West Northamptonshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in West Northamptonshire is £2,486.66 for 2026/27, up 5.3% (£124.15) on last year. That is £95.14 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 190th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,307.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, East Midlands · Official England government statistics
West Northamptonshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,657.77 | £165.78 | £138.15 | £1,243.33 | 38,760 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,934.07 | £193.41 | £161.17 | £1,450.55 | 41,270 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,210.36 | £221.04 | £184.20 | £1,657.77 | 46,740 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,486.66 | £248.67 | £207.22 | £1,865.00 | 24,760 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,039.25 | £303.93 | £253.27 | £2,279.44 | 18,260 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,591.84 | £359.18 | £299.32 | £2,693.88 | 10,790 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,144.43 | £414.44 | £345.37 | £3,108.33 | 6,560 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,973.32 | £497.33 | £414.44 | £3,729.99 | 490 |
- West Northamptonshire
- England average
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Where your West Northamptonshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by West Northamptonshire but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,486.66 Band D charge, £1,959.40 (79%) 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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,922.07 | 77.3% | £1,708.51 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £37.33 | 1.5% | £33.18 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £335.04 | 13.5% | £297.81 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £90.39 | 3.6% | £80.35 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £101.83 | 4.1% | £90.52 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,922 77.3%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £335 13.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £90 3.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £102 4.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across West Northamptonshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
West Northamptonshire council tax history
Band D in West Northamptonshire has risen from £1,975.01 in 2021/22 to £2,486.66 in 2026/27 — 26% in 5 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.9%, the 103rd biggest increase of 296 councils in England. West Northamptonshire was created in 2021, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- West Northamptonshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,486.66 | +5.3% | £2,210.36 |
| 2025/26 | £2,362.51 | +5.0% | £2,100.01 |
| 2024/25 | £2,250.31 | +4.9% | £2,000.28 |
| 2023/24 | £2,145.58 | +5.1% | £1,907.18 |
| 2022/23 | £2,040.59 | +3.3% | £1,813.86 |
| 2021/22 | £1,975.01 | – | £1,755.56 |
Homes by council tax band in West Northamptonshire
West Northamptonshire has 187,630 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 43% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,210.36 a year (£221.04 a month over 10 instalments).
West Northamptonshire compared with East Midlands
West Northamptonshire is the 23rd cheapest of 35 councils in East Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,457.41 (£29.25 less than here). Cheapest: South Kesteven (£2,260.00); most expensive: Nottingham (£2,755.39).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Melton | £2,429.67 | +3.4% |
| Derbyshire Dales | £2,444.70 | +4.8% |
| North East Derbyshire | £2,466.57 | +4.7% |
| West Northamptonshire | £2,486.66 | +5.3% |
| Blaby | £2,490.22 | +3.5% |
| Leicester | £2,528.75 | +5% |
| Bolsover | £2,559.41 | +4.6% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in West Northamptonshire drops from £2,210.36 to £1,657.77.
- Council Tax Reduction: West Northamptonshire 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).
West Northamptonshire's 5.3% 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.
Why your West Northamptonshire bill says 5.0%
West Northamptonshire Council raised its main council tax by 4.95% for 2026/27, just under the 4.99% limit for a referendum. Bills show 5.0% because the law requires the percentage to be shown to one decimal place. Bills also no longer show adult social care as a separate line, after the government removed that requirement. The council's combined Band D share is £1,959.40.
Parish councils have no cap on their increases, so your parish line may have gone up by more than 4.99%. The average parish precept is £101.83 at Band D.
Empty homes, second homes and care leavers
- There is no discount for empty homes, furnished holiday lets or second homes. Homes needing structural repair also get no discount.
- Long-term empty homes pay a 100% premium after one year and 200% after five years.
- Since April 2025 second homes have paid a 100% premium. A Band C home, the most common band (46,740 homes), pays £4,420.73 as a second home.
- A 50% discount still applies to the main home of serving armed forces personnel, to annexes used as part of the main home, and to second homes kept because the owner lives in job-related accommodation.
- Care leavers who were in the care of Northamptonshire Children's Trust get a 100% discount until their 21st birthday. It is shared pro rata if they live with others: with three others, for example, they get 25%. From 21 to 25 they can apply for means-tested Council Tax Reduction, where the savings limit is £16,000.
- Direct Debits can be taken on the 1st, 11th, 20th or 28th of the month.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in West Northamptonshire?
£2,486.66 a year in 2026/27, or £248.67 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in West Northamptonshire?
Band C: 46,740 of 187,630 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,210.36 in 2026/27.
How much has West Northamptonshire council tax gone up?
5.3% this year, from £2,362.51 to £2,486.66 at Band D. Since 2021/22 it has risen 26%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in West Northamptonshire?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,922.07; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £37.33; Police and crime commissioner £335.04; Fire and rescue authority £90.39; Parish/town council (average) £101.83 (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 does my West Northamptonshire bill show a 5.0% increase?
The council raised council tax by 4.95%. The law requires bills to show the rise to one decimal place, so it appears as 5.0%.
Do care leavers pay council tax in West Northamptonshire?
Care leavers from Northamptonshire Children's Trust get 100% off until age 21, shared pro rata with other adults on the bill.
What direct debit dates does West Northamptonshire offer?
The 1st, 11th, 20th or 28th 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)
- West Northamptonshire Council – Your Council Tax bill 2026 to 2027
- West Northamptonshire Council – Council Tax discounts
- West Northamptonshire Council – Care leaver discount
- West Northamptonshire Council – Pay your Council Tax
- West Northamptonshire Council – Apply for Council Tax Reduction