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Biggest tax rises this year

Councils that put Band D up the most in 2025-26

Councils raising Band D by 4.99% or more this year

113

National average rise: 4.9%.

Top 10 biggest rises

Ranked by percentage change from 2024-25 Band D to 2025-26 Band D.

1. Bradford Council+9.3%

£2,055 → £2,246+£191

2. Windsor & Maidenhead Council+8.3%

£1,684 → £1,824+£140

3. Newham+7.7%

£1,724 → £1,856+£132

4. Trafford Council+7.6%

£1,973 → £2,123+£150

5. Somerset Council+7.6%

£2,267 → £2,439+£172

6. Birmingham Council+7.4%

£2,091 → £2,245+£154

7. North Somerset Council+6.0%

£2,165 → £2,295+£130

8. York Council+5.9%

£2,053 → £2,175+£122

9. North Yorkshire Council+5.9%

£2,283 → £2,418+£135

10. Bolton Council+5.6%

£2,147 → £2,267+£120

How we got this: percentage change = (2025-26 Band D − 2024-25 Band D) ÷ 2024-25 Band D. We rank every council that has published both figures.

About this number

Every year most councils put their Band D rate up. Some go up by more than others — a few with special permission from government.

This card ranks councils by how much their Band D bill changed from last year. It is a like-for-like comparison of the same number in two years.

Questions people ask

Which councils raised council tax the most in 2025-26?

The councils with the biggest rises are listed on this page, alongside the national average for context.

Why can some councils raise council tax by more than others?

There is usually a limit on how much councils can put bills up without holding a local vote. Councils in financial difficulty can ask central government for permission to go above this limit.

Sources

Council Tax levels set by local authorities — GOV.UK (opens in new tab)

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