Southampton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Southampton is £2,381.48 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£115.04) on last year. That is £10.04 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 106th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (33%), so the average bill per home is about £1,927.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South East · Official England government statistics
Southampton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,587.65 | £158.77 | £132.30 | £1,190.74 | 37,090 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,852.26 | £185.23 | £154.36 | £1,389.20 | 35,950 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,116.87 | £211.69 | £176.41 | £1,587.65 | 23,800 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,381.48 | £238.15 | £198.46 | £1,786.11 | 9,800 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,910.70 | £291.07 | £242.56 | £2,183.02 | 3,200 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,439.92 | £343.99 | £286.66 | £2,579.94 | 1,430 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,969.13 | £396.91 | £330.76 | £2,976.85 | 450 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,762.96 | £476.30 | £396.91 | £3,572.22 | 30 |
- Southampton
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Southampton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Southampton but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,381.48 Band D charge, £1,998.18 (84%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,960.12 | 82.3% | £1,306.75 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £38.06 | 1.6% | £25.37 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £290.46 | 12.2% | £193.64 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.84 | 3.9% | £61.89 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,960 82.3%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £290 12.2%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 3.9%
Southampton council tax history
Band D in Southampton has risen from £1,562.88 in 2016/17 to £2,381.48 in 2026/27 — 52% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.7%, the 274th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Southampton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,381.48 | +5.1% | £1,587.65 |
| 2025/26 | £2,266.44 | +5.1% | £1,510.96 |
| 2024/25 | £2,156.99 | +4.8% | £1,437.99 |
| 2023/24 | £2,058.36 | +5.2% | £1,372.24 |
| 2022/23 | £1,956.28 | +0.8% | £1,304.19 |
| 2021/22 | £1,941.28 | +5.1% | £1,294.19 |
| 2020/21 | £1,846.70 | +2.3% | £1,231.13 |
| 2019/20 | £1,804.69 | +4.1% | £1,203.13 |
| 2018/19 | £1,734.14 | +6.0% | £1,156.09 |
| 2017/18 | £1,635.98 | +4.7% | £1,090.65 |
| 2016/17 | £1,562.88 | – | £1,041.92 |
Homes by council tax band in Southampton
Southampton has 111,750 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 £1,587.65 a year (£158.77 a month over 10 instalments).
Southampton compared with South East
Southampton is the 16th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£93.97 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | +4.8% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | +5.1% |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 | +4.1% |
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | +5.1% |
| Hart | £2,400.02 | +5% |
| Swale | £2,405.65 | +4.3% |
| Gravesham | £2,408.24 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Southampton drops from £1,587.65 to £1,190.74.
- Council Tax Reduction: Southampton 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).
Southampton's 5.1% 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.
What a Southampton bill is made of
Southampton City Council's bill has fewer parts than most. The 2026/27 split lists the city council, the adult social care precept, the Hampshire police and crime commissioner and the fire authority, but no parish or town council. So the £2,381.48 Band D figure is what every Band D home in the city pays, with no extra parish charge. Of that, the city council keeps £1,998.18. Police get £290.46 and fire £92.84.
Most homes are in the lowest bands. There are 37,090 homes in Band A and 35,950 in Band B, against 9,800 in Band D. A Band A bill is £1,587.65 and a Band B bill is £1,852.26. So the 25% single person discount is worth £396.91 to a Band A household living alone, and £463.07 in Band B.
Why Southampton bills rose 4.99% in 2026/27
Southampton City Council raised its own charge by 4.99% for 2026/27. Across the whole Band D bill the rise is £115.04 a year, or £2.21 a week. The council's net budget is £285.2 million, and £135.5 million of it comes from council tax. Business rates bring in £67.2 million and other government grants £83.3 million.
Social care is driving the budget. Net spending on supporting vulnerable children and adults rises from £114.09 million in 2025/26 to £162.54 million in 2026/27. That is about two-thirds of all service spending. Gross spending on General Fund services is £691.2 million, of which £406.0 million is paid for by service grants, fees and charges.
Empty homes, second homes and Airbnbs in Southampton
Southampton gives no discount on empty homes, furnished or not. Full council tax is due from the day a home becomes empty. The long-term empty premium has started after one year since 1 April 2024, down from two years. So a Band B home empty for 18 months pays £3,704.52 in 2026/27. The council agreed a 100% second homes premium on 6 March 2024, and it started on 1 April 2025. Southampton says this includes short-term lets such as Airbnbs and serviced apartments.
A holiday let only moves to business rates if it has been available to let for at least 140 nights in the last 12 months, will be available for 140 nights in the next 12, and was actually let for at least 70. The Valuation Office Agency decides this, not the council. Until it does, you pay full council tax, including the second homes premium. If the VOA backdates its decision, you may get a refund.
- Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 23rd of the month.
- The standard plan is 10 monthly instalments, with nothing due in February or March.
- The council warns that people phoning residents with offers to get their band reduced are not from the council. Band challenges go to the Valuation Office Agency.
| Time empty and unfurnished | From April 2019 | From April 2021 | From April 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 years | No premium | No premium | 100% premium |
| 2 to 5 years | 100% premium | 100% premium | 100% premium |
| 5 to 10 years | 100% premium | 200% premium | 200% premium |
| 10 years or more | 100% premium | 300% premium | 300% premium |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Southampton?
£2,381.48 a year in 2026/27, or £238.15 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Southampton?
Band A: 37,090 of 111,750 homes (33%). A Band A bill is £1,587.65 in 2026/27.
How much has Southampton council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,266.44 to £2,381.48 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 52%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Southampton?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,960.12; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38.06; Police and crime commissioner £290.46; Fire and rescue authority £92.84 (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 parish council charge in Southampton?
No. The 2026/27 precept split for Southampton has no parish or town council line, so every home in a band pays the same.
Who do I contact to challenge my council tax band in Southampton?
The Valuation Office Agency, not the city council. The council has warned that cold callers offering to get bands reduced are not from the council.
How much did Southampton council tax go up in 2026/27?
The city council's share rose 4.99%. The total Band D bill rose by £115.04 to £2,381.48.
Does Southampton charge the second homes premium on Airbnbs?
Yes, if they are furnished and nobody lives there as their main home. The council agreed the 100% premium on 6 March 2024 and it applies from 1 April 2025, unless the VOA moves the property to business rates.
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)
- Southampton City Council – Council Tax and Business Rates 2026-27
- Southampton City Council – Council Tax on empty properties
- Southampton City Council – Second home premiums and exemptions
- Southampton City Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Southampton City Council – What is Council Tax?
- GOV.UK – Challenge your Council Tax band