South Staffordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in South Staffordshire is £2,313.67 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£94.01) on last year. That is £77.85 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 64th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,251.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
South Staffordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,542.45 | £154.24 | £128.54 | £1,156.84 | 6,890 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,799.52 | £179.95 | £149.96 | £1,349.64 | 10,930 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,056.60 | £205.66 | £171.38 | £1,542.45 | 12,160 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,313.67 | £231.37 | £192.81 | £1,735.25 | 7,610 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,827.82 | £282.78 | £235.65 | £2,120.86 | 5,620 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,341.97 | £334.20 | £278.50 | £2,506.48 | 3,620 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,856.12 | £385.61 | £321.34 | £2,892.09 | 2,490 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,627.34 | £462.73 | £385.61 | £3,470.51 | 220 |
- South Staffordshire
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your South Staffordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by South Staffordshire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,313.67 Band D charge, £150.34 (6%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £150.34 | 6.5% | £133.64 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,686.42 | 72.9% | £1,499.04 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £302.57 | 13.1% | £268.95 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £96.77 | 4.2% | £86.02 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £77.57 | 3.4% | £68.95 |
- District council £150 6.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,686 72.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 13.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 4.2%
- Parish/town council (average) £78 3.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across South Staffordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
South Staffordshire council tax history
Band D in South Staffordshire has risen from £1,488.85 in 2016/17 to £2,313.67 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.1%, the 194th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- South Staffordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,313.67 | +4.2% | £2,056.60 |
| 2025/26 | £2,219.66 | +4.9% | £1,973.03 |
| 2024/25 | £2,115.31 | +4.9% | £1,880.28 |
| 2023/24 | £2,017.39 | +4.9% | £1,793.24 |
| 2022/23 | £1,922.50 | +3.1% | £1,708.89 |
| 2021/22 | £1,863.83 | +4.8% | £1,656.74 |
| 2020/21 | £1,779.10 | +4.0% | £1,581.42 |
| 2019/20 | £1,710.11 | +4.2% | £1,520.10 |
| 2018/19 | £1,640.65 | +5.6% | £1,458.36 |
| 2017/18 | £1,553.06 | +4.3% | £1,380.50 |
| 2016/17 | £1,488.85 | – | £1,323.42 |
Homes by council tax band in South Staffordshire
South Staffordshire has 49,540 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 36% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,056.60 a year (£205.66 a month over 10 instalments).
South Staffordshire compared with West Midlands
South Staffordshire is the 8th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£86.00 more than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Telford and Wrekin | £2,256.26 | +5.1% |
| Tamworth | £2,300.76 | +4.1% |
| Stafford | £2,302.68 | +4.2% |
| South Staffordshire | £2,313.67 | +4.2% |
| Newcastle-under-Lyme | £2,334.25 | +4% |
| Staffordshire Moorlands | £2,338.21 | +4.4% |
| East Staffordshire | £2,351.34 | +4.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in South Staffordshire drops from £2,056.60 to £1,542.45.
- Council Tax Reduction: South Staffordshire 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 Staffordshire's 4.2% 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.
Second homes premium from April 2026
South Staffordshire started charging extra on second homes a year after the law first allowed it. From 1 April 2026, a furnished home that is nobody’s main home pays a 100% premium. A Band D second home now costs £4,627.34 a year in 2026/27, against £2,313.67 for a lived-in home. A second home can be excepted while it is actively marketed for sale or let (up to 12 months) or for up to 12 months after probate. Homes kept for someone in armed forces accommodation and annexes used as part of the main home are also excepted.
Inherited homes are treated in a particular way. If the person who died was not the sole owner, the bill passes to the estate and the other owners. While the home is furnished, the second homes premium applies. Clear the furniture and the normal charge applies, until it has been unfurnished for 12 months and the long-term empty premium starts.
No empty or repair discounts
South Staffordshire gives no discount on empty homes, furnished or not, and none for homes under major repair. If a building is derelict and cannot be lived in, the council tells owners to ask the Valuation Office Agency to remove it from the valuation list. A long-term empty premium of 100% applies after one year, 200% after five and 300% after ten. A Band C home empty for six years costs £6,169.79.
- Working-age claims for Council Tax Support can be backdated up to 6 months if you have a good reason. The limit is 3 months at pension age.
- The council aims to decide new benefit claims within 15 days, and changes of circumstances within 6 days, of getting all the evidence it needs.
- Direct debits are taken on the 1st, 15th or 25th, over 10 or 12 instalments.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in South Staffordshire?
£2,313.67 a year in 2026/27, or £231.37 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in South Staffordshire?
Band C: 12,160 of 49,540 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,056.60 in 2026/27.
How much has South Staffordshire council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,219.66 to £2,313.67 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in South Staffordshire?
District council £150.34; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,686.42; Police and crime commissioner £302.57; Fire and rescue authority £96.77; Parish/town council (average) £77.57 (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.
When did South Staffordshire start charging double on second homes?
From 1 April 2026.
Is there a council tax discount for empty properties in South Staffordshire?
No. Empty homes and homes under major repair pay the full charge. A premium is added after one year empty and unfurnished.
How far can South Staffordshire backdate Council Tax Support?
Up to 6 months for working-age claims, and 3 months at State Pension age, if you show a good reason for the delay.
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 Staffordshire Council – Discounts, exemptions and reductions
- South Staffordshire Council – Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support
- South Staffordshire Council – Set up a direct debit