South Oxfordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Oxfordshire is £2,597.57 for 2026/27, up 5% (£123.13) on last year. That is £206.05 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 259th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,852.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
South Oxfordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,731.71 | £173.17 | £144.31 | £1,298.79 | 2,140 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,020.33 | £202.03 | £168.36 | £1,515.25 | 6,210 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,308.95 | £230.90 | £192.41 | £1,731.71 | 18,810 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,597.57 | £259.76 | £216.46 | £1,948.18 | 15,440 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,174.81 | £317.48 | £264.57 | £2,381.11 | 11,140 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,752.05 | £375.20 | £312.67 | £2,814.03 | 6,900 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,329.28 | £432.93 | £360.77 | £3,246.96 | 6,490 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,195.14 | £519.51 | £432.93 | £3,896.36 | 1,000 |
- South Oxfordshire
- England average
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Where your South Oxfordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Oxfordshire but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,597.57 Band D charge, £156.24 (6%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £156.24 | 6.0% | £138.88 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £2,006.78 | 77.3% | £1,783.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.5% | £265.14 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £136.27 | 5.2% | £121.13 |
- District council £156 6.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £2,007 77.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £136 5.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Oxfordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Oxfordshire council tax history
Band D in South Oxfordshire has risen from £1,640.13 in 2016/17 to £2,597.57 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.6%, the 50th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Oxfordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,597.57 | +5.0% | £2,308.95 |
| 2025/26 | £2,474.44 | +5.0% | £2,199.50 |
| 2024/25 | £2,356.55 | +5.2% | £2,094.71 |
| 2023/24 | £2,240.14 | +5.0% | £1,991.24 |
| 2022/23 | £2,133.19 | +4.8% | £1,896.17 |
| 2021/22 | £2,034.99 | +3.5% | £1,808.88 |
| 2020/21 | £1,965.45 | +4.2% | £1,747.07 |
| 2019/20 | £1,886.93 | +4.2% | £1,677.27 |
| 2018/19 | £1,811.33 | +5.9% | £1,610.07 |
| 2017/18 | £1,711.03 | +4.3% | £1,520.92 |
| 2016/17 | £1,640.13 | – | £1,457.89 |
Homes by council tax band in South Oxfordshire
South Oxfordshire has 68,130 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 12% 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 £2,308.95 a year (£230.90 a month over 10 instalments).
South Oxfordshire compared with South East
South Oxfordshire is the 54th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£122.12 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cherwell | £2,582.96 | +4.8% |
| Surrey Heath | £2,585.16 | +4.8% |
| Tandridge | £2,594.85 | +5% |
| South Oxfordshire | £2,597.57 | +5% |
| Woking | £2,598.04 | +4.7% |
| Waverley | £2,604.87 | +4.9% |
| Reading | £2,612.77 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in South Oxfordshire drops from £2,308.95 to £1,731.71.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire'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.
Council Tax Reduction in South Oxfordshire still covers up to 100%
South Oxfordshire's working-age scheme can still pay the whole bill. Paragraph 239 of the 2026/27 working-age scheme sets maximum Council Tax Reduction at 100% of the daily council tax charge. Deductions for other adults in the home come off that.
Above your applicable amount, support is withdrawn by 2 6/7% a day of the excess, which is 20p for every £1 of weekly income. Worked example: on a Band D bill of £2,597.57 (£49.95 a week in 2026/27), a claimant with £40 a week of excess income loses £8 a week. They get about £41.95 a week off.
- You must have under £16,000 in savings unless you get the guarantee element of Pension Credit.
- Tell the council tax team directly about any change within 21 days. Telling the DWP, HMRC or another council department does not count, and late notice can lead to a penalty or prosecution.
- If national discounts and exemptions do not cover your situation, you can apply for a discretionary discount under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
Empty homes in South Oxfordshire
A home that becomes empty and unfurnished gets 100% off for up to one month. This cannot be given again until someone has lived there for at least six weeks in a row. A home that needs major work or structural repair can get 50% off for up to 12 months. From 1 April 2026 the 100% long-term empty premium starts after one year empty, down from two. A Band E home empty for 13 months now pays £6,349.62 instead of £3,174.81.
Direct debit instalments are taken on the 1st or 15th of each month. Council tax post goes to PO Box 872 in Erith, and the council tax email address is a Capita one, because Capita runs the service for the council.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Oxfordshire?
£2,597.57 a year in 2026/27, or £259.76 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Oxfordshire?
Band C: 18,810 of 68,130 homes (28%). A Band C bill is £2,308.95 in 2026/27.
How much has South Oxfordshire council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,474.44 to £2,597.57 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Oxfordshire?
District council £156.24; County council (incl. adult social care) £2,006.78; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Parish/town council (average) £136.27 (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.
Can working-age residents get 100% council tax reduction in South Oxfordshire?
Yes. The 2026/27 scheme sets the maximum at 100% of the bill. It falls by 20p for every £1 of weekly income above your applicable amount.
Is there a discount on empty homes in South Oxfordshire?
100% for up to one month when a home is empty and unfurnished, and 50% for up to 12 months if it needs major or structural repairs.
When does the long-term empty premium start in South Oxfordshire?
After one year empty, from 1 April 2026. It used to start after two years.
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 Oxfordshire District Council – Working-age Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- South Oxfordshire District Council – Council Tax Reduction Scheme
- South Oxfordshire District Council – Long term empty properties
- South Oxfordshire District Council – Properties exempt from council tax
- South Oxfordshire District Council – Pay your council tax