Politics · United Kingdom · 17 hrs ago
Average Band D council tax bill forecast to reach £2,958 by 2031-32
Conservative analysis puts the average Band D council tax bill at £2,958 by 2031-32, up from £2,391 this year.
The figures come from Budget forecasts for council tax across England, Scotland and Wales.
The Office for Budget Responsibility expects total receipts to rise from £54 billion in 2026-27 to £70 billion in 2031-32, as rates and the number of households grow.
Its forecast assumes annual bill increases of 4.4 per cent and 4.3 per cent over the coming years, while councils can raise bills by up to 5 per cent a year without a local referendum.
The Conservatives say the projected increase would outweigh a £100 council tax offer announced by Chancellor John Healey.
Local authorities in England decide each year whether to raise council tax, and the government says those decisions are for councils.
The average Band D council tax bill is forecast to reach £2,958 by 2031-32, up from £2,391 this year.
The forecast was based on Conservative Party analysis of official figures released alongside the Budget.
The Office for Budget Responsibility expects council tax receipts to rise from £54 billion in 2026-27 to £70 billion by 2031-32.
The Conservatives said the increase would outweigh the Government’s £100 council tax giveaway.
The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said decisions on council tax increases in England are made annually by local authorities.
- Who
- Households paying council tax, with the forecast focused on an average Band D property.
- What
- The average Band D bill is forecast to rise to £2,958 by 2031-32.
- When
- By 2031-32; the forecast starts from 2026-27.
- Where
- The figures cover council tax receipts in England, Scotland and Wales; the statement on decisions refers to England.
- Why
- The OBR attributes rising receipts to increases in council tax rates and growth in the number of households.
Conservatives
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Impact of forecast
Conservatives
The Conservatives said rising bills would outweigh the Government’s £100 council tax giveaway.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The ministry said the figures were an OBR forecast and local authorities in England make annual decisions on whether to increase council tax.
Responsibility for increases
Conservatives
Conservative housing spokesman Katie Lam called the forecast a “council tax bombshell” courtesy of Andy Burnham.
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
The ministry said decisions on increases in England are ultimately for local authorities.
Council tax receipts are forecast to reach £54 billion.
Council tax receipts are forecast to reach £70 billion, and the average Band D bill is forecast to reach £2,958.
- Average Band D bill by 2031-32
- £2,958
- Average Band D bill this year
- £2,391
- Council tax receipts in 2026-27
- £54 billion
- Council tax receipts in 2031-32
- £70 billion
- Government council tax giveaway
- £100
What people are saying
This is a council tax bombshell courtesy of Andy Burnham. Labour's £100 handout won't touch the sides when people across the country are facing bills that are rising by far more.
This is an OBR forecast – decisions on whether to increase council tax in England are made annually and are ultimately for local authorities, and we expect them to put taxpayers first.
Families around the country will struggle with this huge hike to their biggest cost of living – tax.