Worthing Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Worthing is £2,456.13 for 2026/27, up 4.8% (£113.01) on last year. That is £64.61 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 164th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,274.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Worthing council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,637.42 | £163.74 | £136.45 | £1,228.07 | 8,430 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,910.32 | £191.03 | £159.19 | £1,432.74 | 11,670 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,183.23 | £218.32 | £181.94 | £1,637.42 | 13,210 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,456.13 | £245.61 | £204.68 | £1,842.10 | 9,790 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,001.94 | £300.19 | £250.16 | £2,251.45 | 5,650 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,547.74 | £354.77 | £295.65 | £2,660.81 | 2,460 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,093.55 | £409.36 | £341.13 | £3,070.16 | 940 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,912.26 | £491.23 | £409.36 | £3,684.20 | 30 |
- Worthing
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Worthing council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Worthing but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,456.13 Band D charge, £283.86 (12%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £283.86 | 11.6% | £252.32 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,890.36 | 77.0% | £1,680.32 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £281.91 | 11.5% | £250.59 |
- District council £284 11.6%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890 77.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £282 11.5%
Worthing council tax history
Band D in Worthing has risen from £1,577.03 in 2016/17 to £2,456.13 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.5%, the 172nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Worthing Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,456.13 | +4.8% | £2,183.23 |
| 2025/26 | £2,343.12 | +4.8% | £2,082.77 |
| 2024/25 | £2,235.52 | +4.8% | £1,987.13 |
| 2023/24 | £2,133.24 | +4.9% | £1,896.21 |
| 2022/23 | £2,033.01 | +3.0% | £1,807.12 |
| 2021/22 | £1,972.88 | +4.9% | £1,753.67 |
| 2020/21 | £1,881.21 | +3.9% | £1,672.19 |
| 2019/20 | £1,811.26 | +5.6% | £1,610.01 |
| 2018/19 | £1,714.99 | +4.9% | £1,524.44 |
| 2017/18 | £1,634.14 | +3.6% | £1,452.57 |
| 2016/17 | £1,577.03 | – | £1,401.80 |
Homes by council tax band in Worthing
Worthing has 52,180 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 39% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,183.23 a year (£218.32 a month over 10 instalments).
Worthing compared with South East
Worthing is the 27th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£19.32 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| New Forest | £2,419.76 | +5.1% |
| Horsham | £2,441.01 | +5.1% |
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 | +4.2% |
| Worthing | £2,456.13 | +4.8% |
| Dover | £2,461.74 | +4.1% |
| Chichester | £2,469.68 | +5.3% |
| Tonbridge and Malling | £2,471.83 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Worthing drops from £2,183.23 to £1,637.42.
- Council Tax Reduction: Worthing 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).
Worthing'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.
How a Worthing Band D bill is split
Worthing has no parish councils, so every Band D home pays exactly £2,456.13 in 2026/27, and every other band is a fixed fraction of that. Three bodies share the money:
- Worthing's own charge works out at about £5.46 a week at Band D.
- There is no separate fire precept, because the fire service is run by the county council.
| Body | Band D | Share | What it pays for |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Sussex County Council | £1,890.36 | 77.0% | Schools, social care, roads, and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service |
| Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner | £281.91 | 11.5% | Sussex Police |
| Worthing Borough Council | £283.86 | 11.6% | Waste and recycling, parks, housing and homelessness support, Worthing Crematorium |
No empty-home discount since April 2023
Worthing used to give a 100% discount for the first month on an empty, unfurnished home (neighbouring Adur ended its version in 2020). Worthing scrapped it from 1 April 2023, so full council tax is now due from the day a home is empty. Furnished homes with no resident have had no discount since April 2013, and since 1 April 2025 second homes have paid a 100% premium on top. A long-term empty premium also applies to homes left unoccupied and unfurnished.
In money terms, a Band C home, the most common band in Worthing (13,210 homes), pays £2,183.23 from the day it is empty, and £4,366.45 a year if it is a second home.
Council Tax Support and paying
Worthing Borough Council has its own Council Tax Reduction scheme, separate from Adur's. For working-age claimants it can still cover up to 100% of the bill, minus deductions for other adults in the home. If your income is above your assessed needs, support is reduced by 20p for every extra £1 of weekly income. You cannot claim with more than £16,000 in savings. Universal Credit claimants must apply separately, and the council aims to process claims within 20 days.
Worthing council tax account numbers are nine digits and begin with 90. Direct debits can be monthly on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 25th, and there is a 24-hour card line on 0300 123 6002.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Worthing?
£2,456.13 a year in 2026/27, or £245.61 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Worthing?
Band C: 13,210 of 52,180 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,183.23 in 2026/27.
How much has Worthing council tax gone up?
4.8% this year, from £2,343.12 to £2,456.13 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Worthing?
District council £283.86; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,890.36; Police and crime commissioner £281.91 (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.
Is there a discount for an empty home in Worthing?
No. Worthing ended its one-month 100% discount on 1 April 2023, so full council tax is due from the day a home becomes empty and unfurnished.
How much of my Worthing council tax goes to Worthing Borough Council?
£283.86 at Band D in 2026/27, about 12%. West Sussex County Council takes £1,890.36.
Can Council Tax Support cover my whole bill in Worthing?
Yes. Worthing's working-age scheme can still give up to 100% support if your income is low enough and your savings are no more than £16,000.
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)
- Adur & Worthing Councils – What your Council Tax is used for
- Adur & Worthing Councils – Council Tax charges for empty or unfurnished properties
- Adur & Worthing Councils – Council Tax Support
- Worthing Borough Council – Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2026/27 (PDF)
- Adur & Worthing Councils – How to pay your Council Tax