Harlow council tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Harlow is £2,298.69 a year for 2026/27. That's up 3.7% on 2025/26 and £93 less than the England average. Most homes here are in band C: 48% of them.
Band D, 2026/27
£2,298.69 a year
- Council
- Harlow
- Type
- Shire district
- Region
- East of England
- Rank
- the 55th cheapest of 296 councils in England
the 9th cheapest of 45 councils in the East of England - England average
- £2,391.52 Band D
- Figures
- 2026/27, checked 27 October 2026
Harlow council tax bands 2026/27
Yearly charge and the usual monthly payment. Councils collect in 10 monthly payments unless you ask for 12.
| Band | A year | Monthly, 10 payments | Monthly, 12 payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,532.46 | £153.25 | £127.71 |
| Band B | £1,787.87 | £178.79 | £148.99 |
| Band C | £2,043.28 | £204.33 | £170.27 |
| Band D | £2,298.69 | £229.87 | £191.56 |
| Band E | £2,809.51 | £280.95 | £234.13 |
| Band F | £3,320.33 | £332.03 | £276.69 |
| Band G | £3,831.15 | £383.12 | £319.26 |
| Band H | £4,597.38 | £459.74 | £383.12 |
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 Harlow is split between 4 bodies. Harlow council's own share is £288.90.
| Set by | Band D | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Harlow council | £288.90 | 13% |
| Essex County Council | £1,641.96 | 71% |
| Essex Police | £275.31 | 12% |
| Essex PCC- fire and rescue | £92.52 | 4% |
Homes in each band
27% of the 40,610 homes in Harlow 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.
Discounts and premiums in Harlow
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. Harlow also sets its own rules on second and empty homes:
| Second homes | 100% premium: you pay double the normal chargesince 1 April 2025 |
|---|---|
| Long-term empty homes | 100% premium after 1 year; 200% premium after 5 years; 300% premium after 10 years |
| Local discounts | Empty & unfurnished: 100% discount for up to 3 months; Uninhabitable, needing/undergoing major repair works: 50% discount for up to 12 months; Essex care leavers up to 21: discretionary reduction so the care leaver is not counted as an adult for council tax |
Source: Harlow website, checked 27 October 2026.
On a low income? Each English council runs its own Council Tax Reduction scheme for working-age people. Harlow Council Tax Reduction.
Band D in Harlow over the years
Show the figures
| Year | Band D |
|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,298.69 |
| 2025/26 | £2,216.43 |
| 2024/25 | £2,140.47 |
| 2023/24 | £2,052.81 |
| 2022/23 | £1,983.87 |
| 2021/22 | £1,912.23 |
| 2020/21 | £1,876.89 |
| 2019/20 | £1,813.58 |
| 2018/19 | £1,733.43 |
| 2017/18 | £1,662.06 |
| 2016/17 | £1,616.88 |
| 2015/16 | £1,563.34 |
| 2014/15 | £1,556.57 |
| 2013/14 | £1,549.98 |
| 2012/13 | £1,541.43 |
| 2011/12 | £1,536.84 |
| 2010/11 | £1,536.84 |
| 2009/10 | £1,510.92 |
| 2008/09 | £1,473.21 |
| 2007/08 | £1,415.61 |
| 2006/07 | £1,360.44 |
| 2005/06 | £1,304.01 |
| 2004/05 | £1,263.24 |
| 2003/04 | £1,198.10 |
| 2002/03 | £1,060.74 |
| 2001/02 | £985.68 |
| 2000/01 | £924.87 |
| 1999/00 | £872.49 |
| 1998/99 | £820.57 |
| 1997/98 | £704.74 |
| 1996/97 | £704.55 |
| 1995/96 | £673.88 |
| 1994/95 | £706.50 |
| 1993/94 | £724.50 |
Band D including the average parish or community precept. 1993/94 to 2026/27.
Nearby councils
| Council | Band D | Difference | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epping Forest | £2,277.21 | −£21.48 | Compare |
| East Hertfordshire | £2,454.78 | +£156.09 | Compare |
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 Harlow?
In 2026/27 Band D is £2,298.69 a year. Bands run from £1,532.46 (Band A) to £4,597.38 (Band H).
How much is Band C council tax a month in Harlow?
Band C is £2,043.28 a year: £204.33 a month over 10 payments or £170.27 over 12. Band C is the most common band here (48% of homes).
How much did Harlow council tax go up?
Band D rose from £2,216.43 in 2025/26 to £2,298.69 in 2026/27, an increase of 3.7% (£82.26).
Does Harlow charge extra council tax on second homes?
Yes. Harlow 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 Harlow?
You pay Harlow council, which collects the whole bill and passes on the shares set by Essex County Council, Essex Police and Essex PCC- fire and rescue. 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.