Trafford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Trafford is £2,291.70 for 2026/27, up 8% (£169.16) on last year. That is £99.82 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 49th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (27%), so the average bill per home is about £2,134.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, North West · Official England government statistics
Trafford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,527.80 | £152.78 | £127.32 | £1,145.85 | 20,090 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,782.43 | £178.24 | £148.54 | £1,336.82 | 23,230 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,037.07 | £203.71 | £169.76 | £1,527.80 | 27,790 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,291.70 | £229.17 | £190.98 | £1,718.77 | 15,640 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,800.97 | £280.10 | £233.41 | £2,100.73 | 7,950 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,310.23 | £331.02 | £275.85 | £2,482.67 | 4,700 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,819.50 | £381.95 | £318.29 | £2,864.63 | 4,230 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,583.40 | £458.34 | £381.95 | £3,437.55 | 1,070 |
- Trafford
- England average
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Where your Trafford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Trafford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,291.70 Band D charge, £1,850.54 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, mayoral combined authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,816.11 | 79.2% | £1,614.32 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £34.43 | 1.5% | £30.60 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.30 | 12.4% | £253.60 |
| Mayoral combined authority | £153.95 | 6.7% | £136.84 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £1.91 | 0.1% | £1.70 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,816 79.2%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £34 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 12.4%
- Mayoral combined authority £154 6.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £2 0.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Trafford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Trafford council tax history
Band D in Trafford has risen from £1,344.30 in 2016/17 to £2,291.70 in 2026/27 — 70% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 33.1%, the 5th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Trafford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,291.70 | +8.0% | £2,037.07 |
| 2025/26 | £2,122.54 | +7.6% | £1,886.70 |
| 2024/25 | £1,972.61 | +5.0% | £1,753.43 |
| 2023/24 | £1,878.08 | +5.2% | £1,669.40 |
| 2022/23 | £1,785.54 | +3.7% | £1,587.15 |
| 2021/22 | £1,721.32 | +4.7% | £1,530.06 |
| 2020/21 | £1,644.14 | +4.8% | £1,461.46 |
| 2019/20 | £1,568.34 | +5.6% | £1,394.08 |
| 2018/19 | £1,485.76 | +5.6% | £1,320.68 |
| 2017/18 | £1,406.95 | +4.7% | £1,250.62 |
| 2016/17 | £1,344.30 | – | £1,194.93 |
Homes by council tax band in Trafford
Trafford has 104,700 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 41% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,037.07 a year (£203.71 a month over 10 instalments).
Trafford compared with North West
Trafford is the 2nd cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£191.52 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Wigan | £2,152.68 | +6% |
| Trafford | £2,291.70 | +8% |
| Manchester | £2,312.04 | +5.9% |
| Halton | £2,366.61 | +5.2% |
| Ribble Valley | £2,386.50 | +3.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Trafford drops from £2,037.07 to £1,527.80.
- Council Tax Reduction: Trafford 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).
Trafford's 8% 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 Trafford council tax rose above the usual limit
Trafford Council asked the government for Exceptional Financial Support for 2026/27. In the council's 2026/27 booklet, the leader explains that the request was agreed: Trafford gets a £12.6 million loan on condition that it raises council tax by 7.49%. That is well above the 4.99% that most councils with social care duties can raise without a referendum. The council says the government's fair funding review added £24 million to its three-year budget gap, after it had already made £330 million of savings in recent years.
The 7.49% applies to Trafford's own share, which is now £1,850.54 at Band D. With the police and the Greater Manchester mayoral precepts added, the total Band D bill is £2,291.70. On a Band C home, the borough's most common band (27,790 homes), that is £2,037.07 a year.
Empty homes, second homes and payment dates
Trafford takes Direct Debits on the 1st or 15th of the month. Bills are normally paid over 10 months, but you can switch to 12 months, up to March, with an online form.
| Time empty | Empty and unfurnished | Furnished second home | Band D bill 2026/27 (empty home) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 12 months | 100% | 200% | £2,291.70 |
| 1 to 5 years | 200% | 200% | £4,583.40 |
| 5 to 10 years | 300% | 200% | £6,875.10 |
| 10 years or more | 400% | 200% | £9,166.80 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Trafford?
£2,291.70 a year in 2026/27, or £229.17 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Trafford?
Band C: 27,790 of 104,700 homes (27%). A Band C bill is £2,037.07 in 2026/27.
How much has Trafford council tax gone up?
8% this year, from £2,122.54 to £2,291.70 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 70%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Trafford?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,816.11; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £34.43; Police and crime commissioner £285.30; Mayoral combined authority £153.95; Parish/town council (average) £1.91 (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.
Did Trafford get government permission to raise council tax by more than 4.99%?
Yes. As part of Exceptional Financial Support, a £12.6 million loan was agreed on condition that Trafford raised council tax by 7.49% in 2026/27.
What direct debit dates does Trafford offer?
The 1st or 15th of the month, over 10 or 12 instalments.
Do second homes in Trafford pay double council tax?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 furnished homes with no resident pay 200%, from the first day.
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)
- Trafford Council – Council Tax Booklet 2026-27 (PDF)
- Trafford Council – Council Tax Levy on Empty Homes and Second Homes (PDF)
- Trafford Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Trafford Council – Council Tax Support Scheme