unoccupied properties
- Milton Keynes City Council – Pay Council Tax