Watford Council Tax 2026/2027
Official municipal billing authority: Watford District Council (District Council (Two-Tier)) in East of England, England. Administering 5 postcode districts under Council Tax (England Statutory 1991 Valuation).
Statutory Tariff Table: Watford
Full annual fees and discounted rates applicable across all 5 outcodes in this authority.
| Valuation Band | Full Annual (£) | 10-Mo Direct Debit | Single Person (-25%) | Single 10-Mo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Band A | £1,631.13 | £163.11/mo | £1,223.35 | £122.34/mo |
Band B | £1,902.99 | £190.30/mo | £1,427.24 | £142.72/mo |
Band C | £2,174.84 | £217.48/mo | £1,631.13 | £163.11/mo |
Band DBenchmark | £2,446.70 | £244.67/mo | £1,835.03 | £183.50/mo |
Band E | £2,990.41 | £299.04/mo | £2,242.81 | £224.28/mo |
Band F | £3,534.12 | £353.41/mo | £2,650.59 | £265.06/mo |
Band G | £4,077.83 | £407.78/mo | £3,058.37 | £305.84/mo |
Band H | £4,893.40 | £489.34/mo | £3,670.05 | £367.01/mo |
2026/27 Statistical Rank & Regional Benchmark
Deterministic mathematical comparisons against statutory England benchmarks and regional council tax league averages.
Watford Band D is +2.3% higher than the statutory England benchmark. Cumulative 5-year difference: +£273.50.
Within East of England, Watford ranks #15 of 45 billing authorities for Band D charges.
Switching from the default 10-installment plan to the statutory 12-month schedule lowers your monthly bill by £40.78 / month, spreading cash outflows across February and March.
Nearby Authorities in East of England: Cheaper vs Pricier Alternatives
Who Sets Your Bill: Precepting Authority Structure
Statutory breakdown structure for Council Tax levied across Watford (Watford District Council).
Four-Tier Shire County & District Precept Structure
As a two-tier non-metropolitan district, your total bill in Watford is split between four separate precepting bodies:
- County Council (typically ~70% of bill): Funds upper-tier services including adult social care, children's services, education infrastructure, major highways, and public health.
- Watford District Council (District Billing Authority, ~10–15%): Collects your tax and funds local borough functions—refuse collection, housing, planning approvals, and environmental health.
- Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC, ~10–12%): Sets an independent precept to fund regional policing operations.
- Fire and Rescue Authority (~3–4%): Funds emergency fire rescue and prevention operations.
Where applicable, parished communities also contribute a local Town or Parish Council precept for hyper-local amenities.
Postcode Districts in Watford
Select an outcode to view localized housing stock distribution, dominant property bands, and valuation baselines.
Watford (WD17 Postal District)
Watford (WD18 Postal District)
Watford (WD24 Postal District)
Watford (WD25 Postal District)
Watford (WD99 Postal District)