Warrington Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Warrington is £2,447.61 for 2026/27, up 7.3% (£166.21) on last year. That is £56.09 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 157th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,191.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, North West · Official England government statistics
Warrington council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,631.74 | £163.17 | £135.98 | £1,223.81 | 27,810 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,903.70 | £190.37 | £158.64 | £1,427.77 | 21,460 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,175.65 | £217.57 | £181.30 | £1,631.74 | 20,100 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,447.61 | £244.76 | £203.97 | £1,835.71 | 12,440 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,991.52 | £299.15 | £249.29 | £2,243.64 | 8,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,535.44 | £353.54 | £294.62 | £2,651.58 | 4,940 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,079.35 | £407.94 | £339.95 | £3,059.51 | 2,720 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,895.22 | £489.52 | £407.94 | £3,671.42 | 230 |
- Warrington
- England average
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Where your Warrington council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Warrington but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,447.61 Band D charge, £2,007.50 (82%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,970.14 | 80.5% | £1,313.43 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.36 | 1.5% | £24.91 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £295.44 | 12.1% | £196.96 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £100.09 | 4.1% | £66.73 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £44.58 | 1.8% | £29.72 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,970 80.5%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £295 12.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £45 1.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Warrington; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Warrington council tax history
Band D in Warrington has risen from £1,510.29 in 2016/17 to £2,447.61 in 2026/27 — 62% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.2%, the 34th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Warrington Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,447.61 | +7.3% | £1,631.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,281.40 | +5.1% | £1,520.93 |
| 2024/25 | £2,171.10 | +4.9% | £1,447.40 |
| 2023/24 | £2,069.92 | +5.1% | £1,379.95 |
| 2022/23 | £1,969.12 | +3.1% | £1,312.75 |
| 2021/22 | £1,909.13 | +5.1% | £1,272.75 |
| 2020/21 | £1,817.11 | +4.0% | £1,211.41 |
| 2019/20 | £1,747.25 | +4.3% | £1,164.83 |
| 2018/19 | £1,674.88 | +6.0% | £1,116.59 |
| 2017/18 | £1,580.51 | +4.6% | £1,053.67 |
| 2016/17 | £1,510.29 | – | £1,006.86 |
Homes by council tax band in Warrington
Warrington has 97,700 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 50% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,631.74 a year (£163.17 a month over 10 instalments).
Warrington compared with North West
Warrington is the 11th cheapest of 35 councils in North West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,483.22 (£35.61 more than here). Cheapest: Wigan (£2,152.68); most expensive: Liverpool (£2,673.59).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Chorley | £2,430.23 | +3.7% |
| South Ribble | £2,442.66 | +3.8% |
| Tameside | £2,447.21 | +5.9% |
| Warrington | £2,447.61 | +7.3% |
| Cheshire East | £2,454.87 | +5.2% |
| Blackburn with Darwen | £2,455.27 | +5.1% |
| West Lancashire | £2,456.23 | +4% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Warrington drops from £1,631.74 to £1,223.81.
- Council Tax Reduction: Warrington 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).
Warrington's 7.3% 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.
Warrington's 7.48% rise and government intervention
Warrington Borough Council's share of the bill went up by more than the usual 4.99% cap for 2026/27. The government confirmed it could raise council tax by up to 7.48% without a referendum, as part of the council's application for Exceptional Financial Support (EFS). EFS works like a government loan, repaid over 20 years. The council says that in February the government agreed in principle to £87.029 million of EFS for 2025/26 and £92.047 million for 2026/27.
The council describes a £178.9 million budget gap between 2026/27 and 2029/30. It blames poor budgeting in the past, its commercial investments, and the risks of having six years of unaudited accounts. Warrington is under government intervention, with four Ministerial Envoys working alongside it, and it has identified about £40 million of savings for 2026/27.
Parish precepts change the bill across the borough. Band D is £2,403.04 in Cuerdley, £2,439.55 in Appleton and £2,525.87 in Birchwood, against an average of £2,447.61.
Council Tax Support cut for working-age residents from April 2026
From 1 April 2026 every working-age claimant pays at least 22% of their council tax, so support covers no more than 78%. The savings limit also fell from £16,000 to £6,000. In a Band A home, the borough's most common band (27,810 homes), the minimum payment is £358.98 a year. Awards under £2 a week are not paid.
- Care leavers who are solely liable for their home pay no council tax. If they share with people who are not care leavers, they get a partial discount.
- You can pay in 10 monthly instalments (April to January), 12 monthly, two half-yearly or one annual payment. To change, tell the council before 15 April.
- Direct Debits are taken on the 5th, 10th, 20th or 30th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Warrington?
£2,447.61 a year in 2026/27, or £244.76 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Warrington?
Band A: 27,810 of 97,700 homes (28%). A Band A bill is £1,631.74 in 2026/27.
How much has Warrington council tax gone up?
7.3% this year, from £2,281.40 to £2,447.61 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 62%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Warrington?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,970.14; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.36; Police and crime commissioner £295.44; Fire and rescue authority £100.09; Parish/town council (average) £44.58 (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.
Why did Warrington council tax go up more than 4.99%?
The government allowed Warrington to raise council tax by up to 7.48% without a referendum, as part of its Exceptional Financial Support. The council faces a £178.9 million gap over four years.
What is the most Council Tax Support I can get in Warrington?
78% for working-age claimants from April 2026, as everyone must pay at least 22%. The savings limit is now £6,000.
What direct debit dates does Warrington offer?
The 5th, 10th, 20th or 30th 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)
- Warrington Borough Council – Council budget
- Warrington Borough Council – Council tax support
- Warrington Borough Council – Council tax bands and charges
- Warrington Borough Council – Ways to pay your council tax
- Warrington Borough Council – Care leavers council tax