Wigan Council Tax Calculator, Bands & Rates: 2026/27
Calculate your exact Wigan council tax bill for 2026/27. Band D is £2,151.54 for most of the borough — the lowest in Greater Manchester and one of the lowest of all metropolitan councils nationally. Residents of Haigh and Shevington parishes pay slightly more due to parish precepts. Includes the full GM precept breakdown.
Your Estimated Total Bill (2026/27)—
Wigan Council Tax 2026/27: The Lowest in Greater Manchester — by a Significant Margin
Wigan Council approved its 2026/27 budget at Full Council on Wednesday 5 March 2026, confirming a 4.99% increase in the council's own element (2.99% general + 2% Adult Social Care precept). The council's own Band D charge rises to £1,712.29. Adding the Greater Manchester Mayoral Police precept (£285.30) and the GM Mayoral General precept including fire services (£153.95), the total Band D bill for most of the borough is £2,151.54 — confirmed from the official statutory notice published under Section 38 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
Introducing the budget, Council Leader David Molyneux MBE stated: "I believe that our council tax will remain one of the lowest in the North West and one of the lowest of all metropolitan authorities in the country." The deputy leader added: "This budget is a balanced, stable and prudent budget with the lowest council tax in Greater Manchester, which eases pressure on household budgets while protecting key services." At £2,151.54 Band D, Wigan is £240 below Stockport (£2,618.90), £443 below Salford (£2,594.45), and £241 below the England average of £2,392 — a meaningful difference that translates to £24/month less than average at Band D.
Band D 2026/27 (most of borough)
£2,151.54
Lowest in Greater Manchester
vs England average (Band D)
−£241
England avg £2,392; Wigan £2,151.54
Tax base
99,900
Band D equivalent dwellings
Here for You campaign
£16m+
Cost-of-living support delivered
All band charges confirmed from the official statutory notice (Section 38, Local Government Finance Act 1992) published by Wigan Council, March 2026. All precept sub-figures confirmed from the Wigan Statutory Council Tax Calculations 2026-27 document (Appendix 1, Wigan moderngov). Wigan's own Band D element (£1,712.29), tax base (99,900), Council Tax Requirement (£171,171,158), and gross expenditure figures confirmed from the same statutory calculations document. GM Mayoral Police (£285.30) and GM Mayoral General including GMFRS (£153.95) are the same across all 10 GM boroughs.
Wigan Council Tax Bands A–H: Official 2026/27 Rate Table by Area
Wigan borough has three different Band D rates depending on where you live. The vast majority of residents are in the "all other areas" category. Only Haigh and Shevington have parish councils that add a small precept on top. All figures from the official statutory resolutions document.
Band
Property value (1991)
All other areas
Shevington parish
Haigh parish
A
Up to £40,000
£1,434.35
£1,453.60
£1,473.98
B
£40,001 – £52,000
£1,673.42
£1,695.87
£1,719.66
C
£52,001 – £68,000
£1,912.47
£1,938.14
£1,965.31
D
£68,001 – £88,000
£2,151.54
£2,180.42
£2,210.99
E
£88,001 – £120,000
£2,629.65
£2,664.95
£2,702.31
F
£120,001 – £160,000
£3,107.77
£3,149.49
£3,193.64
G
£160,001 – £320,000
£3,585.89
£3,634.02
£3,684.97
H
Over £320,000
£4,303.08
£4,360.83
£4,421.98
All three sets of band charges are confirmed verbatim from the official Section 38 statutory notice (publicnoticeportal.uk) and the Wigan statutory calculations document. Band A and Band D are highlighted. The Band D figure for all other areas (£2,151.54) is the headline rate covering the vast majority of the borough's 99,900 tax base dwellings. Shevington (3,346 dwellings) and Haigh (288 dwellings) are the only two parish areas.
What makes up your Wigan bill: the complete precept breakdown
The statutory resolutions document provides an unusually detailed precept breakdown — including a split of the GM Mayoral General precept into its Mayoral Element and GMFRS components. Every figure below is confirmed from the official Wigan Council statutory calculations document.
Precept authority
Band A
Band D
% of Band D total
Notes
Wigan Council
£1,141.52
£1,712.29
79.6%
+4.99% (2.99% + 2% ASC)
GM Mayoral Police & Crime Commissioner
£190.20
£285.30
13.3%
+£15 (+5.55%), same across all 10 GM boroughs
GM Mayoral General Precept (total)
£102.63
£153.95
7.2%
+£25 (+19.4%), same across all 10 GM boroughs
— of which: Mayoral General functions
£41.17
£61.75
Bee Network, GM-wide strategy
— of which: Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service
£61.46
£92.20
GMFRS fire & rescue services
Total (all other areas)
£1,434.35
£2,151.54
100%
Confirmed from statutory notice
The Wigan statutory document is one of the most transparent in the series, explicitly splitting the GM Mayoral General precept (£153.95) into its two components: £61.75 for Mayoral General functions (including the Bee Network integrated transport system) and £92.20 for Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service. This transparency allows Wigan residents to see exactly where every pound of their bill goes.
Why Wigan has the lowest council tax in Greater Manchester — and what it costs
Wigan's own Band D council element of £1,712.29 is the lowest of all ten Greater Manchester metropolitan boroughs — significantly below Salford (£2,155.20), Stockport (£2,179.65), and even Bolton (~£1,953). This is not a new position: Wigan has maintained a deliberately low council tax for years as a matter of political and financial principle, under the "Progress with Unity" vision developed by the council's Labour leadership.
The "Progress with Unity" philosophy — reflected in the council's long-term budget management — prioritises financial resilience over year-to-year spending increases. Wigan has consistently built reserves, avoided the emergency borrowing that has destabilised some neighbouring authorities, and maintained service quality through efficiency rather than revenue maximisation. The consequence is a council tax that is £443 lower at Band D than Salford — the equivalent of four monthly Direct Debit payments.
But there is a cost to keeping council tax low. Wigan's Council Tax Requirement for 2026/27 is £171,171,158 — derived from a tax base of 99,900 Band D equivalents. If Wigan charged the same rate as Stockport (£2,618.90), it would raise approximately £47 million more per year. This gap is partly filled by government grants, business rates, and efficiency savings — but it also means Wigan makes choices about service levels that other, higher-billing authorities don't have to make. The council explicitly acknowledged at budget meetings that even with the maximum 4.99% rise, funding pressures in adult and children's social care continue to require "ongoing proactive management."
How Wigan spends your council tax: the 2026/27 budget
The statutory calculations document provides a high-level spending breakdown. Net estimates for 2026/27:
People — £281,867,870 net (from £748,567,949 gross)
The largest spending area. Covers adult social care, children's social care, SEND provision, and public health services. Gross spending of £748.6m is reduced to a net £281.9m by income from government grants, NHS Better Care Fund contributions, client contributions, and specific grants. The ongoing pressures in adult and children's social care — and the rising cost of temporary accommodation — are the main drivers of Wigan's budget pressures for 2026/27. The Here for You cost-of-living campaign (over £16m delivered to Wigan residents) provides upstream support that helps reduce demand on statutory services.
Places — £103,693,652 net (from £270,232,126 gross)
Covers environmental services (waste and recycling), transport and highways, planning, parks and green spaces, housing, leisure and culture. The 2026/27 budget includes continued investment in leisure centre refurbishment programmes, support for arts and cultural schemes (including Wigan's growing cultural calendar), and the extension of free town centre weekend parking in Wigan and Leigh town centres for another year — a measure directly benefiting residents and local businesses.
Here for You: £16m of cost-of-living support — and why it matters for council tax
Wigan's Here for You cost-of-living campaign has now surpassed £16 million in direct support to residents since its launch. This isn't directly a council tax discount — but it matters for understanding Wigan's overall approach to household financial pressure.
The campaign consolidates and promotes access to: food banks and community larders, household support grants, energy efficiency improvements, welfare benefit take-up support, school uniform and holiday hunger programmes, and emergency hardship funds. Rather than simply keeping council tax low (which saves approximately £20–37/month at Band D compared with the GM average), Wigan uses the combination of a low bill plus targeted cost-of-living intervention as its primary household financial support model.
The Future Apprentices for Business (FAB) programme, extended for another year in the 2026/27 budget, provides grant funding for local businesses to hire residents aged 16 to 24 — an upstream economic intervention designed to reduce long-term welfare dependency and therefore long-term demand on the council's own services.
Haigh and Shevington parish precepts: why residents in these areas pay slightly more
Two areas within Wigan borough have their own parish councils that set an annual precept:
Haigh Parish Council — £59.45 extra at Band D (288 dwellings)
Haigh is a village and civil parish in the north of the borough, centred on Haigh Hall Country Park. With only 288 dwellings in the parish tax base, it is a very small area but retains its own parish council. Band D total for Haigh: £2,210.99. The £59.45 additional charge funds Haigh Parish Council's own functions — local services and maintenance not covered by Wigan Council. Total parish levy for Haigh: confirmed at approximately £17,114 for 2026/27 (288 × £59.45).
Shevington Parish Council — £28.88 extra at Band D (3,346 dwellings)
Shevington is a larger village south of Wigan, one of the more commuter-belt settlements in the borough. Band D total for Shevington: £2,180.42. With 3,346 dwellings, Shevington's parish levy is proportionally more significant — approximately £96,633 in total. The Shevington precept funds parish-level services and community facilities.
All other parts of the borough — including Wigan, Leigh, Atherton, Hindley, Standish, Golborne, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Abram, Ince, and Tyldesley — pay the standard rate of £2,151.54 at Band D with no parish precept addition. Your bill will confirm whether a parish precept applies to your address.
Three real-world Wigan scenarios: what different households actually pay
Scenario 1 — Single adult, Band A terrace in Leigh or Atherton, on Universal Credit
Leigh, Atherton, Hindley, and Ince are former mining and textile towns in the east of the borough, predominantly Band A. A single adult on Universal Credit with no earned income. Band A total (standard area): £1,434.35. Single person discount (25%): −£358.59. After discount: £1,075.76. At 75% CTR: −£806.82. Effective bill: £268.94/year (£26.89/month over 10 months). Compared to the same household in Salford (Band A, same UC, same CTR): Salford Band A standard = £1,729.63 → after SPD and 75% CTR = £324.30. Wigan is £55.36/year cheaper for this household type — modest but meaningful.
Scenario 2 — Working couple, Band C semi in Standish, no discounts
Standish, Shevington Moor, and Ashton-in-Makerfield are Wigan's more suburban residential areas — semi-detached Band B–D properties. A working couple with two incomes, no discount. Standard area Band C: £1,912.47/year. Monthly instalment: £191.25 over 10 months, or £159.37 over 12 months. At the England average Band C (approximately £2,125), this family would pay £212.50/month — saving £21.25/month in Wigan compared with an average English authority.
Scenario 3 — Retired couple, Band C bungalow in Haigh parish, on Pension Credit
A retired couple in Haigh village — one of Wigan's most characterful rural-adjacent areas near Haigh Hall Country Park. Their bill includes the Haigh parish precept. Band C Haigh: £1,965.31. If one partner receives Pension Credit Guarantee: full 100% CTR. Effective bill: £0. Without applying for CTR: £1,965.31/year. The CTR does not apply automatically — this couple must apply at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax. The parish precept (£52.84 at Band C in Haigh) would also be covered by 100% CTR.
Discounts and reductions available in Wigan 2026
The official Wigan statutory notice explicitly states: "If you are on low income, you may be entitled to a Council Tax Reduction, even if you are already in receipt of Universal Credit or working and receiving a low wage." None of these apply automatically.
Single person discount
25% off
If you are the only adult (18+) living in the property as their main home. At Band A (standard area), saves £358.59/year. At Band D, saves £537.89/year. Apply at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax — not automatic.
Council Tax Reduction
Up to 100%
Wigan's Local CTR scheme. Pension-age claimants on Pension Credit: up to 100%. Working-age claimants: means-tested based on income, savings, and family size. Even low-income workers may qualify. Apply at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax.
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 — cannot be combined with the single person discount.
Full-time student exemption
Disregarded
Full-time students at Wigan and Leigh College, the University of Central Lancashire (Wigan campus), or other recognised institutions are disregarded. An all-student property pays zero council tax.
Disabled band reduction
1 band lower
If your home has been adapted for a disabled resident — extra bathroom, wheelchair space, or a room used predominantly for disability needs. At Band D (standard area), reduction to Band C saves £239.07/year.
Severe mental impairment
Disregarded
Adults with dementia, acquired brain injury, etc. are disregarded for council tax. If all other residents also qualify for disregard, a full exemption applies to the property. Apply to Wigan Council with medical evidence.
Council Tax Reduction and benefits: Wigan's explicit message to UC claimants
UC does not automatically cover council tax — apply for CTR separately
Wigan's own statutory notice is unusually explicit on this point: "If you are on low income, you may be entitled to a Council Tax Reduction, even if you are already in receipt of Universal Credit or working and receiving a low wage." Apply separately at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax. Use our Universal Credit Calculator to estimate your UC entitlement first, then apply for CTR simultaneously.
Here for You: accessing broader cost-of-living support
Beyond council tax reductions, Wigan's Here for You campaign has delivered over £16 million in cost-of-living support, including food bank referrals, household support grants, energy support, and welfare benefit take-up assistance. Visit wigan.gov.uk/hereforyou or contact the council for details of what's available in your area of the borough.
PIP and the Disabled Band Reduction
Receiving PIP does not automatically reduce your band — but if your home has been adapted for a disabled resident, you may qualify for the Disabled Band Reduction. Apply to Wigan Council with evidence of the specific adaptation — the band reduction and PIP are separate processes.
Use our Universal Credit Calculator to estimate your UC entitlement — then apply for Wigan Council Tax Reduction separately at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax. Even if you work on a low wage, you may qualify for partial CTR.
Empty properties and second homes in Wigan 2026/27
From 1 April 2026, Wigan Council can charge a 100% premium on properties left unoccupied for one year — halved from the previous two-year threshold under new government legislation. An empty Band D property in the standard area faces a bill of approximately £4,303.08/year (double the standard rate). Second homes (furnished but unoccupied) may also face a 100% premium from the first day of vacancy. Contact Wigan Council at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax to confirm your property's status and check whether government exception categories apply.
How to challenge your Wigan council tax band
If you believe your property is in the wrong band, challenge it through the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) at gov.uk/challenge-council-tax-band or by calling 03000 501501. The official Wigan council tax information specifies: you must continue to pay your existing bill while waiting for appeal results. A successful challenge can be backdated to when you moved in.
In Wigan's former mining settlements and Victorian working-class terraces — where identical rows of houses were valued rapidly in 1991 — band inconsistencies are not uncommon. If neighbouring, structurally identical homes are in a lower band, you may have grounds for a challenge.
Note: The VOA can also raise a band it finds too low. In Wigan's more prosperous suburbs (Standish, Shevington, Aspull), properties may have been inconsistently valued in 1991. Gather solid comparable evidence from structurally identical neighbouring properties before challenging.
Decision guide: what Wigan households should do right now
1
Confirm your area — Haigh and Shevington pay more
If you live in Haigh or Shevington parish, your bill includes a parish precept and will be higher than the standard figures above. Check your bill or the Wigan charges table at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax.
2
Apply for CTR — even if you work on a low wage
Wigan's own statutory notice highlights that workers on low wages may qualify. Apply at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax simultaneously with any UC claim. Pension Credit recipients get 100% CTR.
3
Claim the single person discount if you live alone
Saves £537.89/year at Band D. Apply at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax — not automatic. Also applies if all co-residents are students or otherwise disregarded.
4
Explore the Here for You campaign for broader cost-of-living support
Over £16m delivered to Wigan residents. Beyond council tax reductions, Here for You provides access to food, energy, and welfare support. Visit wigan.gov.uk/hereforyou.
5
Contact Wigan immediately if you've missed or may miss a payment
Contact via wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax before enforcement begins. CTR, payment plans, and hardship support are all available. A reminder gives 7 days; a final notice removes instalment rights; a Liability Order enables enforcement agent action.
What happens if you miss a Wigan council tax payment
1
Reminder notice — 7 days to pay
Issued shortly after a missed instalment. Pay within 7 days to retain your right to monthly instalments.
2
Final notice — full balance due immediately
The full remaining annual balance becomes immediately payable, with 7 days before further action.
3
Court summons and Liability Order
Wigan Council applies to the magistrates' court — adding court costs. A Liability Order enables enforcement agent action, deductions from wages or benefits, and charging orders on your property.
✓
Early contact resolves most cases
Contact Wigan Council via wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax as soon as you anticipate difficulty. CTR, the Here for You hardship support, and payment plans are all available before enforcement begins.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Wigan council tax Band D rate for 2026/27?
£2,151.54 for most of the borough — confirmed from the official statutory notice (Section 38, Local Government Finance Act 1992). This is the lowest Band D rate in Greater Manchester. Residents of Haigh parish pay £2,210.99 and Shevington parish residents pay £2,180.42, due to parish council precepts. The figure breaks down as: Wigan Council £1,712.29, GM Mayoral Police £285.30, GM Mayoral General (incl. GMFRS) £153.95.
Why is Wigan's council tax the lowest in Greater Manchester?
Wigan has maintained a deliberately low council tax as part of its "Progress with Unity" long-term financial strategy. The council has consistently built reserves, avoided emergency borrowing, and prioritised efficiency over revenue maximisation. Council Leader David Molyneux stated at the 2026/27 budget: "I believe that our council tax will remain one of the lowest in the North West and one of the lowest of all metropolitan authorities in the country." At Band D, Wigan charges £443 less than Salford and £467 less than Stockport — both Greater Manchester authorities.
I live in Haigh or Shevington — why is my bill higher?
Haigh and Shevington are the only two civil parishes within Wigan borough that have their own parish councils. These parish councils set their own precepts, which are added to the standard borough-wide bill. The Haigh parish precept adds £59.45 at Band D (total £2,210.99); the Shevington parish precept adds £28.88 at Band D (total £2,180.42). These are confirmed from the official Wigan statutory calculations document. All other areas of the borough pay the standard £2,151.54 at Band D.
Does Universal Credit cover my Wigan council tax?
No — and Wigan's own statutory notice is explicit about this: "You may be entitled to a Council Tax Reduction, even if you are already in receipt of Universal Credit or working and receiving a low wage." Apply separately for CTR at wigan.gov.uk/CouncilTax. Use our Universal Credit Calculator to estimate your UC entitlement, then apply for CTR simultaneously.
What is Wigan's Here for You campaign?
Here for You is Wigan Council's cost-of-living support campaign, which has delivered over £16 million in direct support to Wigan residents since its launch. It provides access to food bank referrals, household support grants, energy assistance, welfare benefit take-up support, and emergency hardship funds. It is separate from (but complementary to) the Council Tax Reduction scheme. Visit wigan.gov.uk/hereforyou for details of what's available in your area.
What are the GM Mayoral precepts on my Wigan bill?
Two GM-wide precepts appear on all Wigan bills: the GM Mayoral Police and Crime Commissioner precept (£285.30 at Band D, +£15 / +5.55%), which funds Greater Manchester Police; and the GM Mayoral General precept including fire services (£153.95 at Band D, +£25 / +19.4%), which funds the Bee Network integrated transport system (£61.75) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (£92.20). These are set by GM Mayor Andy Burnham independently of Wigan Council and are the same across all 10 GM boroughs.
