West Oxfordshire Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in West Oxfordshire is £2,566.95 for 2026/27, up 5% (£123.07) on last year. That is £175.43 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 244th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (33%), so the average bill per home is about £2,679.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
West Oxfordshire council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,711.30 | £171.13 | £142.61 | £1,283.48 | 1,710 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,996.52 | £199.65 | £166.38 | £1,497.39 | 6,260 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,281.73 | £228.17 | £190.14 | £1,711.30 | 18,190 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,566.95 | £256.70 | £213.91 | £1,925.21 | 12,010 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,137.38 | £313.74 | £261.45 | £2,353.04 | 8,060 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,707.82 | £370.78 | £308.98 | £2,780.86 | 4,650 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,278.25 | £427.83 | £356.52 | £3,208.69 | 3,120 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,133.90 | £513.39 | £427.83 | £3,850.42 | 430 |
- West Oxfordshire
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your West Oxfordshire council tax goes
Your bill is collected by West Oxfordshire but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,566.95 Band D charge, £134.38 (5%) 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 | £134.38 | 5.2% | £119.45 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £2,006.78 | 78.2% | £1,783.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.6% | £265.14 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £127.51 | 5.0% | £113.34 |
- District council £134 5.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £2,007 78.2%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.6%
- Parish/town council (average) £128 5.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across West Oxfordshire; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
West Oxfordshire council tax history
Band D in West Oxfordshire has risen from £1,613.35 in 2016/17 to £2,566.95 in 2026/27 — 59% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 28.0%, the 41st biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- West Oxfordshire Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,566.95 | +5.0% | £2,281.73 |
| 2025/26 | £2,443.88 | +5.3% | £2,172.34 |
| 2024/25 | £2,320.36 | +5.1% | £2,062.54 |
| 2023/24 | £2,207.87 | +5.0% | £1,962.55 |
| 2022/23 | £2,103.10 | +4.9% | £1,869.42 |
| 2021/22 | £2,004.89 | +3.5% | £1,782.12 |
| 2020/21 | £1,936.84 | +4.3% | £1,721.64 |
| 2019/20 | £1,857.25 | +4.0% | £1,650.89 |
| 2018/19 | £1,786.20 | +5.7% | £1,587.73 |
| 2017/18 | £1,689.32 | +4.7% | £1,501.62 |
| 2016/17 | £1,613.35 | – | £1,434.09 |
Homes by council tax band in West Oxfordshire
West Oxfordshire has 54,430 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 15% 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 £2,281.73 a year (£228.17 a month over 10 instalments).
West Oxfordshire compared with South East
West Oxfordshire is the 48th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£91.50 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Adur | £2,548.28 | +4.8% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in West Oxfordshire drops from £2,281.73 to £1,711.30.
- Council Tax Reduction: West Oxfordshire 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 Oxfordshire's 5% 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.
West Oxfordshire's banded Council Tax Support for 2026/27
West Oxfordshire District Council's working-age Council Tax Support scheme has five income bands. Each band takes a fixed percentage off: 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% or 20%. Your band depends on your combined weekly income and household type. You cannot claim if you have more than £10,000 in savings. For homes in Bands F, G and H, support is worked out as if the home were Band E.
- A protected group, including people with a disability premium, any ESA, or the Universal Credit limited capability for work element, is means-tested instead. Their support is reduced by 20% of income above their applicable amount.
- The council also has an Exceptional Hardship Policy.
| Support | Single (weekly income) | Couple | Lone parent + 1 child |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0 to £143.04 | £0 to £160.20 | £0 to £200.25 |
| 80% | £143.05 to £203.04 | £160.21 to £220.20 | £200.26 to £235.25 |
| 60% | £203.05 to £258.04 | £220.21 to £275.20 | £235.26 to £290.25 |
| 40% | £258.05 to £313.04 | £275.21 to £330.20 | £290.26 to £345.25 |
| 20% | £313.05 to £368.04 | £330.21 to £385.20 | £345.26 to £400.25 |
Second homes and empty homes
West Oxfordshire decided early. At full council on 8 March 2023 it agreed a 100% second homes premium from 1 April 2025, so a Band D second home in the Cotswolds district now pays £5,133.90 in 2026/27. Holiday lets stay on council tax, with the premium, until the Valuation Office Agency moves them to business rates. Empty, unfurnished homes get no discount, and pay a 100% premium after 12 months.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in West Oxfordshire?
£2,566.95 a year in 2026/27, or £256.70 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in West Oxfordshire?
Band C: 18,190 of 54,430 homes (33%). A Band C bill is £2,281.73 in 2026/27.
How much has West Oxfordshire council tax gone up?
5% this year, from £2,443.88 to £2,566.95 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 59%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in West Oxfordshire?
District council £134.38; County council (incl. adult social care) £2,006.78; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Parish/town council (average) £127.51 (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 savings limit for Council Tax Support in West Oxfordshire?
£10,000 for working-age claimants under the 2026/27 scheme.
When did West Oxfordshire start the second homes premium?
On 1 April 2025, after a decision at full council on 8 March 2023. Second homes pay 200%.
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 Oxfordshire District Council – Council Tax Support
- West Oxfordshire District Council – Council Tax Support Scheme for working age customers 2026 to 2027 (PDF)
- West Oxfordshire District Council – Second Homes
- West Oxfordshire District Council – Council Tax bands, charges and appeals