Plymouth Council Tax Reduction Income Bands 2026/27
How Plymouth's Income-Banded Scheme Works
Plymouth doesn't use the old-style means test with taper rates. Instead, the council sorts your net weekly household income into fixed bands, and each band gives you a set percentage discount — 80%, 60%, 40%, 20%, or nothing.
The maximum any working-age household can receive is 80% off their Council Tax. Everyone pays at least 20%, no matter how low their income.
Here are the full 2026/27 band tables.
Single Person (No Dependant Children)
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £104.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £105.00 – £170.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £171.00 – £236.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £237.00 – £339.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £340.00+ | 0% |
Couple (No Dependant Children)
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £157.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £158.00 – £221.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £222.00 – £289.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £290.00 – £392.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £393.00+ | 0% |
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Household with One Dependant Child (Aged 5+)
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £262.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £263.00 – £328.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £329.00 – £457.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £458.00 – £589.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £590.00+ | 0% |
Household with Child Under 5, or Multiple Children
| Band | Net Weekly Income | Discount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 – £328.99 | 80% |
| 2 | £329.00 – £392.99 | 60% |
| 3 | £393.00 – £523.99 | 40% |
| 4 | £524.00 – £718.99 | 20% |
| 5 | £719.00+ | 0% |
Passported benefits — Income Support, Income-Based JSA, or Income-Related ESA — place you automatically in Band 1 at 80%. War pensioners get a single expanded band covering income up to £653.00 per week.
The Cliff-Edge Problem
These bands create sharp drop-offs. A single person earning £104.99 per week sits in Band 1 at 80% discount. Earn £105.01 and you drop to Band 2 at 60%. On a typical Band B bill with single person discount, that £0.02 wage increase costs you roughly £4.61 per week in lost support — over £239 a year.
This isn't hypothetical. Overtime hours, a small pay rise, or even the timing of when wages hit your bank account can push you across a threshold. If you're near a band boundary, it's worth understanding exactly where the line falls for your household type.
What Counts as "Net Weekly Income"
Plymouth doesn't use your gross pay. The council deducts tax, National Insurance, and standard earnings disregards from your wages. Several benefits are fully excluded from the calculation:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Carer's Allowance
- Child Benefit
- Child Maintenance
- Housing Costs element of Universal Credit
- War Disablement Pensions
- Bereavement Support Payments
If you're on Universal Credit, the council takes your monthly UC assessment, removes the Housing Costs element, and factors in your DWP-reported net earnings to arrive at a weekly figure.
Because of the banded structure, minor wage fluctuations don't necessarily change your award — your discount only shifts when income crosses into a different band. That's a genuine advantage over the old taper system, where every pound earned reduced your support.
Band E Property Cap
If your property is in Band F, G, or H, Plymouth calculates your support as though you live in a Band E property. You still pay the full difference between your actual band and Band E, plus the 20% minimum on the Band E rate. This effectively limits the maximum cash value of the discount.
The Plymouth Council Tax Reduction Guide includes worked examples for every household type showing exactly how your net income maps to each band — and what to do if you're hovering near a boundary.
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