Winchester Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Winchester is £2,359.76 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£108.54) on last year. That is £31.76 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 93rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,589.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Winchester council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,573.17 | £157.32 | £131.10 | £1,179.88 | 3,060 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,835.37 | £183.54 | £152.95 | £1,376.53 | 7,620 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,097.56 | £209.76 | £174.80 | £1,573.17 | 14,020 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,359.76 | £235.98 | £196.65 | £1,769.82 | 11,710 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,884.15 | £288.42 | £240.35 | £2,163.11 | 9,310 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,408.54 | £340.85 | £284.05 | £2,556.41 | 7,240 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,932.93 | £393.29 | £327.74 | £2,949.70 | 6,050 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,719.52 | £471.95 | £393.29 | £3,539.64 | 760 |
- Winchester
- England average
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Where your Winchester council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Winchester but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,359.76 Band D charge, £194.10 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £194.10 | 8.2% | £172.53 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,690.11 | 71.6% | £1,502.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £290.46 | 12.3% | £258.19 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £92.84 | 3.9% | £82.52 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £92.25 | 3.9% | £82.00 |
- District council £194 8.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690 71.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £290 12.3%
- Fire and rescue authority £93 3.9%
- Parish/town council (average) £92 3.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Winchester; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Winchester council tax history
Band D in Winchester has risen from £1,504.81 in 2016/17 to £2,359.76 in 2026/27 — 57% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.2%, the 146th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Winchester Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,359.76 | +4.8% | £2,097.56 |
| 2025/26 | £2,251.22 | +5.1% | £2,001.08 |
| 2024/25 | £2,142.63 | +4.7% | £1,904.56 |
| 2023/24 | £2,046.84 | +5.0% | £1,819.41 |
| 2022/23 | £1,948.70 | +3.4% | £1,732.18 |
| 2021/22 | £1,884.43 | +4.8% | £1,675.05 |
| 2020/21 | £1,797.76 | +3.9% | £1,598.01 |
| 2019/20 | £1,729.97 | +3.9% | £1,537.75 |
| 2018/19 | £1,664.53 | +5.8% | £1,479.58 |
| 2017/18 | £1,572.64 | +4.5% | £1,397.90 |
| 2016/17 | £1,504.81 | – | £1,337.61 |
Homes by council tax band in Winchester
Winchester has 59,770 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 18% 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 £2,097.56 a year (£209.76 a month over 10 instalments).
Winchester compared with South East
Winchester is the 13th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£115.69 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Eastleigh | £2,342.21 | +5.1% |
| East Hampshire | £2,343.92 | +5% |
| Gosport | £2,344.29 | +4.8% |
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | +4.8% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | +5.1% |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 | +4.1% |
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Winchester drops from £2,097.56 to £1,573.17.
- Council Tax Reduction: Winchester 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).
Winchester'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.
Winchester City Council's 2.95% rise
Winchester City Council raised its own Band D charge by 2.95% for 2026/27, an extra £4.83 a year, taking it to £168.49. The city council keeps about 7p of every £1 you pay. Hampshire County Council takes 71.76p, the Hampshire Police and Crime Commissioner 12.33p, parish and town councils 4.82p and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue 3.94p. So the 4.8% rise in the area total is driven mainly by Hampshire County Council, whose Band D share is £1,690.11.
If you live in the unparished centre of Winchester, your bill includes a Winchester Town Account charge in place of a parish precept. In 2026/27 it raises about £1.43 million, mainly for recreation grounds and open spaces (about £934,000), cemeteries, public toilets and footway lighting. The city council says savings of £1.675 million a year have already been found through its Transformation Challenge 2025 programme.
How the income-banded Council Tax Reduction works
Winchester runs a banded scheme for working-age claimants. Your weekly income and household type put you in one of four bands, which give 100%, 75%, 45% or 25% off. Anyone getting income support, income-related ESA or income-based JSA goes straight into Band 1.
- Income limits are higher for families. For example, Band 1 covers a couple with two or more children on up to £305.50 a week. The scheme counts no more than two children.
- You cannot get any reduction with more than £16,000 in capital.
- Working-age claims can be backdated to the start of the financial year. Pension-age claimants have three months.
- Band C is shown because it is the most common band in the district (14,020 homes). The figures ignore the single-person discount.
| Weekly income (single person, no children) | Reduction | Band C bill after reduction 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| £0 to £100 | 100% | £0.00 |
| £100.01 to £197.50 | 75% | £524.39 |
| £197.51 to £265.50 | 45% | £1,153.66 |
| £265.51 to £333.50 | 25% | £1,573.17 |
| Over £333.50 | 0% | £2,097.56 |
Second homes and empty homes
Councillors agreed a 100% second homes premium on 27 February 2025, and it started on 1 April 2026. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays double: £5,768.30 at Band E. Empty, unfurnished homes pay 200% after a year, 300% after five years and 400% after ten. A home needing major repairs can get 100% off for up to a year while it is empty and unfurnished.
If you do not pay by direct debit, instalments are due on the 1st of the month. The council does not take credit cards.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Winchester?
£2,359.76 a year in 2026/27, or £235.98 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Winchester?
Band C: 14,020 of 59,770 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,097.56 in 2026/27.
How much has Winchester council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,251.22 to £2,359.76 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 57%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Winchester?
District council £194.10; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,690.11; Police and crime commissioner £290.46; Fire and rescue authority £92.84; Parish/town council (average) £92.25 (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.
When did the Winchester second homes premium start?
On 1 April 2026. Winchester City Council agreed it on 27 February 2025, meeting the rule that a premium must be decided at least a year in advance.
How much did Winchester City Council raise its own council tax?
By 2.95%, or £4.83 a year at Band D, to £168.49. Most of the bill goes to Hampshire County Council.
How far back can Winchester backdate Council Tax Reduction?
For working-age claimants, to the start of the financial year (1 April). Pension-age claimants have three months.
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)
- Winchester City Council – Council Tax charges 2026/27
- Winchester City Council – Winchester Town Account budget 2026/27 (PDF)
- Winchester City Council – Council Tax Reduction
- Winchester City Council – Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27 (PDF)
- Winchester City Council – Unoccupied properties and second homes
- Winchester City Council – Paying your Council Tax