Torfaen Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Torfaen is £2,155.68 for 2026/27, up 4.7% (£96.18) on last year. That is £127.40 below the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 4th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (30%), so the average bill per home is about £1,970.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Torfaen council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,437.12 | £143.71 | £119.76 | £1,077.84 | 6,330 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,676.64 | £167.66 | £139.72 | £1,257.48 | 13,120 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £1,916.16 | £191.62 | £159.68 | £1,437.12 | 12,070 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,155.68 | £215.57 | £179.64 | £1,616.76 | 4,420 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £2,634.72 | £263.47 | £219.56 | £1,976.04 | 4,400 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,113.76 | £311.38 | £259.48 | £2,335.32 | 2,420 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £3,592.80 | £359.28 | £299.40 | £2,694.60 | 690 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,311.36 | £431.14 | £359.28 | £3,233.52 | 70 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,029.92 | £502.99 | £419.16 | £3,772.44 | 30 |
- Torfaen
- Wales average
Your result is ready
Where your Torfaen council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Torfaen but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,155.68 Band D charge, £1,691.60 (78%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £1,691.60 | 78.5% | £1,315.69 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £403.53 | 18.7% | £313.86 |
| Community council (average) | £60.55 | 2.8% | £47.09 |
- County/county borough council £1,692 78.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £404 18.7%
- Community council (average) £61 2.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Torfaen; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Torfaen council tax history
Band D in Torfaen has risen from £1,404.75 in 2016/17 to £2,155.68 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 22.6%, the 21st biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Torfaen Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,155.68 | +4.7% | £1,676.64 |
| 2025/26 | £2,059.50 | +5.5% | £1,601.83 |
| 2024/25 | £1,951.87 | +5.4% | £1,518.12 |
| 2023/24 | £1,851.56 | +2.7% | £1,440.10 |
| 2022/23 | £1,802.71 | +2.5% | £1,402.11 |
| 2021/22 | £1,758.65 | +4.1% | £1,367.84 |
| 2020/21 | £1,689.83 | +4.3% | £1,314.31 |
| 2019/20 | £1,620.05 | +6.1% | £1,260.04 |
| 2018/19 | £1,526.25 | +4.8% | £1,187.08 |
| 2017/18 | £1,456.02 | +3.6% | £1,132.46 |
| 2016/17 | £1,404.75 | – | £1,092.58 |
Homes by council tax band in Torfaen
Torfaen has 43,550 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 45% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,676.64 a year (£167.66 a month over 10 instalments).
Torfaen compared with Wales
Torfaen is the 4th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£170.46 more than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | £2,013.18 | +4.5% |
| Caerphilly | £2,082.88 | +6.5% |
| Newport | £2,088.48 | +5.3% |
| Torfaen | £2,155.68 | +4.7% |
| Pembrokeshire | £2,166.15 | +5.2% |
| Vale of Glamorgan | £2,231.54 | +6.6% |
| Swansea | £2,238.29 | +4.5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Torfaen drops from £1,676.64 to £1,257.48.
- Council Tax Reduction: Torfaen runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- 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).
Torfaen's 4.7% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Torfaen is the only Welsh council with no premiums
Torfaen does not charge a premium on long-term empty homes or second homes. In 2026/27, 21 of Wales's 22 councils charge an empty-homes premium and 20 charge a second-homes premium. Torfaen charges neither. The council says it is reviewing how many homes would be affected. It prefers to get owners to bring homes back into use voluntarily, with help such as the Owner Occupier Loan and the Pontypool Home Improvement Loan, but may bring in a premium if that does not work. Any premium would need public consultation and a council vote. For now, an empty or second home pays the standard charge, £2,155.68 at the average Band D.
Torfaen's 2026/27 budget
Torfaen's own council tax rose 3.95%, about £1.24 a week at Band D. The council share is £1,691.60 and Gwent Police adds £403.53. Council tax raises £58.6 million, only about 16% of the council's funding. The Council Tax Reduction scheme helps nearly 10,000 residents, and £447,000 was added to it for 9,321 current cases. Schools get about £4.5 million more. The council still forecasts a £10.2 million gap over the four years from April 2027. You can pay by Direct Debit over 10 or 12 months. Torfaen also publishes a page explaining that "Freeman on the Land" arguments do not remove the duty to pay.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Torfaen?
£2,155.68 a year in 2026/27, or £215.57 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Torfaen?
Band B: 13,120 of 43,550 homes (30%). A Band B bill is £1,676.64 in 2026/27.
How much has Torfaen council tax gone up?
4.7% this year, from £2,059.50 to £2,155.68 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Torfaen?
County/county borough council £1,691.60; Police and crime commissioner £403.53; Community council (average) £60.55 (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 Torfaen charge extra council tax on second homes?
No. Torfaen is the only Welsh council with no premium on either second homes or long-term empty homes in 2026/27.
How much did Torfaen's own council tax go up?
3.95%, about £1.24 a week at Band D. The overall bill also includes the Gwent Police precept.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Torfaen County Borough Council – Council tax premiums for long term empty properties and second homes
- Torfaen County Borough Council – Your Council Tax for 2026/2027 (PDF)
- Torfaen County Borough Council – Unlawful council tax challenges
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027