North Yorkshire Council Tax 2026/27

Why North Yorkshire Council raised council tax by the maximum for 2026/27

North Yorkshire Council increased its own share of the bill by 4.99%, the most it can raise without holding a local referendum. Even with the full rise, the council says it still faces a shortfall of about £17 million in 2026/27, which it is covering from one-off reserves, and expects the gap to grow to almost £25 million by 2028/29.

The council blames rising adult and children's social care costs and changes to government funding, which it says will cut a further £20 million from its core grant. It also says it has a plan to save almost £68 million a year from merging the old county and seven district councils in April 2023. Council tax brings in £524.5 million, about 40% of the council's gross income of £1.3 billion. Health and adult services take the largest share of spending, at £476.6 million (36%).

Out of the £2,544.34 Band D total, £116.62 is the mayoral precept for the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, set by the elected mayor rather than by the council.

Council Tax Reduction: an income-banded scheme

North Yorkshire's working-age Council Tax Reduction does not use a traditional means test. Instead, it compares your household's net weekly income with a set of bands and gives a flat discount of 100%, 75%, 50% or 25%. If you get income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support, you pay nothing. Non-dependent adults living with you are ignored, and income bands stop rising after the second child.

For example, a single person with net income of £180 a week falls in the 75% band. On a Band B home (£1,978.93 in 2026/27) that leaves £494.73 to pay for the year. The same person earning £151 or less would pay nothing.

• The bands use net weekly income for 2026/27. The council ignores £25 a week of earnings for single people and £50 for couples and lone parents, plus £40 a week where the claim includes a disability benefit.
• Disability benefits, Carer’s Allowance, Child Benefit, child maintenance and the housing element of Universal Credit are not counted as income.
• If you are working age and have savings of £6,000 or more, you cannot get support. Working-age claims can be backdated up to 12 months.

Second homes and empty homes premiums

North Yorkshire Council voted on 21 February 2024, a full year ahead as the law requires, and has charged double council tax on furnished homes with no main resident since April 2025. The council's stated reason is that second homes are a significant share of the housing stock and reduce the supply of homes for local people. A Band D second home pays £5,088.68 in 2026/27.

Empty and unfurnished homes pay the normal charge for their first year. After that the charge is 200% after one year, 300% after five years and 400% after ten. The premium stays with the property, so the clock does not restart when it is sold. National exceptions apply, including homes being actively marketed for sale or let (for up to 12 months) and holiday lets with planning conditions that prevent year-round occupation.

Paying your bill

About 215,000 households, or 70%, pay by Direct Debit. You can choose the 1st, 8th, 15th, 20th, 22nd or 25th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments. Since the merger, account numbers are 13 digits long and start with a 9. Care leavers living in North Yorkshire can apply for a discretionary reduction up to the age of 25.