Northumberland Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Northumberland is £2,596.94 for 2026/27, up 5.4% (£132.31) on last year. That is £205.42 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 258th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (43%), so the average bill per home is about £2,245.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, North East · Official England government statistics
Northumberland council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,731.29 | £173.13 | £144.27 | £1,298.47 | 70,830 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,019.84 | £201.98 | £168.32 | £1,514.88 | 26,950 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,308.39 | £230.84 | £192.37 | £1,731.29 | 22,090 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,596.94 | £259.69 | £216.41 | £1,947.71 | 18,740 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,174.04 | £317.40 | £264.50 | £2,380.53 | 12,460 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,751.14 | £375.11 | £312.59 | £2,813.35 | 7,680 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,328.23 | £432.82 | £360.69 | £3,246.18 | 4,570 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,193.88 | £519.39 | £432.82 | £3,895.41 | 590 |
- Northumberland
- England average
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Where your Northumberland council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Northumberland but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,596.94 Band D charge, £2,279.36 (88%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,235.94 | 86.1% | £1,490.63 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £43.42 | 1.7% | £28.95 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £214.34 | 8.3% | £142.89 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £103.24 | 4.0% | £68.83 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,236 86.1%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £43 1.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £214 8.3%
- Parish/town council (average) £103 4.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Northumberland; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Northumberland council tax history
Band D in Northumberland has risen from £1,656.89 in 2016/17 to £2,596.94 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.3%, the 86th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Northumberland Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,596.94 | +5.4% | £1,731.29 |
| 2025/26 | £2,464.63 | +4.6% | £1,643.09 |
| 2024/25 | £2,355.31 | +4.8% | £1,570.21 |
| 2023/24 | £2,247.63 | +4.9% | £1,498.42 |
| 2022/23 | £2,142.14 | +4.2% | £1,428.09 |
| 2021/22 | £2,055.44 | +3.5% | £1,370.29 |
| 2020/21 | £1,985.39 | +3.7% | £1,323.59 |
| 2019/20 | £1,915.42 | +4.8% | £1,276.95 |
| 2018/19 | £1,827.39 | +5.2% | £1,218.26 |
| 2017/18 | £1,737.19 | +4.8% | £1,158.13 |
| 2016/17 | £1,656.89 | – | £1,104.59 |
Homes by council tax band in Northumberland
Northumberland has 163,910 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 60% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,731.29 a year (£173.13 a month over 10 instalments).
Northumberland compared with North East
Northumberland is the 10th cheapest of 12 councils in North East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,525.66 (£71.28 less than here). Cheapest: Sunderland (£2,197.14); most expensive: Gateshead (£2,715.81).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesbrough | £2,549.16 | +2.5% |
| Hartlepool | £2,560.20 | +2.5% |
| Stockton-on-Tees | £2,589.83 | +4.9% |
| Northumberland | £2,596.94 | +5.4% |
| Durham | £2,622.15 | +2.8% |
| Gateshead | £2,715.81 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Northumberland drops from £1,731.29 to £1,298.47.
- Council Tax Reduction: Northumberland 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).
Northumberland's 5.4% 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.
What you pay depends on your parish
In Northumberland, the parish you live in changes the bill. The parish and town average of £103.24 at Band D hides a wide spread. The county council's 2026/27 financial statement lists every parish. In an area with no parish council, such as Akeld, Bewick or Kilham, Band D costs £2,493.67. That is just the county charge, adult social care precept and police precept added together.
Town councils add the most. Band D is £2,644.61 in Alnwick, £2,633.62 in Berwick-upon-Tweed, £2,622.61 in Morpeth and £2,615.39 in Amble. Holy Island adds just £4.99. The county council says on its bills that the adult social care precept is now part of its own charge. For the biggest town councils the statement also breaks the precept down by service: Morpeth Town Council, for example, budgets £410,747 for management and support in 2026/27.
Council Tax Support: six income bands
For working-age claimants, Northumberland uses an income-banded scheme. It has six bands, from 100% support down to nothing. The council spends £14.5 million a year on working-age support. There are no deductions for other adults living with you. The savings limit is £8,000, which is higher than the £6,000 many English councils use, and savings below that are ignored completely.
- Example: a couple with no children and net income of £240 a week gets 70% off. A Band A bill of £1,731.29 would fall to £519.39.
- The amount of earnings ignored is small: £7.50 a week for a single person, £12.50 for a couple or a single person on PIP, and £17.50 for a lone parent. Disability benefits, Child Benefit, maintenance and war pensions are not counted.
- The council is consulting on changes to the scheme from 1 April 2027 that would change how Carer’s Allowance and ESA are treated. The consultation closes on 14 October 2026.
| Support | Single | Couple | Family, 1 child | Family, 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0–£105 | £0–£155 | £0–£245 | £0–£335 |
| 90% | £105.01–£155 | £155.01–£210 | £245.01–£290 | £335.01–£355 |
| 70% | £155.01–£205 | £210.01–£265 | £290.01–£365 | £355.01–£405 |
| 40% | £205.01–£315 | £265.01–£365 | £365.01–£445 | £405.01–£495 |
| 20% | £315.01–£405 | £365.01–£465 | £445.01–£545 | £495.01–£605 |
Second homes, empty homes and paying
Since 1 April 2025 Northumberland has charged double on second homes, meaning furnished homes where nobody lives as their main residence. A Band E second home pays £6,348.08 in 2026/27, but homes that planning rules stop anyone living in all year round are exempt. Homes that are empty and unfurnished pay 200% after one year, 300% after five years and 400% after ten.
By Direct Debit you can pay in 10 or 12 monthly instalments on the 1st, 15th or 28th of the month. The Direct Debit restarts automatically every April.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Northumberland?
£2,596.94 a year in 2026/27, or £259.69 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Northumberland?
Band A: 70,830 of 163,910 homes (43%). A Band A bill is £1,731.29 in 2026/27.
How much has Northumberland council tax gone up?
5.4% this year, from £2,464.63 to £2,596.94 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Northumberland?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,235.94; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £43.42; Police and crime commissioner £214.34; Parish/town council (average) £103.24 (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 savings limit for Council Tax Support in Northumberland?
For working-age claimants it is £8,000, and savings below that are ignored. For pension-age claimants the national limit of £16,000 applies.
Which parish in Northumberland has the highest council tax?
Among the main towns, Alnwick has the highest at £2,644.61 for Band D in 2026/27, followed by Berwick-upon-Tweed at £2,633.62 and Morpeth at £2,622.61. Areas with no parish council pay £2,493.67.
Does Northumberland charge a premium on holiday homes?
Yes. Since April 2025 furnished second homes have paid 200% council tax. Homes with planning conditions that prevent year-round occupation, and occupied caravan pitches, are exempt from the premium.
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)
- Northumberland County Council – Council Tax Financial Statement 2026–27 (PDF)
- Northumberland County Council – Council Tax Support
- Northumberland County Council – Empty and second homes premiums
- Northumberland County Council – Payment options