Highest and lowest council tax
rates verified 24 Jul 2026 · next refresh after Autumn Statement
Direct answer
The most expensive English Band D for 2026/27 is Dorset at £2,765. The cheapest is Wandsworth at £1,028 – Westminster is next at £1,050, City of London at £1,3303837. The gap top-to-bottom is around 2.7×.
Top and bottom 2026/27 Band D
| LA | Band D | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Dorset | £2,765 | Highest |
| Lewes | £2,756 | 2nd highest |
| Rutland | £2,738 | 3rd highest |
| City of London | £1,330 | 3rd lowest |
| Westminster | £1,050 | 2nd lowest |
| Wandsworth | £1,028 | Lowest |
Why the spread is so wide
Lower-tier shire districts pool with county precepts, police and fire to push bills higher. Large London boroughs benefit from substantial business-rate retention and historic concessions, holding Band D rates close to £1,000.