Stevenage Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Stevenage is £2,391.97 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£110.69) on last year. That is £0.45 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 115th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (56%), so the average bill per home is about £2,206.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Stevenage council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,594.65 | £159.46 | £132.89 | £1,195.99 | 1,690 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,860.42 | £186.04 | £155.04 | £1,395.32 | 6,990 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,126.20 | £212.62 | £177.18 | £1,594.65 | 21,970 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,391.97 | £239.20 | £199.33 | £1,793.98 | 3,480 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,923.52 | £292.35 | £243.63 | £2,192.64 | 3,380 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,455.07 | £345.51 | £287.92 | £2,591.30 | 1,020 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,986.62 | £398.66 | £332.22 | £2,989.96 | 450 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,783.94 | £478.39 | £398.66 | £3,587.96 | 20 |
- Stevenage
- England average
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Where your Stevenage council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Stevenage but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,391.97 Band D charge, £253.78 (11%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £253.78 | 10.6% | £225.58 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,858.19 | 77.7% | £1,651.72 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £280.00 | 11.7% | £248.89 |
- District council £254 10.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858 77.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £280 11.7%
Stevenage council tax history
Band D in Stevenage has risen from £1,527.14 in 2016/17 to £2,391.97 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.6%, the 121st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Stevenage Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,391.97 | +4.9% | £2,126.20 |
| 2025/26 | £2,281.28 | +4.8% | £2,027.80 |
| 2024/25 | £2,176.01 | +4.8% | £1,934.23 |
| 2023/24 | £2,075.94 | +5.0% | £1,845.28 |
| 2022/23 | £1,977.88 | +3.9% | £1,758.12 |
| 2021/22 | £1,904.20 | +4.2% | £1,692.62 |
| 2020/21 | £1,827.77 | +3.9% | £1,624.68 |
| 2019/20 | £1,758.51 | +4.1% | £1,563.12 |
| 2018/19 | £1,688.92 | +5.8% | £1,501.26 |
| 2017/18 | £1,596.35 | +4.5% | £1,418.98 |
| 2016/17 | £1,527.14 | – | £1,357.46 |
Homes by council tax band in Stevenage
Stevenage has 39,000 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 22% 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 £2,126.20 a year (£212.62 a month over 10 instalments).
Stevenage compared with East of England
Stevenage is the 21st cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£0.77 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Babergh | £2,341.55 | +4.9% |
| West Suffolk | £2,351.47 | +4.8% |
| Rochford | £2,363.48 | +4.2% |
| Stevenage | £2,391.97 | +4.9% |
| Hertsmere | £2,405.83 | +5.1% |
| Dacorum | £2,408.51 | +5% |
| Great Yarmouth | £2,414.41 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Stevenage drops from £2,126.20 to £1,594.65.
- Council Tax Reduction: Stevenage 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).
Stevenage's 4.9% 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.
Why every working-age Stevenage household pays at least 8.5%
Stevenage Borough Council’s Council Tax Support scheme covers at most 91.5% of a working-age household’s bill after other discounts. So everyone of working age pays at least 8.5%. The rule dates from 1 April 2013, when Council Tax Benefit ended and government funding was cut by 10%. At the time Stevenage was spending £7.3 million a year on Council Tax Benefit, so it had to find £730,000. Pensioners were protected. The 91.5% maximum is still in the 2026/27 scheme.
In 2026/27, the minimum a working-age claimant pays is £180.73 a year on a Band C home, where most Stevenage homes are (21,970). Living alone, with the 25% single person discount applied first, it is £135.54. Above your applicable amount, support falls by 20p for each extra £1 of weekly income. The scheme sets this as 2 6/7% a day.
- If you are on Council Tax Support and still cannot pay, you can apply for Exceptional Hardship Relief. Each case is decided on its merits.
- Council tax and benefits are run by a shared service with East Herts Council.
- Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 16th or 28th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Stevenage?
£2,391.97 a year in 2026/27, or £239.20 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Stevenage?
Band C: 21,970 of 39,000 homes (56%). A Band C bill is £2,126.20 in 2026/27.
How much has Stevenage council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,281.28 to £2,391.97 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Stevenage?
District council £253.78; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858.19; Police and crime commissioner £280.00 (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.
What is the maximum council tax support in Stevenage?
91.5% of the bill after other discounts for working-age claimants, so they pay at least 8.5%. Pensioners can get up to 100%.
Which direct debit dates does Stevenage offer?
The 1st, 16th or 28th of the month.
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)
- Stevenage Borough Council – Council Tax Support Scheme
- Stevenage Borough Council – Council Tax Support Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- Stevenage Borough Council – Exceptional Hardship Scheme
- Stevenage Borough Council – Set up a Direct Debit