Powys Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Powys is £2,351.72 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£117.28) on last year. That is £68.64 above the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 13th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (20%), so the average bill per home is about £2,533.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Powys council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,567.81 | £156.78 | £130.65 | £1,175.86 | 6,170 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,829.12 | £182.91 | £152.43 | £1,371.84 | 9,530 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £2,090.42 | £209.04 | £174.20 | £1,567.81 | 13,460 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,351.72 | £235.17 | £195.98 | £1,763.79 | 10,700 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £2,874.32 | £287.43 | £239.53 | £2,155.74 | 12,760 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,396.93 | £339.69 | £283.08 | £2,547.70 | 9,800 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £3,919.53 | £391.95 | £326.63 | £2,939.65 | 4,200 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,703.44 | £470.34 | £391.95 | £3,527.58 | 590 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,487.35 | £548.73 | £457.28 | £4,115.51 | 210 |
- Powys
- Wales average
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Where your Powys council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Powys but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,351.72 Band D charge, £1,872.08 (80%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £1,872.08 | 79.6% | £1,664.07 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £387.63 | 16.5% | £344.56 |
| Community council (average) | £92.01 | 3.9% | £81.79 |
- County/county borough council £1,872 79.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £388 16.5%
- Community council (average) £92 3.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Powys; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Powys council tax history
Band D in Powys has risen from £1,334.50 in 2016/17 to £2,351.72 in 2026/27 — 76% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 34.6%, the 10th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Powys Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,351.72 | +5.2% | £2,090.42 |
| 2025/26 | £2,234.44 | +8.8% | £1,986.17 |
| 2024/25 | £2,053.83 | +7.3% | £1,825.63 |
| 2023/24 | £1,913.39 | +5.5% | £1,700.79 |
| 2022/23 | £1,813.57 | +3.8% | £1,612.06 |
| 2021/22 | £1,746.56 | +3.2% | £1,552.50 |
| 2020/21 | £1,691.78 | +4.9% | £1,503.80 |
| 2019/20 | £1,613.44 | +9.7% | £1,434.17 |
| 2018/19 | £1,470.57 | +5.3% | £1,307.17 |
| 2017/18 | £1,396.58 | +4.7% | £1,241.40 |
| 2016/17 | £1,334.50 | – | £1,186.22 |
Homes by council tax band in Powys
Powys has 67,420 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 23% 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 C, which costs £2,090.42 a year (£209.04 a month over 10 instalments).
Powys compared with Wales
Powys is the 13th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£25.58 less than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wrexham | £2,308.88 | +5.3% |
| Denbighshire | £2,339.03 | +5.5% |
| Carmarthenshire | £2,351.20 | +5.3% |
| Powys | £2,351.72 | +5.2% |
| Flintshire | £2,376.17 | +5.8% |
| Monmouthshire | £2,416.50 | +6.1% |
| Ceredigion | £2,419.45 | +5.4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Powys drops from £2,090.42 to £1,567.81.
- Council Tax Reduction: Powys runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- 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).
Powys's 5.2% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Powys: the only 75% second homes premium in Wales
Powys is the only Welsh council charging a 75% premium on second homes. It began with 50% in April 2017. The Welsh Government's 2026/27 returns show 1,696 chargeable second homes in Powys, 1,476 of them paying the 75% premium. A second home pays 175% of the normal bill, about £4,115.51 at the average Band D. Long-term empty homes pay a 100% premium, about £4,703.44.
That empty-homes rate may change. In July 2026 the council opened a six-week consultation, closing on 19 August 2026, on whether to keep the flat 100% premium or move to a stepped premium that rises the longer a home is empty, up to the 300% Welsh maximum. It says 897 long-term empty homes, around 1.3% of all homes in the county, currently pay the premium.
What the 2026/27 Powys budget pays for
The council's own council tax rose 4.9% for 2026/27. With the Dyfed-Powys Police precept and community councils, the average Band D bill rose 5.2% to £2,351.72. To balance the budget the council found £12 million of savings from service remodelling, digital work, income and efficiencies.
- Schools: a 5.7% rise in delegated budgets, worth an extra £5.56 million, plus £1.76 million for wider education services.
- Homelessness: an extra £499,000, mainly because demand for temporary accommodation is rising sharply.
- Council Tax Reduction: an extra £600,000, on top of a scheme budget of more than £13 million.
- The council says over 53% of Powys households get some help through discounts, exemptions or Council Tax Reduction, so more than half do not pay the full bill.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Powys?
£2,351.72 a year in 2026/27, or £235.17 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Powys?
Band C: 13,460 of 67,420 homes (20%). A Band C bill is £2,090.42 in 2026/27.
How much has Powys council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,234.44 to £2,351.72 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 76%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Powys?
County/county borough council £1,872.08; Police and crime commissioner £387.63; Community council (average) £92.01 (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 premium does Powys charge on second homes?
75%, so a second home pays 175% of the standard bill: about £4,115.51 at the average Band D in 2026/27.
Is Powys changing the empty homes premium?
It consulted until 19 August 2026 on replacing the flat 100% premium with a stepped premium that could rise to 300% for homes empty longest. Any change needs a council decision.
How much did Powys County Council put up council tax?
Its own share rose 4.9%. Including police and community councils, the average Band D bill rose 5.2%.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Powys County Council – Budget approved to protect vital services and support Powys residents
- Powys County Council – Have your say on the Council Tax Premium for empty properties in Powys
- Powys County Council – Council Tax: Second/Holiday home properties
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027