Windsor and Maidenhead Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Windsor and Maidenhead is £1,952.62 for 2026/27, up 7.1% (£129.12) on last year. That is £438.90 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 8th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,316.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South East · Official England government statistics
Windsor and Maidenhead council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,301.75 | £130.17 | £108.48 | £976.31 | 2,130 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,518.70 | £151.87 | £126.56 | £1,139.03 | 4,110 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £1,735.66 | £173.57 | £144.64 | £1,301.75 | 10,810 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £1,952.62 | £195.26 | £162.72 | £1,464.47 | 16,820 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,386.54 | £238.65 | £198.88 | £1,789.90 | 13,640 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £2,820.45 | £282.05 | £235.04 | £2,115.34 | 8,450 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,254.37 | £325.44 | £271.20 | £2,440.78 | 10,030 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £3,905.24 | £390.52 | £325.44 | £2,928.93 | 2,020 |
- Windsor and Maidenhead
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Windsor and Maidenhead council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Windsor and Maidenhead but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £1,952.62 Band D charge, £1,526.63 (78%) 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 D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,498.64 | 76.8% | £1,498.64 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £27.99 | 1.4% | £27.99 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 15.3% | £298.28 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £91.31 | 4.7% | £91.31 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £36.40 | 1.9% | £36.40 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,499 76.8%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £28 1.4%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 15.3%
- Fire and rescue authority £91 4.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £36 1.9%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Windsor and Maidenhead; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Windsor and Maidenhead council tax history
Band D in Windsor and Maidenhead has risen from £1,187.07 in 2016/17 to £1,952.62 in 2026/27 — 64% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 32.6%, the 6th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Windsor and Maidenhead Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £1,952.62 | +7.1% | £1,952.62 |
| 2025/26 | £1,823.50 | +8.3% | £1,823.50 |
| 2024/25 | £1,683.78 | +5.0% | £1,683.78 |
| 2023/24 | £1,603.84 | +5.3% | £1,603.84 |
| 2022/23 | £1,523.44 | +3.4% | £1,523.44 |
| 2021/22 | £1,472.91 | +5.1% | £1,472.91 |
| 2020/21 | £1,401.96 | +4.2% | £1,401.96 |
| 2019/20 | £1,345.81 | +4.3% | £1,345.81 |
| 2018/19 | £1,290.53 | +5.0% | £1,290.53 |
| 2017/18 | £1,228.98 | +3.5% | £1,228.98 |
| 2016/17 | £1,187.07 | – | £1,187.07 |
Homes by council tax band in Windsor and Maidenhead
Windsor and Maidenhead has 68,010 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 9% 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 D, which costs £1,952.62 a year (£195.26 a month over 10 instalments).
Windsor and Maidenhead compared with South East
Windsor and Maidenhead is the 1st cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£522.83 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Windsor and Maidenhead | £1,952.62 | +7.1% |
| Basingstoke and Deane | £2,255.21 | +5% |
| Bracknell Forest | £2,264.80 | +5.1% |
| Fareham | £2,270.55 | +4.9% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Windsor and Maidenhead drops from £1,952.62 to £1,464.47.
- Council Tax Reduction: Windsor and Maidenhead 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).
Windsor and Maidenhead's 7.1% 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.
A second year of rises above the referendum limit
The Royal Borough's own Band D charge rose 7.49% in 2026/27, from £1,399.58 to £1,504.41. That is well above the 4.99% that councils with social care duties can normally charge without a referendum. The year before, it went up 8.99%. A rise that large is only possible with government agreement. The borough's 2026/27 council tax guide says the money goes towards stabilising its finances and dealing with historic budget pressures, while protecting children's services, adult social care and housing support. Its budget also includes an Exceptional Financial Support adjustment, the government arrangement for councils that cannot balance their books unaided.
Even after two large rises, the area's Band D of £1,952.62 is £438.90 below the England average, because the borough's charge started from a very low base.
Your parish can add up to £158.66 at Band D
The borough has 14 parish councils and one town council, plus a special charge for the unparished towns of Windsor and Maidenhead. These are the 2026/27 Band D totals from the borough guide, including police and fire:
- Datchet's precept rose from £264,787 to £361,821 this year, the sharpest parish increase in the borough.
- The Environment Agency flood defence levy on the borough rose from £166,649 to £174,016.
| Area | Band D 2026/27 | Parish or town element |
|---|---|---|
| Shottesbrooke (no precept) | £1,894.00 | £0 |
| Hurley | £1,933.33 | £39.33 |
| Windsor and Maidenhead towns (unparished) | £1,936.94 | £42.94 |
| Cookham | £1,954.56 | £60.56 |
| Eton | £1,979.25 | £85.25 |
| White Waltham | £2,040.41 | £146.41 |
| Datchet | £2,052.66 | £158.66 |
No empty discount, two direct debit dates
Since April 2017 there has been no discount for an unoccupied home. A home empty and unfurnished for 12 months pays double, rising to 300% after five years and 400% after ten. A 100% second homes premium has applied since 1 April 2025, starting as soon as a furnished home has no resident. At Band D, the most common band here (16,820 homes), a second home pays £3,905.24.
Direct debits come out on the 1st or 15th of the month. The council no longer accepts cheques. Working-age Council Tax Support is means-tested under the borough's own Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme. If you live with other adults on low incomes but not with a partner, you can claim Second Adult Rebate instead, but you cannot get both.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Windsor and Maidenhead?
£1,952.62 a year in 2026/27, or £195.26 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Windsor and Maidenhead?
Band D: 16,820 of 68,010 homes (25%). A Band D bill is £1,952.62 in 2026/27.
How much has Windsor and Maidenhead council tax gone up?
7.1% this year, from £1,823.50 to £1,952.62 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 64%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Windsor and Maidenhead?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,498.64; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £27.99; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Fire and rescue authority £91.31; Parish/town council (average) £36.40 (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 did Windsor and Maidenhead council tax go up by more than 4.99%?
The Royal Borough's own charge rose 7.49% in 2026/27, after 8.99% in 2025/26. Rises above the referendum limit need government agreement. The council says it is stabilising its finances and dealing with historic budget pressures.
Which parish has the highest council tax in Windsor and Maidenhead?
Datchet, at £2,052.66 at Band D in 2026/27, followed by White Waltham at £2,040.41. Shottesbrooke, with no parish precept, is lowest at £1,894.00.
What direct debit dates does RBWM offer?
The 1st or 15th of each 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)
- Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead – Your guide to council tax 2026/27 (PDF)
- RBWM – Premiums for second homes and long term empty properties
- RBWM – Set up a council tax direct debit
- RBWM – Housing benefit and council tax support