Cambridge City Council Tax Calculator, Bands & Contact Number: 2026/27
Calculate your exact Cambridge council tax bill for 2026/27. Band D is £2,467.02 — yet Cambridge City Council retains less than 10% of that. Includes all five precepts, student exemptions, Council Tax Reduction, single person discount, and a complete payment and contact guide.
Your Estimated Total Bill (2026/27)—
Cambridge Council Tax 2026/27: Five Precepts, One Bill — and Why the City Keeps Less Than 10%
The most important fact about Cambridge council tax is not the total Band D figure of £2,467.02 — it is how that sum is divided. Cambridge City Council collects your council tax on behalf of five separate authorities, but retains only approximately £239 of every £2,467 you pay. The remaining £2,228 goes to Cambridgeshire County Council, Cambridgeshire Police, Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue, and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.
This two-tier structure means that when Cambridge City Council sets its own element for 2026/27, it is deciding what happens to less than 10p in every £1 of the bill. The large increases that make Cambridge feel expensive — the county council precept rose by £84.78 (+4.99%), and the police precept by £14.94 (+4.99%) — are decisions taken by entirely separate authorities. Cambridge City Council's own element for 2026/27 is approximately £239.07 at Band D, an increase of around £7 from the previous year's £232.13.
Band D total 2026/27
£2,467.02
Confirmed — all 5 precepts
City Council retains
~£239
Less than 10% of the total bill
County Council takes
£1,785.42
72.4% of the total bill
Most common band
Band C
£2,192.91/year
The full Band A–H rate table and precept breakdown below are confirmed from Cambridge City Council's official 2026/27 council tax schedule and South Cambridgeshire Council's published Council Tax Resolution for 2026/27. Parish precepts vary by area — check your individual bill for the exact additional amount if you live on the outskirts of the city boundary.
Cambridge Council Tax Bands A–H: Official 2026/27 Rate Table
All eight bands are fixed fractions of the Band D rate, set nationally in ninths. Your band reflects your property's estimated market value on 1 April 1991. Band C is the most common band in Cambridge, reflecting the city's substantial stock of Victorian and Edwardian terraces in Romsey, Mill Road, and the western suburbs.
Band
Property value (1991)
Annual total
City Council
County Council
Monthly (10)
A
Up to £40,000
£1,644.68
£159.38
£1,190.28
£164.47
B
£40,001 – £52,000
£1,918.79
£185.94
£1,388.66
£191.88
C
£52,001 – £68,000
£2,192.91
£212.51
£1,587.04
£219.29
D
£68,001 – £88,000
£2,467.02
£239.07
£1,785.42
£246.70
E
£88,001 – £120,000
£3,015.25
£292.20
£2,182.07
£301.53
F
£120,001 – £160,000
£3,563.47
£345.32
£2,578.72
£356.35
G
£160,001 – £320,000
£4,111.70
£398.45
£2,975.70
£411.17
H
Over £320,000
£4,934.04
£478.14
£3,570.84
£493.40
Band C is highlighted as the most common band in Cambridge. The "City Council" column shows what Cambridge City Council retains — roughly 10% of the total. The "County Council" column shows the Cambridgeshire County Council element alone (including Adult Social Care). Police, Fire, and CPCA precepts make up the remainder. Band totals confirmed from Cambridge City Council's published 2026/27 schedule.
What makes up your Cambridge bill: all five precepts explained
Your Cambridge bill is unique in England for having five separate precepting authorities — more than most English cities. Here is exactly what each element funds and how much it costs at Band D in 2026/27:
Cambridgeshire County Council (£1,785.42 at Band D — 72.4% of total)
The overwhelming majority of your bill. Cambridgeshire County Council applied the maximum permitted 4.99% increase (2.99% general + 2% Adult Social Care precept), adding £84.78 to a Band D bill. The county council funds highways and pothole repairs, children's services, adult social care (the fastest-growing cost), libraries, public health, and transport planning. Cambridge experienced the fastest population growth in England between 2010 and 2022, yet central government funding formulas have not fully updated to reflect this — driving near-maximum rises year after year.
Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner (£314.37 at Band D — 12.7%)
Rose by £14.94 (+4.99%) for 2026/27. PCC Darryl Preston cited mounting financial pressures — officer salaries alone account for nearly 60% of the constabulary's budget — and capital requirements including the planned replacement of Parkside police station in Cambridge with a new facility at Milton.
Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Authority (£92.16 at Band D — 3.7%)
Rose by £4.95 (+5.68%) for 2026/27 — the largest percentage increase of any element in the Cambridge bill. Confirmed in the South Cambridgeshire Council Tax Resolution for 2026/27.
Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority (£36.00 at Band D — 1.5%)
Unchanged from 2025/26. The CPCA's precept funds the Mayoral Combined Authority's transport, economic development, and skills functions across the combined area. Cambridge has benefited from CPCA investment in public transport — including the Cambridgeshire Autonomous Metro and the Greenways cycling routes — funded through this precept.
Cambridge City Council (~£239.07 at Band D — ~9.7%)
The billing authority — collects all the above on behalf of the other authorities. The city council's own element funds waste collection and recycling, street cleaning, parks and open spaces, community centres, homelessness support, housing advice, planning, and economic development. Cambridge retains approximately £1 in every £10 it collects. In 2024/25, Cambridge paid £27m in housing benefit and awarded nearly £9.6m in Council Tax Support from this budget.
Cambridge Council tax contact number, pay online, and account access
Cambridge Council tax telephone numbers
General council tax enquiries: 01223 457000 — customer service centre, Monday to Friday 9am to 5.15pm. Council Tax payment line: 01223 457779 (dedicated payments). Benefits and Council Tax Reduction: benefits@cambridge.gov.uk. Outside office hours emergency line: 0300 303 8389. Note: from March 2026 Cambridge improved card payments over the phone — the customer service centre at Mandela House is now appointment-only for in-person visits (Wednesday to Friday, 9am to 5.15pm).
Pay Cambridge council tax online
Pay online at cambridge.gov.uk/paying-your-council-tax. You'll need your council tax account number (on your bill). Direct Debit is the easiest method — set up online to avoid monthly manual payments. Bank transfers and standing orders can take up to six days to reach Cambridge, so ensure payment arrives by the due date. Never pay via links in texts, emails, or social media — always start from cambridge.gov.uk.
Cambridge Council Tax online account
Log in to manage your account at cambridge.gov.uk/council-tax. You can view bills, check payments, apply for single person discount, report changes in circumstances, apply for Council Tax Reduction, and set up e-billing to stop receiving paper bills.
Cambridge-specific: council tax and students — the rules that trip people up
Cambridge is home to the University of Cambridge and Anglia Ruskin University — and the interaction between students and council tax is more complex here than almost anywhere else in England. Cambridge City Council explicitly flags "students and school leavers" as a separate category of council tax discount, alongside a note for "apprentices or youth trainees."
Full-time students at Cambridge University or Anglia Ruskin
Full-time students are disregarded entirely for council tax purposes. A property occupied solely by full-time students — whether undergraduates in shared houses off the Newmarket Road or postgraduate researchers in accommodation near the science park — pays zero council tax. The disregard applies regardless of whether the property is purpose-built student accommodation or a private rented terrace.
Mixed households: one working adult, rest students
Where a property has one working adult (the liable person) and all other residents are full-time students (disregarded), the working adult qualifies for the 25% single person discount — even though they share the property with others. This is widely underclaimed in Cambridge's student areas (Romsey, Petersfield, Mill Road, and streets near the Grafton). At Band C: discount saves £548.23/year.
Cambridge University students in college accommodation
College-owned accommodation is typically assessed separately — some colleges pay council tax as an institution under a different liability arrangement. If you live in college accommodation, check with your college whether council tax applies to your specific building. In many cases it does not, or the college handles it. Students in private rented accommodation need to apply for the student exemption directly through Cambridge City Council.
Post-degree gap: school leavers and recent graduates
Cambridge City Council specifically lists "school leavers" as a separate category. A person who has recently left full-time education — including a school leaver between finishing A-levels and turning 20, or a university graduate whose course has just ended — may qualify for a short-term disregard. The rules are time-limited and condition-specific. Contact Cambridge on 01223 457000 as soon as your course ends to check whether a temporary disregard applies before you are automatically billed.
Three real-world Cambridge scenarios: what different households actually pay
Scenario 1 — Postdoc researcher, Band C terrace in Romsey, sole non-student
Romsey and Petersfield, south of the city, are dominated by Band C Victorian terraces popular with working professionals and mixed student/professional households. A postdoc sharing with two Cambridge University PhD students: the students are disregarded, the postdoc is treated as the sole occupant. Band C rate: £2,192.91. Single person discount (25%): −£548.23. Final bill: £1,644.68/year (£164.47/month over 10 months). This is Band C with 25% discount — notably, it equals the Band A rate exactly. Many Cambridge researchers in this situation don't claim the discount because they don't realise they qualify.
Scenario 2 — Tech sector couple, Band D house in Chesterton, on combined £100k+ income
Chesterton and King's Hedges, north of the river, have grown substantially as Cambridge's tech economy expanded. No discount applies (two adults, no eligible exemptions). Band D rate: £2,467.02/year. Monthly direct debit: £246.70 over 10 months, or £205.59 over 12 months. At £100,000 combined income, council tax represents 2.5% of gross household income — a lower proportional burden than the same household would face in Nottingham (£2,342) or Newcastle (~£2,369) before accounting for Cambridge's significantly higher housing costs, which tend to dominate the household budget.
Scenario 3 — Low-income family, Band B in Abbey, receiving Council Tax Reduction
Abbey ward, east of the Newmarket Road, has a higher proportion of Band A–B properties and lower average incomes than the university-adjacent wards. A family on Universal Credit receives Council Tax Reduction. Band B rate: £1,918.79. At 75% CTR: effective bill £479.70/year. At full pension-age CTR (100%): £0. The council noted that in 2024/25 it awarded nearly £9.6 million in Council Tax Support to Cambridge residents — and around £27m in housing benefit. These numbers reflect the genuine scale of financial need in a city where housing costs are some of the highest in England outside London.
Discounts and reductions available in Cambridge 2026
None of these apply automatically — each requires an application to Cambridge City Council at cambridge.gov.uk/council-tax or by calling 01223 457000.
Single person discount
25% off
If you are the only adult (18+) counted at the property — including if all other residents are disregarded (students, those with severe mental impairment, etc.). At Band C (most common), saves £548.23/year. At Band D, saves £616.76/year.
Council Tax Reduction
Up to 100%
Means-tested support for low-income households. Pension-age claimants on Pension Credit Guarantee receive 100%. Working-age claimants receive a partial award. Apply via cambridge.gov.uk or email benefits@cambridge.gov.uk.
Full-time student exemption
Disregarded
Full-time students at Cambridge University, Anglia Ruskin, or other recognised institutions are disregarded. Property occupied only by students: zero council tax. Mixed households: remaining adults may claim 25% discount.
Disabled person's reduction
1 band lower
If your home has a wheelchair-accessible room, extra bathroom, or ground-floor bedroom installed for a disabled resident. Band C moves to Band B, saving the difference between £2,192.91 and £1,918.79 — approximately £274/year.
Apprentices and youth trainees
Disregarded
Apprentices and youth trainees meeting specific conditions are disregarded for council tax. Cambridge City Council specifically lists this as a category — relevant for households where a young person is on a formal apprenticeship programme.
Severe mental impairment
Disregarded
Adults with a severe mental impairment (dementia, acquired brain injury, etc.) are disregarded. If all other residents are also disregarded, a full exemption applies to the property.
Council Tax Reduction in Cambridge: how it connects to Universal Credit and other benefits
Cambridge City Council administers Council Tax Reduction for all Cambridge residents — but CTR is separate from Universal Credit and does not flow through automatically. Understanding how the two systems interact is essential for low-income Cambridge households:
Universal Credit does not cover council tax
If you receive Universal Credit, you still need to apply separately for Cambridge CTR. Your UC award is taken into account in the CTR assessment, but they are entirely separate applications managed by different systems. Apply at the same time as claiming UC to avoid a gap. Cambridge's dedicated benefits team can be reached at benefits@cambridge.gov.uk or 01223 457000.
Pension Credit unlocks 100% Council Tax Reduction
If you or your partner receive Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, you are entitled to 100% Council Tax Reduction — your bill is reduced to zero. At Band D, this saves £2,467.02/year. Cambridge paid nearly £9.6m in Council Tax Support in 2024/25 — pension-age residents on Pension Credit are among those most likely to be entitled but not claiming.
Housing Benefit and Cambridge CTR
Cambridge City Council paid approximately £27 million in Housing Benefit in 2024/25. If you receive Housing Benefit, you are likely also to be eligible for Council Tax Reduction — the income assessed for both is similar. Apply for both at the same time via cambridge.gov.uk.
Use our Universal Credit Calculator to estimate your UC entitlement, then apply for Cambridge CTR separately via benefits@cambridge.gov.uk. The two systems assess income similarly — if you qualify for one, you very likely qualify for the other.
The Cambridge affordability paradox: high house prices, relatively standard council tax
Cambridge has some of the highest property prices outside London, yet its council tax is broadly in line with the England average. This creates a paradox worth understanding: a property worth £500,000 today in Newnham or Trumpington may still carry a Band E or F council tax band, because that band was set using 1991 valuations — when the same property might have been worth £80,000.
The 1991 valuation freeze means Cambridge residents in high-value properties often pay proportionally much less council tax relative to property value than they would under a modern valuation. A Cambridge Band E property worth £600,000 today pays £3,015.25 in council tax — 0.5% of its current value. In a city where the average home costs around £500,000 and renting a two-bedroom flat can cost £2,000–£2,500/month, council tax is often the household's smallest recurring housing cost.
This has a direct consequence for Cambridge's revenue base: the city cannot raise significantly more from council tax without a national revaluation, which has not happened since 1991. Cambridge City Council explicitly noted that its core spending power was reduced by 17% in real terms between 2016 and 2022, even as the city experienced the fastest population growth in England. The two-tier structure that sends 72% of every £1 of council tax to the county council makes this structural underfunding even harder for the city to address independently.
How to challenge your Cambridge council tax band
Council tax bands in England were set using 1991 valuations. An estimated 4,375 of Cambridge's approximately 65,618 domestic properties may be in the wrong band. Of band challenges resolved in Cambridge in 2023–24, a meaningful share resulted in reductions.
To check your band, use the free VOA band checker to compare your property against similar, unaltered homes on your street built before 1993. You must appeal within six months of first becoming liable at your current address, unless you have evidence of a material valuation error.
Important: The VOA can raise a band it finds too low. Given Cambridge's property market evolution since 1991, some properties have clearly changed in character — gather solid comparable evidence before submitting a challenge.
Empty properties and second homes in Cambridge: 2026 premium rules
From 1 April 2026, Cambridge City Council can charge a 100% premium on properties left unoccupied for one year — down from the previous two-year threshold. An empty Band D property in Cambridge could face an annual total bill of £4,934.04 — double the standard rate.
In a city with one of England's tightest housing markets, empty property premiums are a meaningful policy lever. Cambridge has also made housing one of its strategic priorities — the council is landlord to more than 7,500 council homes — and actively uses planning and tax tools to increase residential availability.
Decision guide: what Cambridge households should do right now
1
If you share with students, claim the 25% single person discount
You qualify if you are the only non-student (non-disregarded) adult in the property. Apply via cambridge.gov.uk or call 01223 457000. At Band C (most common), this saves £548.23 per year.
2
Apply for Council Tax Reduction if your income has changed
Email benefits@cambridge.gov.uk or apply at cambridge.gov.uk. If you've recently lost income, started UC, or reached pension age, apply immediately — reductions are not backdated beyond the application date.
3
If your course just ended, contact Cambridge before you're billed
Recent graduates and school leavers may qualify for a short-term disregard. Contact 01223 457000 as soon as your course ends — if you wait until you receive a bill, the backdating window may have closed.
4
Set up a 12-month Direct Debit to spread payments
Cambridge offers 12-month payment arrangements. At Band D, this reduces the monthly amount from £246.70 to £205.59. Set up online at cambridge.gov.uk/paying-your-council-tax.
5
Contact Cambridge immediately if you've missed a payment
Call 01223 457000. A reminder gives 7 days. A final notice removes the right to pay in instalments. A Liability Order enables bailiff action or wage deductions. Early contact avoids all of this.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cambridge council tax Band D rate for 2026/27?
£2,467.02 — confirmed from Cambridge City Council's published 2026/27 schedule. This is the total including all five precepts: Cambridge City Council (~£239.07), Cambridgeshire County Council (£1,785.42), Cambridgeshire Police (£314.37), Cambridgeshire Fire (£92.16), and the Combined Authority (£36.00). Residents in parished areas on the city boundary may pay slightly more due to a parish precept.
What is the Cambridge Council tax contact number?
General enquiries: 01223 457000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.15pm). Dedicated payment line: 01223 457779. Benefits and Council Tax Reduction: benefits@cambridge.gov.uk. Emergency out-of-hours: 0300 303 8389. The customer service centre at Mandela House is appointment-only from March 2026 (Wednesday to Friday) — book before visiting in person.
I'm a student at Cambridge University — do I pay council tax?
Full-time students are disregarded entirely for council tax purposes. If you live in a property occupied only by full-time students, you pay nothing. If you live with a working adult who is the only non-student in the property, that person pays at the 25% single person discount rate — you don't personally pay, but the household's bill is not zero. If you live in college accommodation, check with your college whether council tax applies to your specific building.
Why does Cambridge City Council only keep about 10% of council tax?
Cambridge is in a two-tier area — Cambridge City Council is the billing authority but serves as a collection agent for five precepting bodies. Cambridgeshire County Council alone takes 72.4% (£1,785.42 at Band D), because it delivers the major cost-intensive services: adult social care, children's services, highways, and transport planning. Cambridge City Council's own services (waste collection, parks, housing advice, planning) are funded from the remaining ~10%.
Does Universal Credit cover my Cambridge council tax?
No — Universal Credit does not automatically cover council tax. If you receive UC in Cambridge, apply separately for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) via cambridge.gov.uk or benefits@cambridge.gov.uk. Your UC award is taken into account in the CTR assessment, but they are separate applications. Apply for CTR at the same time as claiming UC to avoid a gap. See our Universal Credit Calculator to estimate your UC entitlement first.
Can I spread Cambridge council tax over 12 months?
Yes. Contact Cambridge City Council via 01223 457000 or through your online account to request a 12-month arrangement. At Band D, this reduces the monthly direct debit from £246.70 (10-month plan) to £205.59 (12-month plan). The annual liability is identical — only the payment schedule changes.
