East of England | England | Unitary authority

Council Tax Bands in Bedford 2026/27

Band D 2026/27

£2,471.74

+£120.80 (+5.1%) vs 2025/26

Full band A to H council tax rates for Bedford from 1 April 2026.

Quick answer

Council tax bands in Bedford for 2026/27 run from £1,647.83 (Band A) to £4,943.48 (Band H), with the Band D reference rate set at £2,471.74 (up 5.1% on 2025/26). All eight bands (A to H) are fixed fractions of Band D; the full rate table with monthly figures is below.

Band A to H Rate Table - Bedford 2026/27

Band	1991 value range	Annual rate	Monthly (10 mths)	Monthly (12 mths)
ABand A	Up to £40,000	£1,647.83	£164.78	£137.32
BBand B	£40,001 to £52,000	£1,922.46	£192.25	£160.21
CBand C	£52,001 to £68,000	£2,197.10	£219.71	£183.09
DBand D	£68,001 to £88,000	£2,471.74	£247.17	£205.98
EBand E	£88,001 to £120,000	£3,021.02	£302.10	£251.75
FBand F	£120,001 to £160,000	£3,570.29	£357.03	£297.52
GBand G	£160,001 to £320,000	£4,119.57	£411.96	£343.30
HBand H	Over £320,000	£4,943.48	£494.35	£411.96

Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Accredited official statistics). Table 9 (area council tax by band) and Table 10 (local authority level data). Snapshot: 2026-27 tables, published 25 March 2026. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Monthly figures are the annual rate divided over the standard 10-instalment plan and the 12-month direct debit option.

What Makes Up the £2,471.74 Bill

A Band D bill in Bedford is not one charge. It is 3 separate charges set by 3 different bodies and collected together. The largest is Bedford at £2,051.43, which is 83% of the total. Of the billing authority's own share, £38.31 is the adult social care precept added for 2026/27 (2% of last year's Band D).

Charged by	Band D element	Share of bill
Bedford	£2,051.43	83.0%
Bedfordshire PCC	£297.59	12.0%
Bedfordshire Fire	£122.72	5.0%
Total Band D	£2,471.74	100%

Registry Record for Bedford

ONS code

E06000055

MHCLG E-code

E0202

Authority type

Unitary authority

Tax base 2026/27

65,078

Assumed collection rate

98.50%

Parishes in area

Parishes setting a precept

Band D rank in England

118 of 296

Registry snapshot

25 March 2026

Bedford is a unitary authority in the East of England. Its 2026/27 tax base for setting council tax is 65,078 Band D equivalent dwellings, calculated on an assumed collection rate of 98.50%. 47 of the 48 parish or town councils in the area set their own precept for 2026/27, so households in those parishes pay slightly more than the area figures shown here. Its Band D rate ranks 118 of 296 in England.

Year-on-Year Change

Band D 2025/26

£2,350.94

Band D 2026/27

£2,471.74

Annual increase

+£120.80 (+5.1%)

Bedford's Band D rate increased by £120.80 (5.1%) in 2026/27 compared with the previous year. The total bill is above 5%, but for most councils that reflects the separately-capped police, fire and (where relevant) mayoral or Greater London Authority precepts added on top of the billing authority's own increase, which is itself limited to 5% before a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept). A small number of councils in financial difficulty were also granted a higher bespoke limit.

Bedford Against the Rest of the East of England

Across the 45 billing authorities in the East of England, Band D for 2026/27 runs from Thurrock at £2,254.68 to Huntingdonshire at £2,556.40, a spread of £301.72. The regional mean is £2,391.20, so Bedford sits £80.54 above it. See the full East of England table.

Closest East of England authorities by Band D

Council	Band D 2026/27	vs Bedford
Ipswich	£2,468.25	-£3.49
Cambridge	£2,467.02	-£4.72
South Norfolk	£2,482.87	+£11.13
North Norfolk	£2,459.93	-£11.81
East Cambridgeshire	£2,485.18	+£13.44
East Hertfordshire	£2,454.78	-£16.96

How Band Rates Are Worked Out in Bedford

Like every billing authority, Bedford sets a single Band D rate each year. All other bands are then calculated as fixed fractions of that rate, set nationally by central government. The fractions are expressed in ninths:

Band	Fraction of Band D	Calculation	2026/27 rate
Band A	6/9	£2,471.74 x 6/9	£1,647.83
Band B	7/9	£2,471.74 x 7/9	£1,922.46
Band C	8/9	£2,471.74 x 8/9	£2,197.10
Band D	9/9	Baseline rate	£2,471.74
Band E	11/9	£2,471.74 x 11/9	£3,021.02
Band F	13/9	£2,471.74 x 13/9	£3,570.29
Band G	15/9	£2,471.74 x 15/9	£4,119.57
Band H	18/9	£2,471.74 x 18/9	£4,943.48

Contact Bedford Borough Council

For billing enquiries, payment arrangements, discounts, or to report a change in your circumstances, contact Bedford Borough Council directly.

Bedford Borough Council council tax page

Unitary. Avg Band D incl Parish (£40.15 avg), Police (£297.59), Fire (£122.72).

Bedford Council Tax: Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Band D council tax in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band D council tax in Bedford is £2,471.74 for 2026/27, up from £2,350.94 in 2025/26 (a 5.1% increase). This is the headline reference rate; all other bands are calculated as fixed fractions of Band D.

How much is council tax Band A in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band A council tax in Bedford is £1,647.83 for 2026/27, which is 6/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £164.78 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band B in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band B council tax in Bedford is £1,922.46 for 2026/27, which is 7/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £192.25 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band C in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band C council tax in Bedford is £2,197.10 for 2026/27, which is 8/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £219.71 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band E in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band E council tax in Bedford is £3,021.02 for 2026/27, which is 11/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £302.10 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band F in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band F council tax in Bedford is £3,570.29 for 2026/27, which is 13/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £357.03 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band G in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band G council tax in Bedford is £4,119.57 for 2026/27, which is 15/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £411.96 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

How much is council tax Band H in Bedford for 2026/27?

Band H council tax in Bedford is £4,943.48 for 2026/27, which is 18/9 of the £2,471.74 Band D rate. That works out at roughly £494.35 a month over the usual 10 instalments from April to January.

What are all eight council tax bands in Bedford?

Bedford has eight council tax bands (A to H) for 2026/27: Band A £1,647.83, Band B £1,922.46, Band C £2,197.10, Band D £2,471.74, Band E £3,021.02, Band F £3,570.29, Band G £4,119.57, Band H £4,943.48. Every band is a fixed fraction of the Band D rate of £2,471.74. The full rate table with monthly figures is on this page.

How much did council tax rise in Bedford this year?

Bedford raised Band D council tax by £120.80 for 2026/27, a 5.1% increase versus 2025/26. The total bill is above 5%, but for most councils that reflects the separately-capped police, fire and (where relevant) mayoral or Greater London Authority precepts added on top of the billing authority's own increase, which is itself limited to 5% before a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept). A small number of councils in financial difficulty were also granted a higher bespoke limit.

Where does council tax in Bedford actually go?

The £2,471.74 Band D bill in Bedford is split across 3 separate charges: Bedford £2,051.43, Bedfordshire PCC £297.59, Bedfordshire Fire £122.72. The largest single element is Bedford at £2,051.43, which is 83% of the bill. Each body sets its own charge and they are added together on one bill.

Is council tax in Bedford higher or lower than the rest of the East of England?

Bedford's Band D rate of £2,471.74 is £80.54 above the £2,391.20 average across the 45 authorities in the East of England. The range runs from £2,254.68 in Thurrock to £2,556.40 in Huntingdonshire. Across England as a whole it ranks 118 of 296 authorities by Band D.

When do I pay council tax to Bedford Borough Council?

Council tax is typically paid in 10 monthly instalments from April to January, though most councils including Bedford offer a 12-month payment option on request. Direct debit, online payment, and standing order are usually available. Contact Bedford Borough Council directly to set up or change a payment plan.

What discounts are available on council tax in Bedford?

Standard discounts include the 25% single-person discount (one adult living alone or with under-18s), full exemption for student households, and discounts for properties left empty or undergoing major repair. Bedford also operates a Council Tax Support scheme for low-income households. Apply via the council's website.

How do I check my council tax band in Bedford?

Your property's official council tax band is set by the Valuation Office (VOA), part of HMRC. Look it up free at gov.uk/check-council-tax-band, or check your most recent council tax bill from Bedford Borough Council. If you believe the band is wrong you can challenge it with the VOA.

Independent information. Not affiliated with the Valuation Office Agency, any local authority, or Scottish Assessors. Rate data is compiled from published 2026/27 council tax schedules. Not legal or financial advice. Contact your local authority for billing queries.

Figures are the 2026/27 tax year, in force from 1 April 2026, as published by MHCLG on 25 March 2026. The 2027/28 tables are due in spring 2027.

Last verified 25 March 2026 · Sourced from Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2026 to 2027 (MHCLG), Open Government Licence v3.0