Sefton Council Tax Bands and Charges 2026/27

The 2026/27 Band Charges

Sefton Council sets its own council tax charge, and the bill also includes precepts from Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority. Parish precepts apply to some areas, adding a further amount.

The reference charge — Band D — is £2,564.73 for 2026/27 (excluding parish precepts). Every other band is a fixed proportion of Band D.

Band A: £1,709.82 (6/9 of Band D)

Band B: £1,994.79 (7/9 of Band D)

Band C: £2,279.76 (8/9 of Band D)

Band D: £2,564.73

Band E: £3,134.67 (11/9 of Band D)

Band F: £3,704.61 (13/9 of Band D)

Band G: £4,274.55 (15/9 of Band D)

Band H: £5,129.46 (18/9 of Band D)

If your property is in Aintree Village or a parish area of Formby, Hightown, Ince Blundell, Little Altcar, Lydiate, Maghull, Melling, Sefton, or Thornton, add the parish precept to the figures above. The exact precept varies by parish and is shown on your annual demand notice.

How Your Band Affects Council Tax Reduction

Sefton's working-age CTR caps awards at 84% of your net council tax liability. The remaining 16% — the minimum payment — is calculated on the full band charge after any discounts.

For a Band A property with the 25% Single Person Discount, the net liability is £1,282.37. The 84% maximum CTR covers £1,077.19, leaving a minimum payment of £205.18 per year.

For a Band C property with no discount, the net liability is £2,279.76. Maximum CTR covers £1,915.00, leaving £364.76 as the minimum payment.

The higher your band, the more the 16% minimum costs in cash terms. A Band D claimant pays at least £410.36 per year even at maximum CTR, while a Band A claimant pays £273.57. The percentage is the same, but the pounds are not.

Checking Your Band Is Correct

Your council tax band is based on the property's value as of 1 April 1991 — not its current market value. The Valuation Office Agency (VOA) sets these bands, not Sefton Council.

If you believe your band is wrong, you can challenge it through the VOA. The challenge is free. Common reasons include the property being in a higher band than similar neighbouring properties, or structural changes (conversion, demolition of part of the building) that should have triggered a revaluation.

Be aware that a challenge can result in your band going up, not just down. If the VOA reviews your property and decides it was undervalued, the band increases — and so does your bill. Check the bands of comparable properties on the VOA website before starting a challenge.

The council tax band challenge route is entirely free through the VOA. Firms that charge a fee (usually a percentage of any refund) are doing exactly what you can do yourself at no cost.

The Disabled Band Reduction

If your home has features essential for a disabled resident — an additional bathroom, extra space needed to use a wheelchair, or a room used for medical equipment — you may qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction. This drops your property down one band for billing purposes. Band C becomes Band B charges; Band A gets a special lower rate.

The reduction is applied before CTR, so your 16% minimum payment is calculated on the lower band charge. For someone moving from Band C to Band B, that shifts the base from £2,279.76 to £1,994.79 — a meaningful difference across the year.

When Your Band Changes the CTR Calculation

If you successfully challenge your band or get the Disabled Band Reduction, contact Sefton Council's revenues team so your CTR is recalculated on the new liability. The council does not always update automatically — make sure the CTR team knows the band has changed.

Similarly, if you move to a different property within Sefton, your CTR does not transfer. You need to submit a new claim for the new address, where the band (and therefore the maximum CTR and minimum payment) may be different.

Planning Around the 16% Minimum

The base scheme leaves a 16% minimum payment, but knowing the exact figure for your band helps with budgeting. Divide your annual minimum by 10 (the standard instalment months, April to January) to get the monthly amount.

If even the minimum is unaffordable, the Exceptional Hardship Fund can provide additional discretionary support — but you must apply separately with a full income and expenditure breakdown.

Our Sefton Council Tax Reduction guide includes the complete 2026/27 band charges, worked examples for every band, and a calculator worksheet showing exactly what you will pay at different income levels after CTR.

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