Stafford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Stafford is £2,302.68 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£91.90) on last year. That is £88.84 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 58th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,140.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
Stafford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,535.12 | £153.51 | £127.93 | £1,151.34 | 12,450 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,790.97 | £179.10 | £149.25 | £1,343.23 | 14,610 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,046.83 | £204.68 | £170.57 | £1,535.12 | 14,810 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,302.68 | £230.27 | £191.89 | £1,727.01 | 10,190 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,814.39 | £281.44 | £234.53 | £2,110.79 | 7,120 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,326.09 | £332.61 | £277.17 | £2,494.57 | 3,790 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,837.80 | £383.78 | £319.82 | £2,878.35 | 1,660 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,605.36 | £460.54 | £383.78 | £3,454.02 | 100 |
- Stafford
- England average
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Where your Stafford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Stafford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,302.68 Band D charge, £184.09 (8%) 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 | £184.09 | 8.0% | £163.64 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,686.42 | 73.2% | £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) | £32.83 | 1.4% | £29.18 |
- District council £184 8.0%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,686 73.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £303 13.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 4.2%
- Parish/town council (average) £33 1.4%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Stafford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Stafford council tax history
Band D in Stafford has risen from £1,502.55 in 2016/17 to £2,302.68 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.4%, the 234th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Stafford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,302.68 | +4.2% | £2,046.83 |
| 2025/26 | £2,210.78 | +4.9% | £1,965.14 |
| 2024/25 | £2,107.72 | +4.8% | £1,873.53 |
| 2023/24 | £2,011.85 | +4.7% | £1,788.31 |
| 2022/23 | £1,921.92 | +3.0% | £1,708.37 |
| 2021/22 | £1,865.68 | +4.7% | £1,658.38 |
| 2020/21 | £1,781.76 | +3.8% | £1,583.79 |
| 2019/20 | £1,716.91 | +4.0% | £1,526.14 |
| 2018/19 | £1,651.42 | +5.5% | £1,467.93 |
| 2017/18 | £1,565.82 | +4.2% | £1,391.84 |
| 2016/17 | £1,502.55 | – | £1,335.60 |
Homes by council tax band in Stafford
Stafford has 64,730 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 42% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,046.83 a year (£204.68 a month over 10 instalments).
Stafford compared with West Midlands
Stafford is the 7th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£96.99 more than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sandwell | £2,244.46 | +5.2% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Stafford drops from £2,046.83 to £1,535.12.
- Council Tax Reduction: Stafford 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).
Stafford'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.
Stafford's Council Tax Reduction: 100% for families with a child under 5
Stafford Borough Council runs a banded Council Tax Reduction scheme for working-age residents. It favours families with young children. Households with at least one child under 5 can get up to 100% off. Everyone else of working age can get at most 80%. Households with a child under 5 have five weekly income bands; others have four. Help falls by 20 percentage points per band. Savings over £6,000 rule you out.
Example: a single person with one child under 5 and weekly income of £240 is in the second band and gets 80% off. On a Band B home (£1,790.97 in 2026/27) they pay £358.19 a year. A single person with no children and weekly income up to £101 gets the top rate for their group, 80%, so they pay £358.19 on the same home.
| Weekly income up to | Single person, no children | Single person, 1 child under 5 | Couple, 1 child under 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band 1 | £101 → 80% | £213 → 100% | £269 → 100% |
| Band 2 | £144 → 60% | £251 → 80% | £308 → 80% |
| Band 3 | £182 → 40% | £293 → 60% | £349 → 60% |
| Band 4 | £221 → 20% | £333 → 40% | £388 → 40% |
| Band 5 | – | £371 → 20% | £427 → 20% |
Empty homes, second homes and short-term lets
Stafford gives 100% off for the first 28 days a home is empty, then charges in full. Since 1 April 2024 the long-term empty premium has started after one year. Since 1 April 2025 second homes have paid a 100% premium. Stafford says this includes short-term lets such as Airbnbs and serviced apartments. A Band D second home pays £4,605.36 in 2026/27. A home under major repair is excepted from the long-term empty premium for up to 12 months, but only once unless it is sold. If repairs finish sooner, the exception carries on for up to six months or until the 12 months end, whichever comes first.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Stafford?
£2,302.68 a year in 2026/27, or £230.27 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Stafford?
Band C: 14,810 of 64,730 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,046.83 in 2026/27.
How much has Stafford council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,210.78 to £2,302.68 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Stafford?
District council £184.09; 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) £32.83 (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.
Does Stafford charge the second homes premium on Airbnbs?
Yes, if they are furnished and nobody lives there as their main home. Stafford’s definition of a second home includes short-term lets and serviced apartments.
Can I get 100% council tax reduction in Stafford?
Only working-age households with at least one child under 5, in the lowest income band. Others of working age can get up to 80%.
Is there a discount when a Stafford property is empty?
100% for the first 28 days. After that the full charge applies, and a premium is added after one year.
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)
- Stafford Borough Council – Income bands 2026-2027 (PDF)
- Stafford Borough Council – A guide to Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Reduction
- Stafford Borough Council – Council Tax: empty and second homes