Bolton council tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Bolton is £2,399.74 a year for 2026/27. That's up 5.9% on 2025/26 and £8.22 more than the England average. Most homes here are in band A: 51% of them.
Band D, 2026/27
£2,399.74 a year
- Council
- Bolton
- Type
- Metropolitan district
- Region
- North West
- Rank
- the 116th cheapest of 296 councils in England
the 6th cheapest of 35 councils in the North West - England average
- £2,391.52 Band D
- Figures
- 2026/27, checked 27 October 2026
Bolton council tax bands 2026/27
Yearly charge and the usual monthly payment. Councils collect in 10 monthly payments unless you ask for 12. These are averages across the council area; your parish changes the exact figure (see below).
| Band | A year | Monthly, 10 payments | Monthly, 12 payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,599.83 | £159.98 | £133.32 |
| Band B | £1,866.46 | £186.65 | £155.54 |
| Band C | £2,133.10 | £213.31 | £177.76 |
| Band D | £2,399.74 | £239.97 | £199.98 |
| Band E | £2,933.02 | £293.30 | £244.42 |
| Band F | £3,466.29 | £346.63 | £288.86 |
| Band G | £3,999.57 | £399.96 | £333.30 |
| Band H | £4,799.48 | £479.95 | £399.96 |
Bands as published by the government (area council tax including the average parish precept). Monthly figures divide the year equally; the first payment can differ by a few pence.
Where your council tax goes
A Band D bill in Bolton is split between 4 bodies. Bolton council's own share is £1,953.08, including £37.20 raised this year for adult social care.
| Set by | Band D | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Bolton council | £1,953.08 | 81% |
| Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Police and Crime Commissioner functions | £285.30 | 12% |
| Parish or town council (average) | £7.41 | 0% |
| Other | £153.95 | 6% |
Homes in each band
69% of the 129,940 homes in Bolton are in band A or B, and 4% are in band F or above.
Valuation Office Agency, Council Tax stock of properties, 31 March 2026. Counts are rounded.
Council tax by parish in Bolton
3 parish and town councils in Bolton add their own charge. Band D without any parish is £2,392.33; add the parish share for your area. Other bands are the same fraction of Band D as above.
| Parish or town council | Parish share | Band D total | Change in parish share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blackrod | £41.19 | £2,433.52 | +£0.26 |
| Horwich | £40.48 | £2,432.81 | +£2.80 |
| Westhoughton | £22.15 | £2,414.48 | +£0.68 |
Parish shares from the government's council tax statistics for town and parish councils, 2026/27.
Discounts and premiums in Bolton
Everyone in England gets the national discounts: 25% off if you live alone, nothing to pay for all-student homes, and one band lower if your home has been adapted for a disabled person. How discounts work. Bolton also sets its own rules on second and empty homes:
| Second homes | 100% premium: you pay double the normal charge |
|---|---|
| Long-term empty homes | 100% premium after 1 year; 200% premium after 5 years; 300% premium after 10 years |
| Local discounts | Care leavers aged 18-24: 100% discount (after CTS and other discounts) until age 25; reciprocal agreement with some neighbouring councils; Discretionary council tax reduction scheme (s13A) |
Source: Bolton website, checked 27 October 2026.
On a low income? Each English council runs its own Council Tax Reduction scheme for working-age people. Bolton Council Tax Reduction.
Band D in Bolton over the years
Show the figures
| Year | Band D |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,399.74 |
| 2025/26 | £2,266.53 |
| 2024/25 | £2,147.47 |
| 2023/24 | £2,044.63 |
| 2022/23 | £1,959.66 |
| 2021/22 | £1,888.62 |
| 2020/21 | £1,820.96 |
| 2019/20 | £1,767.03 |
| 2018/19 | £1,701.24 |
| 2017/18 | £1,612.15 |
| 2016/17 | £1,542.52 |
| 2015/16 | £1,491.78 |
| 2014/15 | £1,491.77 |
| 2013/14 | £1,464.49 |
| 2012/13 | £1,414.19 |
| 2011/12 | £1,414.21 |
| 2010/11 | £1,414.36 |
| 2009/10 | £1,388.14 |
| 2008/09 | £1,332.11 |
| 2007/08 | £1,321.45 |
| 2006/07 | £1,275.31 |
| 2005/06 | £1,216.02 |
| 2004/05 | £1,162.02 |
| 2003/04 | £1,118.32 |
| 2002/03 | £1,030.68 |
| 2001/02 | £981.68 |
| 2000/01 | £927.87 |
| 1999/00 | £888.53 |
| 1998/99 | £848.54 |
| 1997/98 | £786.56 |
| 1996/97 | £735.60 |
| 1995/96 | £684.00 |
| 1994/95 | £652.50 |
| 1993/94 | £596.25 |
Band D including the average parish or community precept. 1993/94 to 2026/27.
Nearby councils
Pay, check your band or apply for a discount
This site is independent. To pay, see your exact bill, tell the council you've moved or apply for a discount, use the council's own site.
Questions
How much is council tax in Bolton?
In 2026/27 Band D is £2,399.74 a year. Bands run from £1,599.83 (Band A) to £4,799.48 (Band H). The exact figure depends on your parish or town council.
How much is Band A council tax a month in Bolton?
Band A is £1,599.83 a year: £159.98 a month over 10 payments or £133.32 over 12. Band A is the most common band here (51% of homes).
How much did Bolton council tax go up?
Band D rose from £2,266.53 in 2025/26 to £2,399.74 in 2026/27, an increase of 5.9% (£133.21).
Does Bolton charge extra council tax on second homes?
Yes. Bolton charges a 100% premium on second homes in 2026/27, so the owner pays 200% of the normal charge.
Who do I pay council tax to in Bolton?
You pay Bolton council, which collects the whole bill and passes on the shares set by Greater Manchester Combined Authority - Police and Crime Commissioner functions, Parish or town council and Other. Use the council's own website to pay, check your bill or apply for discounts.
Sources
- Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, published 25 March 2026, checked 27 October 2026
- Council Tax: stock of properties, 2026 - CTSOP1.1: number of properties by Council Tax band, local authority and LSOA/MSOA at 31 March 2026 (geography = LAUA rows), Valuation Office Agency, checked 27 October 2026
- Council website (premiums and discounts), checked 27 October 2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. How we compile these figures.