Wyre Forest Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Wyre Forest is £2,512.47 for 2026/27, up 7.9% (£184.98) on last year. That is £120.95 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 211th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,245.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, West Midlands · Official England government statistics
Wyre Forest council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,674.98 | £167.50 | £139.58 | £1,256.24 | 11,640 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,954.14 | £195.41 | £162.85 | £1,465.61 | 12,000 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,233.31 | £223.33 | £186.11 | £1,674.98 | 12,180 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,512.47 | £251.25 | £209.37 | £1,884.35 | 6,630 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,070.80 | £307.08 | £255.90 | £2,303.10 | 3,670 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,629.12 | £362.91 | £302.43 | £2,721.84 | 1,810 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,187.45 | £418.75 | £348.95 | £3,140.59 | 1,310 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,024.94 | £502.49 | £418.74 | £3,768.71 | 140 |
- Wyre Forest
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Wyre Forest council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Wyre Forest but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,512.47 Band D charge, £258.08 (10%) 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 | £258.08 | 10.3% | £229.40 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,760.80 | 70.1% | £1,565.16 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £306.50 | 12.2% | £272.44 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £107.22 | 4.3% | £95.31 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £79.87 | 3.2% | £71.00 |
- District council £258 10.3%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,761 70.1%
- Police and crime commissioner £307 12.2%
- Fire and rescue authority £107 4.3%
- Parish/town council (average) £80 3.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Wyre Forest; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Wyre Forest council tax history
Band D in Wyre Forest has risen from £1,623.24 in 2016/17 to £2,512.47 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 29.6%, the 11th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Wyre Forest Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,512.47 | +7.9% | £2,233.31 |
| 2025/26 | £2,327.49 | +5.1% | £2,068.88 |
| 2024/25 | £2,214.57 | +4.9% | £1,968.51 |
| 2023/24 | £2,111.53 | +5.0% | £1,876.92 |
| 2022/23 | £2,011.54 | +3.7% | £1,788.04 |
| 2021/22 | £1,939.20 | +3.1% | £1,723.73 |
| 2020/21 | £1,880.39 | +3.8% | £1,671.46 |
| 2019/20 | £1,811.74 | +4.6% | £1,610.44 |
| 2018/19 | £1,732.40 | +4.4% | £1,539.91 |
| 2017/18 | £1,659.36 | +2.2% | £1,474.99 |
| 2016/17 | £1,623.24 | – | £1,442.88 |
Homes by council tax band in Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest has 49,380 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 48% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,233.31 a year (£223.33 a month over 10 instalments).
Wyre Forest compared with West Midlands
Wyre Forest is the 24th cheapest of 30 councils in West Midlands, where the average Band D across councils is £2,399.67 (£112.80 less than here). Cheapest: Dudley (£2,144.84); most expensive: Walsall (£2,627.48).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Rugby | £2,483.05 | +4.4% |
| Stratford-on-Avon | £2,484.17 | +4.4% |
| Nuneaton and Bedworth | £2,502.16 | +4.3% |
| Wyre Forest | £2,512.47 | +7.9% |
| Coventry | £2,516.72 | +4.3% |
| Shropshire | £2,528.18 | +9% |
| North Warwickshire | £2,532.10 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Wyre Forest drops from £2,233.31 to £1,674.98.
- Council Tax Reduction: Wyre Forest 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).
Wyre Forest's 7.9% 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.
Wyre Forest does not charge a second homes premium
Wyre Forest District Council has not adopted the second homes premium that councils have been able to charge since April 2025. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays the normal 100% charge, with no discount: £2,512.47 at Band D in 2026/27, or £1,954.14 at Band B. The council's discounts page says it does "not currently charge a premium on second homes".
Holiday lets and Airbnb properties may move to business rates if they meet the Valuation Office Agency's self-catering tests. Until the VOA reclassifies them, they stay on council tax.
Empty homes premium since April 2024
Empty homes are treated much more strictly than second homes. An unoccupied, unfurnished home gets 100% off for one calendar month, then pays the full charge. Since 1 April 2024 the premium has started after one year.
- The premium stays with the property when it is sold or let to someone who leaves it empty.
- A home needing major repair or structural work gets 50% off, not 100%, for up to 12 months.
- All Worcestershire councils have committed to help care leavers under 25 on a low income with their council tax.
| How long empty and unfurnished | Charge | Band A bill 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|
| First month | 0% | £0.00 |
| 1 month to 1 year | 100% | £1,674.98 |
| 1 to 5 years | 200% | £3,349.96 |
| 5 to 10 years | 300% | £5,024.94 |
| 10 years and over | 400% | £6,699.92 |
District share up 2.99%, and Council Tax Reduction up to 90%
Wyre Forest District Council raised its own share by 2.99%, to £258.08 at Band D, which is about 10p in every £1 of the bill. Most of the 7.9% rise in the total comes from Worcestershire County Council's 8.98% increase. The district notes that most homes are in Bands A to C, so most households pay less than the Band D figure. Every part of the district except Ribbesford has a town or parish council, whose precept is added to the bill.
The working-age Council Tax Reduction Scheme is banded by weekly net income and pays up to 90% of the bill. You cannot claim with more than £6,000 in savings. Children beyond the second do not change your band. Some disability benefits, war disablement pensions and child maintenance are not counted as income. At the 90% maximum, a Band B household pays £195.41 a year. You can ask to pay over 12 instalments instead of 10. If your account is passed to enforcement agents, a £79 fee is added straight away.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Wyre Forest?
£2,512.47 a year in 2026/27, or £251.25 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Wyre Forest?
Band C: 12,180 of 49,380 homes (25%). A Band C bill is £2,233.31 in 2026/27.
How much has Wyre Forest council tax gone up?
7.9% this year, from £2,327.49 to £2,512.47 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Wyre Forest?
District council £258.08; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,760.80; Police and crime commissioner £306.50; Fire and rescue authority £107.22; Parish/town council (average) £79.87 (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.
Does Wyre Forest charge double council tax on second homes?
No. Wyre Forest does not currently charge a second homes premium, so second homes pay the normal bill with no discount.
What is the maximum Council Tax Reduction in Wyre Forest?
90% for working-age claimants with savings of £6,000 or less, based on weekly net income and household type.
How much did Wyre Forest District Council raise its share?
2.99%, to £258.08 at Band D in 2026/27.
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)
- Wyre Forest District Council – Discounts and exemptions
- Wyre Forest District Council – What does my Council Tax pay for?
- Wyre Forest District Council – Working age Council Tax Reduction Scheme
- Wyre Forest District Council – How to pay your Council Tax
- Wyre Forest District Council – Difficulty paying and missed payments
- Worcestershire County Council – Council Tax and budgets