Wokingham Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Wokingham is £2,497.70 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£121.59) on last year. That is £106.18 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 200th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band D (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,860.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South East · Official England government statistics
Wokingham council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,665.13 | £166.51 | £138.76 | £1,248.85 | 2,040 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,942.66 | £194.27 | £161.89 | £1,456.99 | 4,330 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,220.18 | £222.02 | £185.01 | £1,665.13 | 12,230 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,497.70 | £249.77 | £208.14 | £1,873.27 | 21,200 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,052.74 | £305.27 | £254.40 | £2,289.56 | 17,070 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,607.79 | £360.78 | £300.65 | £2,705.84 | 11,220 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,162.83 | £416.28 | £346.90 | £3,122.13 | 6,890 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,995.40 | £499.54 | £416.28 | £3,746.55 | 580 |
- Wokingham
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Wokingham council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Wokingham but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,497.70 Band D charge, £2,027.40 (81%) 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) | £1,988.78 | 79.6% | £1,988.78 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £38.62 | 1.5% | £38.62 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.28 | 11.9% | £298.28 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £91.31 | 3.7% | £91.31 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £80.71 | 3.2% | £80.71 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,989 79.6%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £39 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 11.9%
- Fire and rescue authority £91 3.7%
- Parish/town council (average) £81 3.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Wokingham; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Wokingham council tax history
Band D in Wokingham has risen from £1,580.11 in 2016/17 to £2,497.70 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.6%, the 124th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Wokingham Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band D |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,497.70 | +5.1% | £2,497.70 |
| 2025/26 | £2,376.11 | +5.0% | £2,376.11 |
| 2024/25 | £2,262.93 | +4.9% | £2,262.93 |
| 2023/24 | £2,157.35 | +5.1% | £2,157.35 |
| 2022/23 | £2,052.60 | +3.2% | £2,052.60 |
| 2021/22 | £1,988.82 | +5.1% | £1,988.82 |
| 2020/21 | £1,892.91 | +4.1% | £1,892.91 |
| 2019/20 | £1,818.89 | +4.5% | £1,818.89 |
| 2018/19 | £1,741.03 | +5.5% | £1,741.03 |
| 2017/18 | £1,650.35 | +4.4% | £1,650.35 |
| 2016/17 | £1,580.11 | – | £1,580.11 |
Homes by council tax band in Wokingham
Wokingham has 75,560 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 8% 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 £2,497.70 a year (£249.77 a month over 10 instalments).
Wokingham compared with South East
Wokingham is the 35th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£22.25 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Arun | £2,487.24 | +4.9% |
| Thanet | £2,490.90 | +4.2% |
| Runnymede | £2,492.99 | +4.7% |
| Wokingham | £2,497.70 | +5.1% |
| Maidstone | £2,502.59 | +4.1% |
| West Berkshire | £2,505.37 | +5.1% |
| Mole Valley | £2,519.86 | +4.7% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band D bill in Wokingham drops from £2,497.70 to £1,873.27.
- Council Tax Reduction: Wokingham 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).
Wokingham's 5.1% 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.
Wokingham's strict Council Tax Reduction rules
Wokingham runs a banded working-age scheme based on monthly income and household type. The most you can get is 78% off, and only if you get a passported benefit or your income is below the Band 1 limit. Three other rules cut many people out:
- You get nothing if you have more than £4,000 in capital.
- Help is capped at the Band D charge. A household in Band E pays the full difference between Band E and Band D itself (£555.04 a year in 2026/27) plus the 22% of the Band D charge the scheme never covers.
- Claims cannot be backdated, and the council does not pay awards below £3 a week.
- Disability benefits (DLA, PIP, AFIP and war disablement payments), Carer's Allowance, Child Benefit and child maintenance are not counted as income, and £7.50 a week of earnings is ignored.
2026/27 income bands (weekly net income)
The table shows the bands for a single person and for a family with more than one child, with what a Band D household on each band pays this year. Band D is Wokingham's most common band (21,200 homes).
| Band | Reduction | Single person | Family, 2+ children | Band D bill after reduction 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 78% | Up to £143.80, or passported benefit | Up to £302.00 | £549.49 |
| 2 | 60% | £143.81 to £201.35 | £302.01 to £359.52 | £999.08 |
| 3 | 40% | £201.36 to £273.24 | £359.53 to £445.81 | £1,498.62 |
| 4 | 20% | £273.25 to £359.52 | £445.82 to £517.71 | £1,998.16 |
| 5 | 0% | Over £359.53 | Over £517.72 | £2,497.70 |
Second homes, empty homes and paying
Wokingham charges a 100% second homes premium from 1 April 2025. A home counts as furnished if it has three or more items of furniture. Carpets, curtains, white goods and fitted items such as cookers and fitted wardrobes are not counted. There is no discount for empty homes, even those needing major repairs. After a year empty and unfurnished the bill doubles, triples after five years and is four times the normal bill after ten. The council says the aim is to bring homes back into use and ease the shortage of affordable housing.
Wokingham Borough Council's own charge, including adult social care, rose by the maximum 4.99% (2.99% general plus 2% social care), to £2,027.40 at Band D. Direct debits can be taken on the 1st, 10th or 20th of the month. You can pay over 12 months by emailing ctax@wokingham.gov.uk.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Wokingham?
£2,497.70 a year in 2026/27, or £249.77 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Wokingham?
Band D: 21,200 of 75,560 homes (28%). A Band D bill is £2,497.70 in 2026/27.
How much has Wokingham council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,376.11 to £2,497.70 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Wokingham?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,988.78; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £38.62; Police and crime commissioner £298.28; Fire and rescue authority £91.31; Parish/town council (average) £80.71 (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 Reduction in Wokingham?
For working-age claimants, £4,000. Anyone with more capital than that gets no reduction.
What is the most Council Tax Reduction Wokingham pays?
78% for working-age claimants, worked out on no more than the Band D charge. A Band D household on the top band pays £549.49 a year in 2026/27.
Can Wokingham backdate Council Tax Reduction?
No. Working-age claims cannot be backdated, so apply as soon as your income falls.
How does Wokingham decide whether a second home is furnished?
It needs three or more items of furniture. Carpets, curtains, white goods and built-in items are not counted.
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)
- Wokingham Borough Council – Council Tax Reduction scheme
- Wokingham Borough Council – CTR monthly and weekly band figures 2026/27 (PDF)
- Wokingham Borough Council – Premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties
- Wokingham Borough Council – Charges and increases
- Wokingham Borough Council – Payment methods