West Suffolk Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in West Suffolk is £2,351.47 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£108.47) on last year. That is £40.05 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 89th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (34%), so the average bill per home is about £2,128.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, East of England · Official England government statistics
West Suffolk council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,567.65 | £156.76 | £130.64 | £1,175.74 | 12,810 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,828.92 | £182.89 | £152.41 | £1,371.69 | 29,220 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,090.20 | £209.02 | £174.18 | £1,567.65 | 17,590 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,351.47 | £235.15 | £195.96 | £1,763.60 | 12,520 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,874.02 | £287.40 | £239.50 | £2,155.51 | 7,490 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,396.57 | £339.66 | £283.05 | £2,547.43 | 3,070 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,919.12 | £391.91 | £326.59 | £2,939.34 | 2,110 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,702.94 | £470.29 | £391.91 | £3,527.21 | 200 |
- West Suffolk
- England average
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Where your West Suffolk council tax goes
Your bill is collected by West Suffolk but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,351.47 Band D charge, £209.70 (9%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £209.70 | 8.9% | £163.10 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,731.69 | 73.6% | £1,346.87 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £304.47 | 12.9% | £236.81 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £105.61 | 4.5% | £82.14 |
- District council £210 8.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,732 73.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £304 12.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £106 4.5%
The parish or community council figure is an average across West Suffolk; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
West Suffolk council tax history
Band D in West Suffolk has risen from £1,748.89 in 2019/20 to £2,351.47 in 2026/27 — 34% in 7 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.0%, the 197th biggest increase of 296 councils in England. West Suffolk was created in 2019, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- West Suffolk Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,351.47 | +4.8% | £1,828.92 |
| 2025/26 | £2,243.00 | +4.8% | £1,744.56 |
| 2024/25 | £2,139.61 | +4.8% | £1,664.14 |
| 2023/24 | £2,041.50 | +4.4% | £1,587.83 |
| 2022/23 | £1,956.19 | +3.2% | £1,521.48 |
| 2021/22 | £1,895.72 | +4.1% | £1,474.45 |
| 2020/21 | £1,820.89 | +4.1% | £1,416.25 |
| 2019/20 | £1,748.89 | – | £1,360.25 |
Homes by council tax band in West Suffolk
West Suffolk has 85,010 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 49% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,828.92 a year (£182.89 a month over 10 instalments).
West Suffolk compared with East of England
West Suffolk is the 19th cheapest of 45 councils in East of England, where the average Band D across councils is £2,391.20 (£39.73 more than here). Cheapest: Thurrock (£2,254.68); most expensive: Huntingdonshire (£2,556.40).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Uttlesford | £2,333.82 | +4.3% |
| East Suffolk | £2,334.80 | +5.1% |
| Babergh | £2,341.55 | +4.9% |
| West Suffolk | £2,351.47 | +4.8% |
| Rochford | £2,363.48 | +4.2% |
| Stevenage | £2,391.97 | +4.9% |
| Hertsmere | £2,405.83 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in West Suffolk drops from £1,828.92 to £1,371.69.
- Council Tax Reduction: West Suffolk 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 Suffolk's 4.8% 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 Suffolk's 100% Council Tax Reduction runs until March 2027
West Suffolk Council's scheme rules set the maximum Council Tax Reduction for working-age claimants at 100% of the bill. This applies only from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2027, "to help with the cost of living". Outside that period the scheme cap is 91.5%. For a Band B home, the most common band here (29,220 homes), that is the difference between paying nothing and paying £155.46 a year at 2026/27 rates.
Working-age claimants must have less than £10,000 in savings. The limit for pension-age claimants is £16,000. The scheme is run by the Anglia Revenues Partnership, so you apply on its website and choose West Suffolk.
Premiums and local exceptions
Full Council agreed the premiums in February 2024. Homes empty for one to five years pay a 100% premium, then 200% after five years and 300% after ten. Second homes have paid a 100% premium since 1 April 2025, so a Band D second home pays £4,702.94 in 2026/27. Empty, unfurnished homes get 100% off for just one week. Empty, uninhabitable homes get 10% off for up to 12 months.
- In February 2025 the council extended the statutory exception for homes actively marketed for sale by a further 12 months, to a maximum of 24 months.
- The council also has local exceptions for uninhabitable homes that were bought or inherited while already paying a premium.
- The council's Section 151 Officer can waive the second homes premium in exceptional cases, such as vulnerability or hardship.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in West Suffolk?
£2,351.47 a year in 2026/27, or £235.15 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in West Suffolk?
Band B: 29,220 of 85,010 homes (34%). A Band B bill is £1,828.92 in 2026/27.
How much has West Suffolk council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,243.00 to £2,351.47 at Band D. Since 2019/20 it has risen 34%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in West Suffolk?
District council £209.70; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,731.69; Police and crime commissioner £304.47; Parish/town council (average) £105.61 (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.
Can I get 100% Council Tax Reduction in West Suffolk?
Yes, until 31 March 2027. The scheme allows up to 100% for working-age claimants until then, and 91.5% outside that period.
How long can a home be marketed for sale without the premium in West Suffolk?
Up to 24 months. West Suffolk added 12 months to the national 12-month exception in February 2025.
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)
- Anglia Revenues Partnership – West Suffolk Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026-27 (PDF)
- Anglia Revenues Partnership – What is Council Tax Reduction
- Anglia Revenues Partnership – West Suffolk long term empty premium
- Anglia Revenues Partnership – West Suffolk second home premium
- Anglia Revenues Partnership – Empty or second homes and annexes