Wolverhampton Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Wolverhampton is £2,538.99 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£125.01) on last year. That is £147.47 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 228th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (50%), so the average bill per home is about £1,993.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Metropolitan district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
Wolverhampton council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,692.66 | £169.27 | £141.05 | £1,269.50 | 57,550 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,974.77 | £197.48 | £164.56 | £1,481.08 | 25,630 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,256.88 | £225.69 | £188.07 | £1,692.66 | 17,710 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,538.99 | £253.90 | £211.58 | £1,904.24 | 7,380 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,103.21 | £310.32 | £258.60 | £2,327.41 | 3,150 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,667.43 | £366.74 | £305.62 | £2,750.57 | 1,730 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,231.65 | £423.16 | £352.64 | £3,173.74 | 1,000 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,077.98 | £507.80 | £423.16 | £3,808.48 | 130 |
- Wolverhampton
- England average
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Where your Wolverhampton council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Wolverhampton but shared between 4 bodies. Of the £2,538.99 Band D charge, £2,209.30 (87%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,167.21 | 85.4% | £1,444.81 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £42.09 | 1.7% | £28.06 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £244.50 | 9.6% | £163.00 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £85.19 | 3.4% | £56.79 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,167 85.4%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £42 1.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £245 9.6%
- Fire and rescue authority £85 3.4%
Wolverhampton council tax history
Band D in Wolverhampton has risen from £1,591.87 in 2016/17 to £2,538.99 in 2026/27 — 59% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.6%, the 80th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Wolverhampton Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,538.99 | +5.2% | £1,692.66 |
| 2025/26 | £2,413.98 | +5.2% | £1,609.32 |
| 2024/25 | £2,295.02 | +5.1% | £1,530.01 |
| 2023/24 | £2,184.58 | +5.3% | £1,456.39 |
| 2022/23 | £2,073.85 | +3.4% | £1,382.57 |
| 2021/22 | £2,006.08 | +5.3% | £1,337.39 |
| 2020/21 | £1,905.94 | +4.1% | £1,270.63 |
| 2019/20 | £1,830.21 | +5.9% | £1,220.14 |
| 2018/19 | £1,727.60 | +4.4% | £1,151.73 |
| 2017/18 | £1,654.81 | +4.0% | £1,103.21 |
| 2016/17 | £1,591.87 | – | £1,061.25 |
Homes by council tax band in Wolverhampton
Wolverhampton has 114,280 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 73% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,692.66 a year (£169.27 a month over 10 instalments).
Wolverhampton compared with West Midlands
Wolverhampton is the 28th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£139.32 less than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Coventry | £2,516.72 | +4.3% |
| Shropshire | £2,528.18 | +9% |
| North Warwickshire | £2,532.10 | +4.1% |
| Wolverhampton | £2,538.99 | +5.2% |
| Herefordshire | £2,574.37 | +5.1% |
| Walsall | £2,627.48 | +5.2% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Wolverhampton drops from £1,692.66 to £1,269.50.
- Council Tax Reduction: Wolverhampton 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).
Wolverhampton's 5.2% 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.
Council Tax Support in Wolverhampton: 78%, 88% or 100%
Wolverhampton's working-age Council Tax Support has two maximum levels. Most working-age claimants can get up to 78% off. People who are severely disabled, who have a severely disabled child, or who are single, under 25 and have no dependent children can get up to 88%. Pension-age claimants can still get up to 100%.
Band A matters most here, because 57,550 of the city's 114,280 homes are in it. A Band A bill is £1,692.66 in 2026/27. At the 78% maximum a claimant still pays £372.39 a year, about £37.24 a month over 10 instalments. At 88% that falls to £203.12.
Second homes premium from April 2026
Full Council agreed a 100% second homes premium on 18 September 2024, and it started on 1 April 2026. The council says second home ownership in the city is significant and reduces the supply of homes for local people. A Band B second home, the second most common band, now pays £3,949.54 a year. As with the empty homes premium, it applies to the property, and occupying it or removing the furniture for six weeks or less does not restart the clock.
There is no discount for an empty home or for one that needs structural repairs. Empty and unfurnished homes pay 200% after a year, 300% after five years (since April 2020) and 400% after ten years (since April 2021). Wolverhampton extends the 50% discount for armed forces personnel living in service accommodation to those stationed abroad. Ukrainian nationals living in their own home under Homes for Ukraine get 50% off.
Precepts and payment plans
The West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority set a Band D precept of £85.19 for 2026/27, a £5 rise. Its expenditure budget rose from £154.8 million to £161.9 million. The West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner's share is £244.50. Wolverhampton has no parish councils, so everyone in the same band pays the same.
You can pay monthly by direct debit on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th, fortnightly on a Friday, or weekly on a Friday. Card payments can be made on the 24-hour freephone line, 0800 180 4464.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Wolverhampton?
£2,538.99 a year in 2026/27, or £253.90 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Wolverhampton?
Band A: 57,550 of 114,280 homes (50%). A Band A bill is £1,692.66 in 2026/27.
How much has Wolverhampton council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,413.98 to £2,538.99 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 59%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Wolverhampton?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,167.21; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £42.09; Police and crime commissioner £244.50; Fire and rescue authority £85.19 (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 maximum Council Tax Support in Wolverhampton?
78% for most working-age claimants. 88% if you are severely disabled, have a severely disabled child, or are single, under 25 and have no dependent children. Pensioners can get 100%.
When did Wolverhampton start charging double on second homes?
On 1 April 2026, after Full Council approved the premium on 18 September 2024.
Can I pay Wolverhampton council tax weekly?
Yes. Weekly and fortnightly plans are due on Fridays. Monthly direct debits can be on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th.
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)
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Council Tax 2026/27 explanatory notes (PDF)
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Second homes additional premiums from 1 April 2026
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Empty property and second homes
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Ways to reduce your bill
- City of Wolverhampton Council – Pay your council tax
- West Midlands Fire and Rescue Authority finances 2026/27 (PDF)