Watford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Watford is £2,446.70 for 2026/27, up 4.4% (£103.32) on last year. That is £55.18 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 155th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (37%), so the average bill per home is about £2,463.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
Watford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,631.13 | £163.11 | £135.93 | £1,223.35 | 430 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,902.99 | £190.30 | £158.58 | £1,427.24 | 4,530 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,174.84 | £217.48 | £181.24 | £1,631.13 | 16,030 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,446.70 | £244.67 | £203.89 | £1,835.02 | 14,340 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,990.41 | £299.04 | £249.20 | £2,242.81 | 3,910 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,534.12 | £353.41 | £294.51 | £2,650.59 | 2,230 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,077.83 | £407.78 | £339.82 | £3,058.38 | 1,930 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,893.40 | £489.34 | £407.78 | £3,670.05 | 80 |
- Watford
- England average
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Where your Watford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Watford but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,446.70 Band D charge, £308.51 (13%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £308.51 | 12.6% | £274.23 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,858.19 | 75.9% | £1,651.72 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £280.00 | 11.4% | £248.89 |
- District council £309 12.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858 75.9%
- Police and crime commissioner £280 11.4%
Watford council tax history
Band D in Watford has risen from £1,583.46 in 2016/17 to £2,446.70 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.7%, the 163rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Watford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,446.70 | +4.4% | £2,174.84 |
| 2025/26 | £2,343.38 | +4.8% | £2,083.00 |
| 2024/25 | £2,236.30 | +4.8% | £1,987.82 |
| 2023/24 | £2,134.48 | +4.9% | £1,897.32 |
| 2022/23 | £2,034.72 | +3.7% | £1,808.64 |
| 2021/22 | £1,961.87 | +4.0% | £1,743.88 |
| 2020/21 | £1,885.79 | +3.8% | £1,676.26 |
| 2019/20 | £1,816.17 | +4.0% | £1,614.37 |
| 2018/19 | £1,746.92 | +5.7% | £1,552.82 |
| 2017/18 | £1,652.67 | +4.4% | £1,469.04 |
| 2016/17 | £1,583.46 | – | £1,407.52 |
Homes by council tax band in Watford
Watford has 43,480 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 11% 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 £2,174.84 a year (£217.48 a month over 10 instalments).
Watford compared with East of England
Watford is the 31st cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£55.50 less than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Broadland | £2,437.78 | +4.7% |
| Luton | £2,439.93 | +5.1% |
| Breckland | £2,443.67 | +4.9% |
| Watford | £2,446.70 | +4.4% |
| North Hertfordshire | £2,448.52 | +5% |
| Welwyn Hatfield | £2,452.26 | +5.1% |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Watford drops from £2,174.84 to £1,631.13.
- Council Tax Reduction: Watford 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).
Watford's 4.4% 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.
How Watford's income-banded Council Tax Reduction works
Watford Borough Council replaced its means-tested working-age scheme with an income-banded one on 1 April 2024. Your weekly net income and household make-up put you in a band worth between 25% and 100% off, applied after any other discounts. The lowest income band gets 100% off. You can claim only if you have less than £8,000 in capital.
The main difference for claimants is that support no longer changes with every small change in pay. You must still report income changes within 21 days. Your award only changes if the new income moves you into a different band. Watford no longer sends separate award letters. Your bill shows the reduction but not your band or percentage.
In a town where Band C is the most common band (16,030 homes), a 100% award wipes out a £2,174.84 bill. A 25% award leaves £1,631.13 to pay.
- Before your band is set, Watford ignores £25 a week of a single person's earnings, £50 for a couple or lone parent, and a further £60 if you claim a disability benefit.
Who gets Watford council tax
Watford has no parish councils, so every home pays the same rate for its band. The Band D bill of £2,446.70 is split between Hertfordshire County Council (£1,858.19), Watford Borough Council (£308.51) and the Hertfordshire Police and Crime Commissioner (£280.00). Watford's published empty homes schedule adds a 100% premium on long-term empty homes, 200% after five years and 300% after ten.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Watford?
£2,446.70 a year in 2026/27, or £244.67 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Watford?
Band C: 16,030 of 43,480 homes (37%). A Band C bill is £2,174.84 in 2026/27.
How much has Watford council tax gone up?
4.4% this year, from £2,343.38 to £2,446.70 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Watford?
District council £308.51; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,858.19; Police and crime commissioner £280.00 (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.
What is the capital limit for Council Tax Reduction in Watford?
Working-age claimants must have less than £8,000 in capital.
Will my Watford council tax bill show my income band?
No. Watford no longer sends award letters. Your bill shows the reduction but not the band or percentage.
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)
- Watford Borough Council – Council Tax Reductions Scheme
- Watford Borough Council – Empty properties and Council Tax
- Watford Borough Council – Council tax reductions