North Somerset Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in North Somerset is £2,491.22 for 2026/27, up 8.6% (£196.28) on last year. That is £99.70 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 195th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,404.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
North Somerset council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,660.81 | £166.08 | £138.40 | £1,245.61 | 13,970 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,937.62 | £193.76 | £161.47 | £1,453.21 | 22,310 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,214.42 | £221.44 | £184.53 | £1,660.81 | 24,050 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,491.22 | £249.12 | £207.60 | £1,868.42 | 18,240 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,044.82 | £304.48 | £253.74 | £2,283.62 | 13,520 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,598.43 | £359.84 | £299.87 | £2,698.82 | 6,940 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,152.03 | £415.20 | £346.00 | £3,114.02 | 3,480 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,982.44 | £498.24 | £415.20 | £3,736.83 | 290 |
- North Somerset
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your North Somerset council tax goes
Your bill is collected by North Somerset but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,491.22 Band D charge, £1,955.01 (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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,919.13 | 77.0% | £1,705.89 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.88 | 1.4% | £31.89 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £308.20 | 12.4% | £273.96 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £95.43 | 3.8% | £84.83 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £132.58 | 5.3% | £117.85 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,919 77.0%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36 1.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £308 12.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £95 3.8%
- Parish/town council (average) £133 5.3%
The parish or community council figure is an average across North Somerset; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
North Somerset council tax history
Band D in North Somerset has risen from £1,510.21 in 2016/17 to £2,491.22 in 2026/27 — 65% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 31.1%, the 10th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- North Somerset Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,491.22 | +8.6% | £2,214.42 |
| 2025/26 | £2,294.94 | +6.0% | £2,039.95 |
| 2024/25 | £2,165.36 | +5.0% | £1,924.76 |
| 2023/24 | £2,062.11 | +5.3% | £1,832.99 |
| 2022/23 | £1,959.06 | +3.1% | £1,741.39 |
| 2021/22 | £1,900.22 | +4.8% | £1,689.08 |
| 2020/21 | £1,812.52 | +4.7% | £1,611.13 |
| 2019/20 | £1,730.92 | +3.9% | £1,538.60 |
| 2018/19 | £1,666.65 | +6.0% | £1,481.47 |
| 2017/18 | £1,573.05 | +4.2% | £1,398.27 |
| 2016/17 | £1,510.21 | – | £1,342.41 |
Homes by council tax band in North Somerset
North Somerset has 102,800 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 35% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,214.42 a year (£221.44 a month over 10 instalments).
North Somerset compared with South West
North Somerset is the 12th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£20.18 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Plymouth | £2,441.85 | +5% |
| Forest of Dean | £2,443.42 | +5% |
| Torbay | £2,470.25 | +5.1% |
| North Somerset | £2,491.22 | +8.6% |
| Stroud | £2,491.36 | +5.1% |
| Exeter | £2,495.36 | +4.9% |
| South Gloucestershire | £2,550.59 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in North Somerset drops from £2,214.42 to £1,660.81.
- Council Tax Reduction: North Somerset 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).
North Somerset's 8.6% 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.
North Somerset's 8.99% rise and Council Tax Reduction cut for 2026/27
North Somerset Council raised its own share of council tax by 8.99% for 2026/27. Most English councils with social care duties trigger a referendum at a rise of 5% or more, but the government's 2026/27 referendum principles put North Somerset in a small group, with Shropshire and Worcestershire, whose threshold is 9% (2% for adult social care and 7% for other spending), so the 8.99% rise did not need a public vote. The overall Band D bill on this page rose by 8.6%, because police, fire and parish precepts rose by different amounts. Council leader Mike Bell linked the rise to rising costs and demand and a £19 million cut in government funding.
On 24 February 2026, the council also approved a redesign that, in its words, reduces working-age Council Tax Reduction "by 8% across all income bands". It estimated eligible households would pay about £5.44 a month more on average. About 6,100 working-age households, around 6% of the district's 102,000, get CTR. Pension-age claimants are not affected. To soften the cut, the council is putting £371,200 into a hardship fund. Existing claimants get it automatically on their 2026/27 bills, shown as "Council Tax Additional Award 26/27".
How the income bands work
Working-age reductions depend only on monthly earned income. Households with a disabled child getting a disability benefit and earning under £1,400 a month are in a protected group and get at least 57%. Savings over £6,000 rule you out.
Worked example: a household earning £900 a month falls in band 4 and gets 22% off. On a Band C home (£2,214.42 in 2026/27), that is £487.17 off, leaving £1,727.25 to pay. In the protected group, the same household gets 57% off and pays £952.20.
- After consultation, councillors chose a smaller cut than first proposed, reducing the planned saving from £513,000 to £242,000.
- The Crisis and Resilience Fund also gives working-age CTR households two £37.50 retail vouchers automatically, and pension-age CTR households one.
| Band | Monthly earned income | Reduction | Protected group |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0 | 67.5% | 67.5% |
| 2 | £0.01 to £500 | 47% | 57% |
| 3 | £500.01 to £800 | 34% | 57% |
| 4 | £800.01 to £1,100 | 22% | 57% |
| 5 | £1,100.01 to £1,400 | 10% | 57% |
| 6 | £1,400.01 and above | 0% | 0% |
Empty homes in North Somerset
There is no discount for empty, unfurnished homes. From 1 April 2026, North Somerset also ended its 50% discount for empty homes undergoing major repairs. Homes empty for one year or more pay a 100% premium, rising to 200% after five years and 300% after ten. The council says there is no right of appeal against its decision to charge the premium. If you live in a home your employer provides, your own empty home can get 50% off. Not reporting a change can lead to a £70 penalty, and £280 for each repeat.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in North Somerset?
£2,491.22 a year in 2026/27, or £249.12 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in North Somerset?
Band C: 24,050 of 102,800 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,214.42 in 2026/27.
How much has North Somerset council tax gone up?
8.6% this year, from £2,294.94 to £2,491.22 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 65%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in North Somerset?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,919.13; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.88; Police and crime commissioner £308.20; Fire and rescue authority £95.43; Parish/town council (average) £132.58 (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.
Why did North Somerset council tax go up so much in 2026/27?
North Somerset Council raised its own share by 8.99%. The council leader cited rising costs and demand for services and a £19 million cut in government funding.
Why was there no referendum on North Somerset's 8.99% rise?
For 2026/27 the government set North Somerset's referendum threshold at 9%, instead of the 5% that applies to most councils with social care duties. A rise of 8.99% stays just below it.
What is the most Council Tax Reduction I can get in North Somerset?
67.5% for working-age households with no earned income. Households with a disabled child earning under £1,400 a month get at least 57%. Pension-age claimants are assessed under the national scheme.
Is there still a discount for empty homes under repair in North Somerset?
No. From 1 April 2026 the 50% discount for empty homes needing major repairs ended.
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)
- GOV.UK – Referendums Relating to Council Tax Increases (Principles) (England) Report 2026 to 2027
- North Somerset Council – Redesign of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme approved (25 February 2026)
- North Somerset Council – How we calculate your Council Tax reduction
- North Somerset Council – Council Tax reduction
- North Somerset Council – Council Tax for empty properties
- North Somerset Council – Council Tax discounts