Bolton Council Tax Bands, Rates, Payment & Contact Number: 2026/27
Calculate your exact Bolton council tax bill for 2026/27. Band D is £2,392.33 (non-parished areas) — confirmed from Bolton Council's official document. Includes Greater Manchester Mayoral precepts, parish precepts for Blackrod, Horwich and Westhoughton, plus payment, contact, moving house, and single person discount guidance.
Your Estimated Total Bill (2026/27)—
Bolton Council Tax 2026/27: Pre-Agreed 4.99% Rise, Official Figures Confirmed
Bolton Council's 2026/27 council tax was effectively agreed a year in advance: in February 2025, the council approved a two-year budget covering 2025/26 and 2026/27, including a commitment to raise council tax by 4.99% in each year. The 2026/27 rate has now been confirmed in Bolton's official council tax document, giving a Band D total of £2,392.33 for non-parished areas — made up of Bolton Council's own element (£1,953.08), the Greater Manchester Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept (£285.30), and the Mayoral General Precept including Fire Services (£153.95).
The 4.99% increase on Bolton's own element comprises 2.99% for general council services and a 2% Adult Social Care precept. The council had forecast a savings target of £7.8m over the two-year period, with 2026/27 benefiting from a £4.4m saving on employer pension contributions to the Greater Manchester Pension Fund — an unusual structural saving that reduced the need for further service cuts compared with many comparable authorities.
Band D total 2026/27
£2,392.33
Non-parished areas — confirmed official
Band A total 2026/27
£1,594.87
Most common band (40%+ of properties)
Increase (Bolton element)
4.99%
2.99% general + 2% Adult Social Care
Pension saving windfall
£4.4m
GM Pension Fund — reduced cuts needed
All figures on this page are taken directly from Bolton Council's published "Your Council Tax 2026/27" document. Residents in Blackrod, Horwich, and Westhoughton pay slightly higher rates due to town council precepts — use the area selector in the calculator above.
Bolton Council Tax Bands A–H: Official 2026/27 Rate Table (All Areas)
The table below shows the confirmed 2026/27 charges for every band across all four areas of the Bolton district. Blackrod, Horwich, and Westhoughton each have their own town council precept on top of the borough-wide total — all other parts of Bolton pay the standard rate shown in the final column.
Band
Property value (1991)
Blackrod
Horwich
Westhoughton
Rest of Bolton
A
Up to £40,000
£1,622.33
£1,621.86
£1,609.64
£1,594.87
B
£40,001 – £52,000
£1,892.76
£1,892.20
£1,877.95
£1,860.72
C
£52,001 – £68,000
£2,163.10
£2,162.47
£2,146.18
£2,126.49
D
£68,001 – £88,000
£2,433.52
£2,432.81
£2,414.48
£2,392.33
E
£88,001 – £120,000
£2,974.28
£2,973.42
£2,951.01
£2,923.94
F
£120,001 – £160,000
£3,515.10
£3,514.07
£3,487.59
£3,455.60
G
£160,001 – £320,000
£4,055.85
£4,054.67
£4,024.12
£3,987.20
H
Over £320,000
£4,867.04
£4,865.62
£4,828.96
£4,784.66
Band A is highlighted as the most common band in Bolton — over 40% of properties fall into Band A. Band D is highlighted as the statutory reference rate. All figures are sourced directly from Bolton Council's published 2026/27 council tax document.
What makes up your Bolton bill: the complete precept breakdown
Bolton's council tax is made up of four elements, and Bolton Council's own document breaks down exactly what each element funds at both Band A and Band D. The Band D total of £2,392.33 (non-parished areas) is made up as follows:
Bolton Council — General Levy and Adult Social Care (£1,953.08 at Band D)
The largest share, covering all Bolton Council services. The official document itemises exactly how this is spent at Band D: Adult Services (residential care, home care, direct payments, supported living) £847; Children's Services £453.53; Environmental Services (bins, roads, cemeteries, parks) £121.18; Development and Regeneration (planning, tourism, employment, libraries, museums, leisure) £28.06; Levies (waste, transport, land drainage) £182.68; and Central support costs (Finance, Legal, ICT) £239.98.
GM Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner Precept (£285.30 at Band D)
Up £15 on 2025/26's figure. Covers policing across Greater Manchester, set by the Greater Manchester Mayor in their role as Police and Crime Commissioner since 2018/19. At Band A, this is £190.20.
GM Mayoral General Precept including Fire Services (£153.95 at Band D)
Up £25 on 2025/26's figure — the largest proportional rise of the three elements. Covers GM Fire and Rescue, Bee Network transport initiatives, and wider Greater Manchester Combined Authority functions. At Band A, this is £102.63.
Town Council Precepts (Blackrod, Horwich, Westhoughton only)
Blackrod adds £41.19 at Band D, Horwich adds £40.48, and Westhoughton adds £22.15 — producing the higher totals shown in the table above. These town councils set their own annual precept independently of Bolton Council.
Bolton Council tax contact number, online payment, and account access
The most-searched Bolton council queries relate to contacting the council about council tax and paying online. Here is what you need:
Bolton Council Tax telephone number
Call Bolton Council on 01204 331233 for council tax enquiries — billing queries, discount applications, payment arrangements, change of address, and difficulty paying. Lines are typically busiest after annual bills arrive in March. An automated 24-hour payment line is also available.
Bolton Council Tax payment online
Pay council tax online, set up or amend a Direct Debit, and view your account balance via the myBolton self-service portal at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax. The fastest payment method is Direct Debit — it removes the need for manual monthly payments and avoids reminder notices if you forget.
myBolton online account
Bolton's self-service portal (bolton.gov.uk) lets you manage your council tax account fully online: view bills, check payment history, apply for the single person discount, report a change of circumstances, and apply for Council Tax Reduction — without needing to call. Registering takes a few minutes.
Bolton Council Tax when moving house: what you need to do
Moving house is one of the most common triggers for council tax queries. Here's exactly what to do when moving into or out of a property in Bolton:
1
Tell Bolton Council you are moving in
You become liable for council tax from the date you move in as your main home — not from the date of your tenancy agreement or completion. Report the move via myBolton online or by calling 01204 331233. You'll need your new address, the date you moved in, and details of who lives with you.
2
Tell Bolton Council you are moving out
Report that you are leaving a Bolton address to stop council tax liability from the date you move out. If you're moving to another Bolton address, report both moves together. You'll need to provide evidence of your new address if requested.
3
Check if discounts apply at your new address
Moving is an opportunity to reassess your discount eligibility. If you will be living alone at your new address, apply for the single person discount at the same time as registering. If your new property is in Blackrod, Horwich, or Westhoughton, your total bill will be slightly higher than elsewhere in Bolton due to the town council precept.
4
Check your band at the new property
Your new property's band determines your new bill — it may be different from your previous address. Use the VOA band checker at gov.uk/council-tax-bands to confirm the band before moving, so there are no surprises. You have six months from the date you become liable to appeal the band if you believe it is wrong.
5
Claim any refund for the property you've left
If you overpaid council tax at your previous Bolton address — for example, because you paid by Direct Debit and your payments continued after your move-out date — contact Bolton Council on 01204 331233 to request a refund. Refunds are typically processed within 14 working days of the account being finalised.
Bolton Council Tax single person discount: 25% off — how to claim
If you are the only adult (aged 18 or over) living in your property as their main home, you qualify for a 25% single person discount. At the Band A rate for most of Bolton (£1,594.87), this saves £398.72 per year. At Band D (£2,392.33), the saving is £598.08 per year.
The discount must be claimed — it is not applied automatically, including when another household member moves out. To claim or check your single person discount status:
Apply online via myBolton at bolton.gov.uk — the quickest route, typically processed within 5–10 working days.
Call 01204 331233 and ask the council tax team to update your account.
If you've been entitled to the discount but haven't claimed it, you can apply for it to be backdated to the date you became eligible — though the council may ask for evidence of when the change occurred.
Over 40% of Bolton's properties are in Band A. For a Band A household claiming the single person discount in the non-parished areas of Bolton, the effective annual bill is £1,196.15 — among the lower outcomes in the Greater Manchester area.
Three real-world Bolton scenarios: what different households actually pay
Scenario 1 — Single adult, Band A terrace in Farnworth
Farnworth, Great Lever, and Tonge areas are dominated by Band A terraced housing — Bolton's most common property type. A single adult living alone qualifies for the 25% single person discount. Band A total (non-parished): £1,594.87. Single person discount (25%): −£398.72. Final bill: £1,196.15/year (£119.62/month over 10 months). At roughly 4.8% of a £25,000 net salary, this is a manageable council tax burden — and well below comparable single-adult Band A bills in Sheffield or Newcastle, which include higher-rate council elements.
Scenario 2 — Family of four, Band C semi in Horwich
Horwich, west of Bolton town centre, has a higher proportion of Band C–D properties than the borough average and its own town council precept. No discount applies (multiple adults). Band C Horwich rate: £2,162.47/year. Standard monthly direct debit: £216.25 over 10 months, or £180.21 over 12 months. Compared with the equivalent Band C rate in the non-parished rest of Bolton (£2,126.49), the Horwich precept adds £35.98/year — modest, but worth being aware of when comparing Bolton bills across areas.
Scenario 3 — Retired person on pension, Band B in Westhoughton, applying for Council Tax Reduction
Westhoughton is a former mining town to the south-west, predominantly Band B–C with its own precept. A single retired resident on Pension Credit. Band B Westhoughton rate: £1,877.95. Single person discount (25%): −£469.49. After discount: £1,408.46. Pension-age claimants on Pension Credit can receive up to 100% Council Tax Reduction. If full reduction applies: effective bill £0. Even at a 75% CTR: £352.12/year. This is a meaningful outcome — many pension-age residents in Westhoughton who have not reapplied since the old Council Tax Benefit rules may be entitled to a much higher reduction than they currently receive.
Bolton Council Tax Reduction and discounts: full guide for 2026
None of these apply automatically — each requires an application. Given that over 40% of Bolton's properties are in Band A, even modest reductions translate into a meaningful proportion of the annual bill.
Single person discount
25% off
If you are the only adult (18+) in the property as their main home. At Band A (non-parished), saves £398.72/year. At Band D, saves £598.08/year. Apply via myBolton online or call 01204 331233. Can be backdated to when you became eligible.
Council Tax Reduction (CTRS)
Up to 100%
Bolton's means-tested scheme. Pension-age claimants on Pension Credit can receive a full reduction. Working-age claimants receive a partial award based on income, savings, and household size. Apply via myBolton or call 01204 331233.
Second Adult Rebate
Up to 25%
If you share with a non-partner adult on a low income or qualifying benefits. Based on the second adult's income, not yours — cannot be combined with the single person discount. Bolton will apply whichever gives the larger reduction.
Full-time student exemption
Disregarded
Full-time students at the University of Bolton or other recognised institutions are disregarded entirely for council tax. A property occupied solely by full-time students pays zero council tax.
Disabled band reduction
1 band lower
If your home has been adapted for a disabled resident — a wheelchair-accessible room, additional bathroom, or downstairs bedroom conversion — your band is reduced by one step. For a Band B property (non-parished), this saves the difference between £1,594.87 (Band A) and £1,860.72 (Band B): £265.85/year.
Severe mental impairment
Disregarded
Adults with a severe mental impairment (dementia, acquired brain injury, etc.) are disregarded for council tax. If all other residents also qualify for disregard, a full exemption may apply to the property.
Apply online via myBolton at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax or call 01204 331233. Reductions are not backdated automatically — apply as soon as you become eligible.
What your Bolton council tax actually funds: the official 2026/27 service breakdown
Bolton Council's own document provides an unusually detailed breakdown of how each pound of council tax is spent, at both Band A and Band D levels. This is more transparent than most councils provide — and it reveals which services take the largest share:
Service area
Band A charge
Band D charge
What it covers
Adult Services
£564.66
£847.00
Residential care, home care, direct payments, supported living, housing for vulnerable adults
Children's Services
£302.35
£453.53
Social care for children, fostering and adoption, educational support
Central Support Costs
£159.98
£239.98
Finance, Legal, ICT — overhead for all council functions
Levies
£121.79
£182.68
Waste management, transport, land drainage
Environmental Services
£80.79
£121.18
Bin collection, road maintenance, cemeteries, parks, consumer protection, markets, Albert Halls
Fire and rescue, Bee Network transport, GM Combined Authority
Total
£1,594.87
£2,392.33
Non-parished areas
The single most striking figure in this breakdown is that Adult Services alone accounts for £847 out of a Band D bill of £2,392.33 — 35.4% of the total. Combined with Children's Services (£453.53), social care accounts for over half of every Bolton council tax bill. This structural dominance of care costs is the primary driver of near-maximum increases year after year — and why the £4.4m pension saving for 2026/27 was significant enough to note in the budget report.
Bolton-specific: the significance of the two-year budget and what it means for 2027/28
Bolton is one of the few councils to have formally pre-agreed its council tax increase for 2026/27 a year in advance, as part of a two-year budget approved in February 2025. While the specific 4.99% rate for 2026/27 was confirmed and the figures have been published as shown above, the budget report notes that the 2026/27 element "requires an update to reflect the latest information available" — meaning the framework was agreed in advance, but the exact precept figures were finessed in early 2026.
The practical implication for residents looking ahead: Bolton has no pre-agreed framework for 2027/28 at this point. The medium-term financial picture depends on whether the pension fund saving (a one-off structural change) is offset by rising social care demand, and whether future government settlements are more or less favourable than 2026/27's. Bolton's own budget report identifies the final settlement improving the financial position — but this does not guarantee a below-maximum increase in 2027/28.
Empty properties and second homes: Bolton's premium rules for 2026
Bolton's budget report confirms the council can charge a 100% premium on Long Term Empty (LTE) properties — those unoccupied for one year (reduced from two years). For Second Homes, a 100% premium may also apply. An empty Band D property in the non-parished areas of Bolton could therefore face an annual total bill of £4,784.66 — double the standard rate.
Exemptions from empty property premiums exist for properties in probate, those undergoing structural repair, and armed forces personnel serving overseas. Confirm your situation with Bolton Council before assuming a standard rate applies.
How to challenge your Bolton council tax band
Council tax bands were set using 1991 property valuations and have never been updated nationally. Bolton's heavy concentration of Band A terraced housing means that within-band variation is common — rows of near-identical terraces in Farnworth, Tonge, or Great Lever sometimes carry different bands due to historic valuation inconsistencies.
To check your band, use the free VOA band checker to compare your property against similar, unaltered homes on your street built before 1993. Bolton's own document notes that you must appeal within six months of first becoming liable on your current property, unless you have evidence of a material valuation error. A successful appeal can be backdated to when you moved in.
Important: The VOA can raise a band it finds too low. Gather solid comparable evidence from structurally similar, unextended neighbouring properties before submitting a challenge.
Decision guide: what Bolton households should do right now
1
Set up your myBolton account to manage everything online
Pay, apply for discounts, view your account, and report changes at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax — without needing to call. Registering takes a few minutes.
2
Claim the single person discount if you live alone
This saves £398.72/year at Band A and £598.08 at Band D (non-parished). It's not automatic — apply via myBolton or call 01204 331233. If you've been eligible but haven't claimed, ask for backdating.
3
Apply for Council Tax Reduction if your income has changed
If you've lost income, started claiming Universal Credit, or reached pension age, apply for Council Tax Reduction via myBolton. Don't assume a previous refusal still reflects your current position.
4
If you're moving house in Bolton, report both addresses promptly
Report moving in and out of Bolton addresses to avoid overpaying or underpaying. Use the move-in/out options in myBolton or call 01204 331233. Check the band at your new address beforehand — and reapply for any discounts from your move-in date.
5
Contact the council immediately if you've missed a payment
Call 01204 331233. A reminder gives 7 days, a final notice removes the right to pay in instalments, and a Liability Order enables bailiff action or deductions from wages and benefits. Early contact avoids all of this.
What happens if you miss a Bolton council tax payment
1
Reminder notice issued
Sent shortly after a missed instalment — you have 7 days to bring the account up to date and keep your right to pay monthly.
2
Final notice — instalments lost
A further missed payment results in a final notice. The full remaining annual balance becomes payable immediately — with 7 days before further action.
3
Court summons and Liability Order
Bolton Council can apply to the magistrates' court for a Liability Order, adding court costs to your debt. This enables bailiff action, deductions from earnings or benefits, or a charging order against your property.
✓
Early contact resolves most cases
Call 01204 331233 or visit bolton.gov.uk/council-tax as soon as you anticipate difficulty. Payment plans and Council Tax Reduction applications are both available before enforcement begins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Bolton council tax Band D rate for 2026/27?
£2,392.33 for non-parished areas — confirmed from Bolton Council's official "Your Council Tax 2026/27" document. This breaks down as £1,953.08 (Bolton Council, including Adult Social Care), £285.30 (GM Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner), and £153.95 (GM Mayoral General, including Fire Services). Residents in Blackrod, Horwich, and Westhoughton pay slightly more due to their town council precepts: £2,433.52, £2,432.81, and £2,414.48 respectively.
What is the Bolton Council tax telephone number?
The Bolton Council council tax contact number is 01204 331233. You can also manage most council tax queries online via myBolton at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax — including paying, applying for discounts, reporting a change of address, and checking your balance — without needing to call.
How do I pay Bolton council tax online?
Pay via myBolton at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax. You can make a one-off payment by card, set up or amend a Direct Debit, or request a 12-month payment plan. Direct Debit is the most reliable method — it avoids the need for manual monthly payments and reduces the risk of missed-payment reminders.
How do I apply for the Bolton council tax single person discount?
Apply via myBolton online at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax, or call 01204 331233. The 25% discount applies if you are the only adult (18+) living in the property as their main home. At Band A (non-parished), this saves £398.72 per year. The discount is not applied automatically — if you've been eligible but not claimed it, ask about backdating to the date your eligibility began.
What do I do about Bolton council tax when moving house?
Report your move to Bolton Council as soon as possible via myBolton or by calling 01204 331233. You'll need to confirm the move-out date from your old address and the move-in date to your new one. Check whether your new property is in Blackrod, Horwich, or Westhoughton — these areas have slightly higher rates due to town council precepts. Reapply for any discounts from your move-in date, as they don't transfer automatically.
How do I apply for Bolton Council Tax Reduction?
Apply via myBolton at bolton.gov.uk/council-tax or call 01204 331233. The scheme is means-tested — pension-age claimants on Pension Credit can receive a full reduction (100%), while working-age claimants receive a partial award depending on income, savings, and household size. Apply as soon as possible — reductions are not backdated beyond the application date.
Can I spread Bolton council tax payments over 12 months instead of 10?
Yes. Contact Bolton Council on 01204 331233 or via myBolton to request a 12-month payment arrangement. On the Band D non-parished rate (£2,392.33), this reduces the monthly direct debit from £239.23 (10-month plan) to £199.36 (12-month plan). The annual total is identical — only the schedule changes.
