Reading Council Tax 2026/2027

Official municipal billing authority: Reading Council (Unitary Authority) in South East, England. Administering 4 postcode districts under Council Tax (England Statutory 1991 Valuation).

Band D Base Annual£2,612.77100% Consistent Base

YoY Annual Increase+4.99%+£124.18 vs 2025/26

Regional Rank (South East)#8 of 64In South East

Postcodes Monitored4Postcode Districts

Statutory Tariff Table: Reading

Full annual fees and discounted rates applicable across all 4 outcodes in this authority.

10 & 12 Monthly Direct Debit

Valuation Band	Full Annual (£)	10-Mo Direct Debit	12-Mo Installment	Single Person (-25%)	Single 10-Mo
Band A	£1,741.85	£174.19/mo	£145.15/mo	£1,306.39	£130.64/mo
Band B	£2,032.15	£203.22/mo	£169.35/mo	£1,524.11	£152.41/mo
Band C	£2,322.46	£232.25/mo	£193.54/mo	£1,741.85	£174.19/mo
Band DBenchmark	£2,612.77	£261.28/mo	£217.73/mo	£1,959.58	£195.96/mo
Band E	£3,193.39	£319.34/mo	£266.12/mo	£2,395.04	£239.50/mo
Band F	£3,774.00	£377.40/mo	£314.50/mo	£2,830.50	£283.05/mo
Band G	£4,354.62	£435.46/mo	£362.89/mo	£3,265.97	£326.60/mo
Band H	£5,225.54	£522.55/mo	£435.46/mo	£3,919.16	£391.92/mo

2026/27 Statistical Rank & Regional Benchmark

Deterministic mathematical comparisons against statutory England benchmarks and regional council tax league averages.

Fiscal Year 2026/2027

1. Benchmark & Regional Delta+£220.77vs England average Band D (£2,392)

Reading Band D is +9.2% higher than the statutory England benchmark. Cumulative 5-year difference: +£1103.85.

Regional mean in South East: £2475.45 (+£137.32).

2. England StandingRank #27 of 296 in EnglandTop 9% highest Band D in England

Within South East, Reading ranks #8 of 64 billing authorities for Band D charges.

Nation Percentile: 9th percentile in England.

3. Direct Debit Installment Options£261.28 / 10 mosor £217.73 / 12 months

Switching from the default 10-installment plan to the statutory 12-month schedule lowers your monthly bill by £43.55 / month, spreading cash outflows across February and March.

Local authorities are legally required to grant 12-month billing upon written or online request.

Nearby Authorities in South East: Cheaper vs Pricier Alternatives

Cheaper Neighbouring Councils in South East:

Waverley

Save £7.90/yrBand D: £2604.87 (-0.3%)

Woking

Save £14.73/yrBand D: £2598.04 (-0.6%)

South Oxfordshire

Save £15.20/yrBand D: £2597.57 (-0.6%)

Higher-Tariff Neighbouring Councils in South East:

Isle of Wight

+£13.02/yrBand D: £2625.79 (+0.5%)

Eastbourne

+£41.51/yrBand D: £2654.28 (+1.6%)

Hastings

+£63.81/yrBand D: £2676.58 (+2.4%)

Who Sets Your Bill: Precepting Authority Structure

Statutory breakdown structure for Council Tax levied across Reading (Reading Council).

Statutory Local Tiers

Unitary / Metropolitan Council Precept Structure

As an all-purpose unitary authority, Reading Council sets the primary proportion of your bill, combining core civic services with the Adult Social Care precept.

Unitary Council Services: Education, social services, waste collection, housing, and planning.
Police Precept: Levied by the regional Police & Crime Commissioner.
Fire & Rescue Precept: Levied by the Combined Fire Authority.
Mayoral Precept: Combined authority precept where applicable.

Official Bill Verification: Exact statutory line-by-line pound allocations are itemised on your annual Council Tax Demand Notice issued each March. For specific budget schedules, consult Reading Council's official 2026/27 council tax resolution.