Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Rhondda Cynon Taf is £2,289.43 for 2026/27, up 4.5% (£99.33) on last year. That is £6.35 above the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 9th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (42%), so the average bill per home is about £1,901.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Rhondda Cynon Taf council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,526.29 | £152.63 | £127.19 | £1,144.71 | 47,130 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,780.67 | £178.07 | £148.39 | £1,335.50 | 25,550 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £2,035.05 | £203.50 | £169.59 | £1,526.29 | 17,570 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,289.43 | £228.94 | £190.79 | £1,717.07 | 9,710 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £2,798.19 | £279.82 | £233.18 | £2,098.64 | 7,220 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,306.95 | £330.70 | £275.58 | £2,480.22 | 3,570 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £3,815.72 | £381.57 | £317.98 | £2,861.79 | 1,190 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,578.86 | £457.89 | £381.57 | £3,434.14 | 200 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,342.00 | £534.20 | £445.17 | £4,006.50 | 70 |
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Wales average
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Where your Rhondda Cynon Taf council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Rhondda Cynon Taf but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,289.43 Band D charge, £1,845.27 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £1,845.27 | 80.6% | £1,230.18 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £405.14 | 17.7% | £270.09 |
| Community council (average) | £39.02 | 1.7% | £26.01 |
- County/county borough council £1,845 80.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £405 17.7%
- Community council (average) £39 1.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Rhondda Cynon Taf; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Rhondda Cynon Taf council tax history
Band D in Rhondda Cynon Taf has risen from £1,562.93 in 2016/17 to £2,289.43 in 2026/27 — 46% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.5%, the 20th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Rhondda Cynon Taf Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,289.43 | +4.5% | £1,526.29 |
| 2025/26 | £2,190.10 | +5.2% | £1,460.07 |
| 2024/25 | £2,082.08 | +5.6% | £1,388.05 |
| 2023/24 | £1,972.02 | +4.5% | £1,314.68 |
| 2022/23 | £1,886.21 | +1.8% | £1,257.47 |
| 2021/22 | £1,853.13 | +3.0% | £1,235.42 |
| 2020/21 | £1,798.83 | +3.3% | £1,199.22 |
| 2019/20 | £1,741.11 | +4.5% | £1,160.74 |
| 2018/19 | £1,665.53 | +3.8% | £1,110.35 |
| 2017/18 | £1,603.82 | +2.6% | £1,069.21 |
| 2016/17 | £1,562.93 | – | £1,041.95 |
Homes by council tax band in Rhondda Cynon Taf
Rhondda Cynon Taf has 112,210 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 65% 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 £1,526.29 a year (£152.63 a month over 10 instalments).
Rhondda Cynon Taf compared with Wales
Rhondda Cynon Taf is the 9th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£36.71 more than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Vale of Glamorgan | £2,231.54 | +6.6% |
| Swansea | £2,238.29 | +4.5% |
| Isle of Anglesey | £2,260.73 | +5.4% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | £2,289.43 | +4.5% |
| Wrexham | £2,308.88 | +5.3% |
| Denbighshire | £2,339.03 | +5.5% |
| Carmarthenshire | £2,351.20 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Rhondda Cynon Taf drops from £1,526.29 to £1,144.71.
- Council Tax Reduction: Rhondda Cynon Taf 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).
Rhondda Cynon Taf's 4.5% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Rhondda Cynon Taf's empty homes premium
Since 1 April 2025, RCT charges a 100% premium on homes empty for one to three years and a 200% premium after three years. At the average Band D that is about £4,578.86, then £6,868.29. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2024. RCT has one of the largest numbers of empty homes in Wales: 1,990 chargeable in the Welsh Government's 2026/27 returns.
The council says the premium is reducing them. On 1 April 2023, 1,665 empty homes were paying a premium (then 50% or 100%). By 31 March 2024 the figure was 1,427, down 238. Over the same period, unoccupied furnished homes rose from 491 to 647. The empty-homes premium was expected to raise about £1.5 million in 2023/24. RCT also checks empty-property discounts using data matching, and can backdate removals and impose penalties.
Paying in Rhondda Cynon Taf
About 60,000 RCT households pay by Direct Debit. You can also pay at One4All centres, or at Post Offices and Payzone shops using the barcode on your bill. At Band D the council share is £1,845.27 and South Wales Police adds £405.14.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
£2,289.43 a year in 2026/27, or £228.94 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
Band A: 47,130 of 112,210 homes (42%). A Band A bill is £1,526.29 in 2026/27.
How much has Rhondda Cynon Taf council tax gone up?
4.5% this year, from £2,190.10 to £2,289.43 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 46%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Rhondda Cynon Taf?
County/county borough council £1,845.27; Police and crime commissioner £405.14; Community council (average) £39.02 (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 RCT charge on empty homes?
100% for homes empty one to three years, and 200% after three years, from 1 April 2025.
Has RCT's premium reduced empty homes?
The council reports empty homes paying a premium fell from 1,665 in April 2023 to 1,427 by March 2024.
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
- Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC – Council tax premiums
- Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC – Pay your Council Tax
- Rhondda Cynon Taf CBC – Empty Homes Review
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027