Test Valley Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Test Valley is £2,305.52 for 2026/27, up 5% (£108.99) on last year. That is £86.00 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 59th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (26%), so the average bill per home is about £2,404.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Test Valley council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,537.01 | £153.70 | £128.08 | £1,152.76 | 3,130 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,793.18 | £179.32 | £149.43 | £1,344.89 | 10,070 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,049.35 | £204.94 | £170.78 | £1,537.01 | 15,660 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,305.52 | £230.55 | £192.13 | £1,729.14 | 11,510 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,817.86 | £281.79 | £234.82 | £2,113.39 | 8,870 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,330.20 | £333.02 | £277.52 | £2,497.65 | 5,350 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,842.53 | £384.25 | £320.21 | £2,881.90 | 3,970 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,611.04 | £461.10 | £384.25 | £3,458.28 | 560 |
- Test Valley
- England average
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Where your Test Valley council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Test Valley but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,305.52 Band D charge, £180.76 (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 | £180.76 | 7.8% | £160.68 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,690.11 | 73.3% | £1,502.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £290.46 | 12.6% | £258.19 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.84 | 4.0% | £82.52 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £51.35 | 2.2% | £45.64 |
- District council £181 7.8%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690 73.3%
- Police and crime commissioner £290 12.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £51 2.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Test Valley; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Test Valley council tax history
Band D in Test Valley has risen from £1,469.17 in 2016/17 to £2,305.52 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.4%, the 136th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Test Valley Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,305.52 | +5.0% | £2,049.35 |
| 2025/26 | £2,196.53 | +5.1% | £1,952.47 |
| 2024/25 | £2,089.08 | +4.7% | £1,856.96 |
| 2023/24 | £1,995.82 | +5.1% | £1,774.06 |
| 2022/23 | £1,899.27 | +3.3% | £1,688.24 |
| 2021/22 | £1,837.92 | +4.8% | £1,633.71 |
| 2020/21 | £1,754.56 | +4.0% | £1,559.61 |
| 2019/20 | £1,687.16 | +3.9% | £1,499.70 |
| 2018/19 | £1,623.12 | +5.8% | £1,442.77 |
| 2017/18 | £1,534.66 | +4.5% | £1,364.14 |
| 2016/17 | £1,469.17 | – | £1,305.93 |
Homes by council tax band in Test Valley
Test Valley has 59,120 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 £2,049.35 a year (£204.94 a month over 10 instalments).
Test Valley compared with South East
Test Valley is the 6th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£169.93 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bracknell Forest | £2,264.80 | +5.1% |
| Fareham | £2,270.55 | +4.9% |
| Portsmouth | £2,291.71 | +5.1% |
| Test Valley | £2,305.52 | +5% |
| Havant | £2,320.28 | +4.9% |
| Rushmoor | £2,320.28 | +4.9% |
| Medway | £2,328.55 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Test Valley drops from £2,049.35 to £1,537.01.
- Council Tax Reduction: Test Valley 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).
Test Valley'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.
Test Valley's premiums from April 2026
Test Valley Borough Council changed its premiums on 1 April 2026. Before then, only homes empty for two years or more paid extra. Now an unoccupied, unfurnished home pays a 100% premium after one year, 200% after five years and 300% after ten. A Band D home empty for six years therefore pays £6,916.56 in 2026/27.
Test Valley also began charging a second homes premium on 1 April 2026, with a twist: the 100% premium starts only once a furnished home has been nobody's main residence for a continuous year. So a newly bought second home pays the normal £2,305.52 at Band D for its first year, and £4,611.04 after that.
- Time spent exempt still counts. If an exemption ends and the home has already been empty or furnished with no resident for a year, the premium applies straight away.
- Statutory exceptions apply, for example homes marketed for sale or let, probate cases and homes needing major repairs.
Paying your Test Valley bill
You can set up or change a Direct Debit online, unless your joint account needs two signatures. In that case you need a paper mandate. Card payments can be made online or on the 24-hour line, 01264 368000. Your account reference starts with 5. Working-age residents on a low income can claim help under the council's own Council Tax Support scheme through the Benefits section of its website.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Test Valley?
£2,305.52 a year in 2026/27, or £230.55 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Test Valley?
Band C: 15,660 of 59,120 homes (26%). A Band C bill is £2,049.35 in 2026/27.
How much has Test Valley council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,196.53 to £2,305.52 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Test Valley?
District council £180.76; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690.11; Police and crime commissioner £290.46; Fire and rescue authority £92.84; Parish/town council (average) £51.35 (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 does the second homes premium start in Test Valley?
The premium was introduced on 1 April 2026, but it only applies once a furnished home has been nobody's main residence for a continuous year. After that, it pays 200% of the normal charge.
How long can a home be empty in Test Valley before a premium applies?
One year, from 1 April 2026. It was two years before then. The premium rises to 200% after five years and 300% after ten.
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)
- Test Valley Borough Council – Council Tax premiums
- Test Valley Borough Council – Council Tax premium policy (PDF)
- Test Valley Borough Council – Paying your bill