Council tax bills across England are on track to increase significantly in the coming years, with the average household potentially paying nearly £400 more annually by 2030. This surge results from consistent rises over the past decade, fuelled by councils maximizing their allowable increases.
As of the latest data from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, the average council tax bill in England stands at £1,770 per year. This represents a £102 increase from the 2024/25 financial year, which itself saw a £90 rise from the previous year. This pattern of steady growth has been ongoing since 2016.
Ten years ago, the average bill was just £1,078, indicating an average annual increase of around £69 over the past decade. Councils are permitted to raise council tax by up to 5% annually without holding a local referendum, and many have consistently done so to generate much-needed revenue.
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If councils continue applying these 5% yearly hikes, by 2030, the average council tax bill could climb to approximately £2,151—nearly £400 more than today. However, this national average masks even more dramatic rises in certain areas.
Some local authorities, such as Elmbridge in Surrey, could see council tax bills surge by almost £600 annually, exceeding £3,000 per household. Currently, Elmbridge’s average council tax is £2,781. A sustained 5% annual increase could raise this to £3,380 by 2030, marking the highest projected increase anywhere in the country.
Other councils with significant projected rises include Bath and North East Somerset (£2,397, up £425), North Somerset (£2,319, up £411), and Somerset (£2,367, up £420).
To help residents understand how their local council tax might change, interactive tools are available that allow users to input their council name and see projected increases based on these trends.
With council tax bills poised to rise sharply in coming years, households should prepare for greater financial demands and keep informed about their specific local authority’s tax plans.