South Kesteven Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Kesteven is £2,260.00 for 2026/27, up 3.3% (£73.05) on last year. That is £131.52 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 36th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (30%), so the average bill per home is about £1,996.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
South Kesteven council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,506.67 | £150.67 | £125.56 | £1,130.00 | 20,230 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,757.78 | £175.78 | £146.48 | £1,318.33 | 15,790 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,008.89 | £200.89 | £167.41 | £1,506.67 | 11,920 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,260.00 | £226.00 | £188.33 | £1,695.00 | 9,740 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,762.22 | £276.22 | £230.19 | £2,071.67 | 6,120 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,264.44 | £326.44 | £272.04 | £2,448.33 | 3,140 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,766.67 | £376.67 | £313.89 | £2,825.00 | 1,130 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,520.00 | £452.00 | £376.67 | £3,390.00 | 110 |
- South Kesteven
- England average
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Where your South Kesteven council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Kesteven but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,260.00 Band D charge, £195.03 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £195.03 | 8.6% | £130.02 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,673.01 | 74.0% | £1,115.34 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £333.09 | 14.7% | £222.06 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £58.87 | 2.6% | £39.25 |
- District council £195 8.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,673 74.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £333 14.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £59 2.6%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Kesteven; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Kesteven council tax history
Band D in South Kesteven has risen from £1,507.43 in 2016/17 to £2,260.00 in 2026/27 — 50% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.0%, the 260th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Kesteven Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,260.00 | +3.3% | £1,506.67 |
| 2025/26 | £2,186.95 | +3.4% | £1,457.97 |
| 2024/25 | £2,115.01 | +4.9% | £1,410.01 |
| 2023/24 | £2,015.47 | +4.9% | £1,343.65 |
| 2022/23 | £1,921.83 | +4.6% | £1,281.22 |
| 2021/22 | £1,837.48 | +2.6% | £1,224.99 |
| 2020/21 | £1,790.86 | +3.6% | £1,193.91 |
| 2019/20 | £1,728.85 | +5.6% | £1,152.57 |
| 2018/19 | £1,637.73 | +4.9% | £1,091.82 |
| 2017/18 | £1,561.70 | +3.6% | £1,041.13 |
| 2016/17 | £1,507.43 | – | £1,004.95 |
Homes by council tax band in South Kesteven
South Kesteven has 68,180 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 53% 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 £1,506.67 a year (£150.67 a month over 10 instalments).
South Kesteven compared with East Midlands
South Kesteven is the 1st cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£197.41 more than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| South Kesteven | £2,260.00 | +3.3% |
| East Lindsey | £2,275.88 | +3.4% |
| South Holland | £2,278.20 | +3.3% |
| Derby | £2,306.00 | +5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in South Kesteven drops from £1,506.67 to £1,130.00.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Kesteven 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).
South Kesteven's 3.3% 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.
South Kesteven's empty homes discount and premiums
South Kesteven still gives a discount on empty homes, which many English councils have dropped. An empty, unfurnished home gets 100% off for the first month, then 25% off for the next five months. After that the full charge applies. On a Band C home (£2,008.89 in 2026/27), months two to six cost £125.56 a month instead of £167.41. These discounts belong to the property and do not restart when the owner changes.
The long-term empty premium starts after two years: 200% of the bill, 300% after 5 years and 400% after 10 years. An empty home that needs major structural work or repairs can get 25% off, after the council has assessed it. This ends when the work is finished, when someone moves in, or after 12 months, whichever comes first.
Second homes: from a 10% discount to a 200% charge
Before April 2025, furnished homes that were nobody's main home got a 10% discount, sometimes 50%. From 1 April 2025 most second homes pay a 100% premium instead, so the charge is 200%: £4,520.00 at Band D in 2026/27. If your home fits one of the national exceptions, you keep the old 10% (or 50%) discount. The exceptions include job-related homes, caravan pitches and boat moorings, and seasonal homes that planning rules stop people living in all year.
Local discounts and paying
South Kesteven runs some local schemes that most other councils do not:
- Special Constables can get a council tax discount. The scheme was set up by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner and is part of the council’s 2026/27 Council Tax Support scheme. You apply on a paper form.
- Households getting Council Tax Support on 1 April 2025 that still owed council tax got up to £18 off their 2025/26 bill in October 2025. This used the £47,617 left from the government’s Council Tax Support Fund.
- Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 11th or 21st of the month, over 10 or 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Kesteven?
£2,260.00 a year in 2026/27, or £226.00 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Kesteven?
Band A: 20,230 of 68,180 homes (30%). A Band A bill is £1,506.67 in 2026/27.
How much has South Kesteven council tax gone up?
3.3% this year, from £2,186.95 to £2,260.00 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 50%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Kesteven?
District council £195.03; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,673.01; Police and crime commissioner £333.09; Parish/town council (average) £58.87 (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 Special Constables in South Kesteven?
Yes. A discount backed by the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner is part of the council’s 2026/27 Council Tax Support scheme. Download the form from the council website.
Do empty homes get a discount in South Kesteven?
100% off for the first month and 25% off for the next five months. Then full council tax is due, and a premium starts after two years.
Which direct debit dates does South Kesteven offer?
The 1st, 11th or 21st of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments.
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)
- South Kesteven District Council – Empty homes discount
- South Kesteven District Council – Second homes
- South Kesteven District Council – Special Constable discount
- South Kesteven District Council – Council Tax Support Fund
- South Kesteven District Council – Pay my council tax