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The lowest Band D council tax in England for 2026-27 is Wandsworth at £1,028.00. Bills still went up almost everywhere — the average 2026-27 rise across billing authorities was 4.8%, and even Wandsworth put Band D up by 3.0%. Figures for unitary, metropolitan, London borough and district councils are the full Band D bill for the area, including any county, police and fire shares. County councils show only their own 2025-26 share — they do not send the bill, and their 2026-27 share is not yet published. These rankings cover England's councils. Scotland and Wales run their own council tax systems, and Northern Ireland uses domestic rates instead.
Unitary, metropolitan, and London boroughs · 2026-27 · full Band D bill for the area
Two-tier lower (shares services with a county council) · 2026-27 · full Band D bill for the area
Two-tier upper (shares services with district councils) · 2025-26 · the county's own share of the bill (2026-27 not yet published)
Quick answers, from the same figures as the rankings
Wandsworth has the lowest Band D council tax in England for 2026-27 at £1,028.00. The average 2026-27 Band D bill across England's 296 billing authorities is £2,411, up 4.8% on last year.
CivAccount covers England's councils, where the cheapest Band D bill for 2026-27 is Wandsworth at £1,028.00. Scotland and Wales set council tax under their own systems, and Northern Ireland uses domestic rates instead of council tax, so their bills are not ranked here.
You can only fairly compare councils of the same type. For unitary authorities, metropolitan districts, London boroughs and district councils, the figure shown is the full Band D bill for the area — including any county, police and fire shares. County councils show only their own share of the bill.
Lower-rate councils typically have a larger council tax base (more properties contributing), lower demand for adult social care, and may receive more central government funding per resident. Several inner London boroughs have some of the lowest bills in England even though their figure includes the Greater London Authority's share for police and fire.
Almost all English billing authorities raised the Band D bill for 2026-27 — the average rise was 4.8%. Even the cheapest area went up: Wandsworth's Band D rose by 3.0% from April 2026.