Sefton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Sefton is £2,583.22 for 2026/27, up 5% (£122.30) on last year. That is £191.70 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 251st lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (30%), so the average bill per home is about £2,245.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, North West · Official England government statistics
Sefton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,722.15 | £172.21 | £143.51 | £1,291.61 | 40,100 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,009.17 | £200.92 | £167.43 | £1,506.88 | 28,460 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,296.20 | £229.62 | £191.35 | £1,722.15 | 31,630 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,583.22 | £258.32 | £215.27 | £1,937.42 | 15,980 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,157.27 | £315.73 | £263.11 | £2,367.95 | 9,050 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,731.32 | £373.13 | £310.94 | £2,798.49 | 4,030 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,305.37 | £430.54 | £358.78 | £3,229.03 | 2,730 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,166.44 | £516.64 | £430.54 | £3,874.83 | 290 |
- Sefton
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Sefton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Sefton but shared between 6 bodies. Of the £2,583.22 Band D charge, £2,145.51 (83%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,104.64 | 81.5% | £1,403.09 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £40.87 | 1.6% | £27.25 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £293.97 | 11.4% | £195.98 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £101.25 | 3.9% | £67.50 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £24.00 | 0.9% | £16.00 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £18.49 | 0.7% | £12.33 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,105 81.5%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £41 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £294 11.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £101 3.9%
- Mayoral combined authority £24 0.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £18 0.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Sefton; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Sefton council tax history
Band D in Sefton has risen from £1,617.31 in 2016/17 to £2,583.22 in 2026/27 — 60% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.6%, the 127th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Sefton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,583.22 | +5.0% | £1,722.15 |
| 2025/26 | £2,460.92 | +5.2% | £1,640.61 |
| 2024/25 | £2,338.68 | +4.9% | £1,559.12 |
| 2023/24 | £2,230.11 | +5.1% | £1,486.74 |
| 2022/23 | £2,121.77 | +3.1% | £1,414.51 |
| 2021/22 | £2,057.10 | +5.0% | £1,371.40 |
| 2020/21 | £1,958.29 | +4.0% | £1,305.53 |
| 2019/20 | £1,882.87 | +5.1% | £1,255.25 |
| 2018/19 | £1,791.61 | +6.0% | £1,194.41 |
| 2017/18 | £1,690.10 | +4.5% | £1,126.73 |
| 2016/17 | £1,617.31 | – | £1,078.21 |
Homes by council tax band in Sefton
Sefton has 132,270 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 52% 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 £1,722.15 a year (£172.21 a month over 10 instalments).
Sefton compared with North West
Sefton is the 29th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£100.00 less than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Burnley | £2,549.42 | +3.8% |
| Bury | £2,555.15 | +5.8% |
| Preston | £2,575.74 | +4% |
| Sefton | £2,583.22 | +5% |
| Salford | £2,594.45 | +5.8% |
| Rochdale | £2,600.83 | +5.8% |
| Oldham | £2,602.23 | +5.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Sefton drops from £1,722.15 to £1,291.61.
- Council Tax Reduction: Sefton 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).
Sefton's 5% 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.
Sefton’s terminal illness discount
Sefton Council offers a council tax discount of up to 100% to households where someone is terminally ill. This can be the bill payer, their partner or another family member living there, including a child. The home must be in Sefton and billed by Sefton Council. To qualify, the person must have an SR1 form, the medical report that confirms a terminal illness diagnosis and replaced the DS1500. Any other discounts are applied first, and the terminal illness discount then reduces the bill to nil where eligible.
You apply through Sefton’s MyAccount service, but you do not need to register an account. Upload both sides of the SR1 form. If you do not have a copy, you can give the council permission to ask the doctor who issued it.
Council Tax Reduction in 2026/27
Sefton is keeping its 2025-26 Council Tax Reduction scheme for 2026/27, with allowances raised in line with most DWP benefits. It is means-tested, and about 13,850 working-age residents were claiming in March 2026. The council points out one rule that catches mixed-age couples. If your partner gets Universal Credit or income-related ESA, you are treated as working age even if you are over State Pension age. The State Pension age is rising from 66 to 67 between April 2026 and April 2028, so more people will stay under the working-age rules for longer.
Premiums on empty and second homes
Empty, unfurnished homes pay double after one year, three times after five and four times after ten. This applies even if the home has just been bought. Since 1 April 2025, second homes and other furnished homes with no resident have paid a 100% premium. In 2026/27 a Band B second home costs £4,018.34 at the borough’s average parish rate. The exception for homes marketed for sale can be used only once per owner. The exception for homes marketed for letting can be used again once the home has been let for six months in a row. From 1 May 2026 that letting must be under an assured tenancy.
A Sefton Band D bill of £2,583.22 includes £24.00 for the Liverpool City Region mayoral precept and an average £18.49 for parish councils. Merseyside police and fire take £293.97 and £101.25. You can pay in one go or in up to 12 instalments. To pay at a Post Office or Payzone outlet you need a swipe card, which you can request from the council.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Sefton?
£2,583.22 a year in 2026/27, or £258.32 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Sefton?
Band A: 40,100 of 132,270 homes (30%). A Band A bill is £1,722.15 in 2026/27.
How much has Sefton council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,460.92 to £2,583.22 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 60%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Sefton?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,104.64; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £40.87; Police and crime commissioner £293.97; Fire and rescue authority £101.25; Mayoral combined authority £24.00; Parish/town council (average) £18.49 (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.
Is there a council tax discount for terminal illness in Sefton?
Yes. If someone living in the home has an SR1 form confirming a terminal illness, Sefton can reduce the bill by up to 100%, after any other discounts.
Does Sefton charge a second homes premium?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025, furnished homes with no resident have paid 200% council tax.
How many people get council tax reduction in Sefton?
About 13,850 working-age residents were claiming in March 2026. Pensioners are assessed separately under the national scheme.
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)
- Sefton Council – Terminal illness discount
- Sefton Council – Council Tax reduction scheme
- Sefton Council – Council Tax premiums
- Sefton Council – Pay my bill