Vale of White Horse Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Vale of White Horse is £2,577.44 for 2026/27, up 4.9% (£120.62) on last year. That is £185.92 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 248th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (30%), so the average bill per home is about £2,762.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Vale of White Horse council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,718.29 | £171.83 | £143.19 | £1,288.72 | 1,910 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,004.68 | £200.47 | £167.06 | £1,503.51 | 7,050 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,291.06 | £229.11 | £190.92 | £1,718.29 | 19,830 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,577.44 | £257.74 | £214.79 | £1,933.08 | 14,540 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,150.20 | £315.02 | £262.52 | £2,362.65 | 10,630 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,722.97 | £372.30 | £310.25 | £2,792.23 | 6,780 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,295.73 | £429.57 | £357.98 | £3,221.80 | 4,920 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,154.88 | £515.49 | £429.57 | £3,866.16 | 490 |
- Vale of White Horse
- England average
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Where your Vale of White Horse council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Vale of White Horse but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,577.44 Band D charge, £166.69 (6%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £166.69 | 6.5% | £148.17 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £2,006.78 | 77.9% | £1,783.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.6% | £265.14 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £105.69 | 4.1% | £93.95 |
- District council £167 6.5%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £2,007 77.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £106 4.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Vale of White Horse; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Vale of White Horse council tax history
Band D in Vale of White Horse has risen from £1,635.05 in 2016/17 to £2,577.44 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.0%, the 61st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Vale of White Horse Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,577.44 | +4.9% | £2,291.06 |
| 2025/26 | £2,456.82 | +4.9% | £2,183.84 |
| 2024/25 | £2,341.57 | +5.0% | £2,081.40 |
| 2023/24 | £2,230.60 | +5.0% | £1,982.76 |
| 2022/23 | £2,124.25 | +4.7% | £1,888.22 |
| 2021/22 | £2,028.73 | +3.5% | £1,803.32 |
| 2020/21 | £1,960.92 | +4.1% | £1,743.04 |
| 2019/20 | £1,883.15 | +4.0% | £1,673.91 |
| 2018/19 | £1,810.75 | +5.8% | £1,609.56 |
| 2017/18 | £1,711.24 | +4.7% | £1,521.10 |
| 2016/17 | £1,635.05 | – | £1,453.38 |
Homes by council tax band in Vale of White Horse
Vale of White Horse has 66,150 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 14% 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 £2,291.06 a year (£229.11 a month over 10 instalments).
Vale of White Horse compared with South East
Vale of White Horse is the 49th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£101.99 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Elmbridge | £2,557.75 | +4.7% |
| Reigate and Banstead | £2,566.61 | +4.4% |
| West Oxfordshire | £2,566.95 | +5% |
| Vale of White Horse | £2,577.44 | +4.9% |
| Brighton and Hove | £2,580.54 | +5% |
| Cherwell | £2,582.96 | +4.8% |
| Surrey Heath | £2,585.16 | +4.8% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Vale of White Horse drops from £2,291.06 to £1,718.29.
- Council Tax Reduction: Vale of White Horse 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).
Vale of White Horse'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.
Vale of White Horse: small district share, bigger empty homes charge from April 2026
Vale of White Horse District Council's own Band D charge is just £166.69, less than a tenth of Oxfordshire County Council's £2,006.78. Thames Valley Police takes £298.28, and parish precepts average £105.69. Most homes are in Band C (19,830), where the 2026/27 bill averages £2,291.06.
From 1 April 2026 the 100% long-term empty premium starts after one year instead of two. That means a Band C home empty for 18 months now pays £4,582.12 rather than £2,291.06. The premium rises to 200% after five years and 300% after ten. Statutory exceptions have applied since April 2025.
Council Tax Reduction and payments
Vale keeps a fully means-tested Council Tax Reduction scheme, rather than an income-banded one. Your award depends on household income, savings, ages, children and any disability. You must have less than £16,000 in savings, capital or investments, unless you get the guarantee element of Pension Credit. Direct Debits are taken on the 1st or the 15th of the month. Payments at the Post Office or PayPoint take five to ten working days to arrive.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Vale of White Horse?
£2,577.44 a year in 2026/27, or £257.74 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Vale of White Horse?
Band C: 19,830 of 66,150 homes (30%). A Band C bill is £2,291.06 in 2026/27.
How much has Vale of White Horse council tax gone up?
4.9% this year, from £2,456.82 to £2,577.44 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Vale of White Horse?
District council £166.69; County council (incl. adult social care) £2,006.78; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Parish/town council (average) £105.69 (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 empty homes premium start in Vale of White Horse?
After one year empty and unfurnished, from 1 April 2026. It used to start after two years.
What is the savings limit for Council Tax Reduction in Vale of White Horse?
£16,000, unless you get the guarantee element of Pension Credit.
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)
- Vale of White Horse District Council – Long term empty properties
- Vale of White Horse District Council – Council Tax Reduction scheme
- Vale of White Horse District Council – Pay your council tax