Basildon Council Tax Guide: Bands, Charges, Discounts and How to Pay

Council tax in the Basildon borough is collected by Basildon Borough Council, even though only a slice of your bill stays with the council itself. This guide walks through the bands, what you pay in 2026/27, how to pay, the discounts most households miss, and what to do when you move. Everything below comes from the council's own pages, and it is worth checking them before you act because rules and figures change every April.

What are the council tax bands in Basildon?

Every home, including rented ones, was placed in one of eight bands, A to H, by the Valuation Office Agency, which is part of HMRC. The band depends on the market value of the property on 1 April 1991, so later changes in house prices make no difference. Band A covers homes valued up to £40,000, Band B £40,001 to £52,000, Band C £52,001 to £68,000, Band D £68,001 to £88,000, Band E £88,001 to £120,000, Band F £120,001 to £160,000, Band G £160,001 to £320,000 and Band H anything over £320,000. Each March the Band D charge is set and every other band pays a higher or lower proportion of it. If you think your band is wrong, the council has an appeal page for band or liability.

How much is council tax in Basildon for 2026/27?

At the time of writing (September 2026), the council's official 2026/27 bands and charges page gives the following annual totals for an area with no parish charge: Band A £1,542.90, Band B £1,800.05, Band C £2,057.20, Band D £2,314.35, Band E £2,828.65, Band F £3,342.95, Band G £3,857.25 and Band H £4,628.70. Those totals are made up of four parts. For Band D that is £1,641.99 to Essex County Council, £275.31 to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, £92.52 to the Essex fire and rescue authority and £304.56 to Basildon Borough Council. In other words the borough council keeps well under a fifth of what you pay, while the county council, which runs social care, highways and libraries, takes the largest share.

Do parish and town councils add extra?

Yes, if you live in a parish or town council area you pay a little on top. The council's page lists the Band D parish charges, so for a Band D home in Billericay Town add £26.01 (grand total £2,340.36), in Wickford add £25.11 (£2,339.46), in Noak Bridge add £41.13 (£2,355.48), in Shotgate add £37.62 (£2,351.97) and in Great Burstead and South Green add £13.77 (£2,328.12). Bowers Gifford and North Benfleet, Little Burstead, Ramsden Bellhouse and Ramsden Crays also charge their own amounts, all shown on the same page for every band. Pitsea, Laindon, Vange, Fryerns, Langdon Hills and central Basildon are not named on the parish list, so the no-parish totals above should apply, but check the list against your exact address.

How do I pay my council tax?

The council's pay your council tax page points you to e-Services, where you can see upcoming payments, change your payment schedule and apply for a bill reduction. A Direct Debit is described as the most convenient route: you can pay in full once a year, in two instalments, or in monthly instalments, and you choose a collection date from the 1st, 6th, 14th, 22nd or 28th of the month. Be aware that if two Direct Debit payments go unpaid in one financial year the council can withdraw the option and you would have to pay another way. If you are not on a Direct Debit, council tax can be paid over 12 monthly instalments on the 6th of each month, and there is also a recurring card payment option that works much like a Direct Debit. One-off payments can be made securely online through the choose how to pay page.

What discounts and reductions can I get?

The discounts and exemptions page covers the main ones. Homes with only one adult aged 18 or over can get a single resident discount of 25% off the annual bill. Some people are not counted when working out how many adults live in the home, for example full-time students, and these are called disregards. A property left empty and unfurnished can get a 50% discount for up to three months, while homes empty for more than a year are charged additional premiums. A property that needs major repairs or structural alteration to be habitable may get 50% off for up to a year. Other reductions include a 25% apprentice disregard or reduction, a disability reduction for homes adapted for a disabled resident, a family annexe discount, and a discretionary reduction for care leavers. You apply through e-Services, where you can also upload evidence, and if you are applying for a relative or client rather than for yourself there is a separate route on the same page.

What if I am on a low income?

Separate from discounts, the council runs a Council Tax Reduction scheme for both pension-age and working-age residents, and Housing Benefit for people on low incomes who rent. Details and how to apply are on the Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction page. If you have already been told you owe arrears, the recovery and penalties page explains what to do after a Final Notice or a court summons, and it is far better to make contact early than to wait.

What do I do about council tax when I move home?

You need to tell the council whichever way you are moving, using the moving house page. If you are moving into the borough, fill in the online change of address form, which also registers you for e-Services. If you are moving within the borough, for example from Laindon to Wickford, you can update your billing details through e-Services. If you are moving out, or you are a landlord whose tenants have left, there is a separate moving out form. Do it as soon as you know your dates so you are not billed for a home you no longer live in.

How do I contact the council tax team?

Most things can be done in e-Services. If you cannot find what you need online, the council has an "I cannot find what I need online" form where you give your name, council tax reference and address and choose a reason for contact, such as supplying documents or chasing an application. The main council tax and benefits hub also has an upload page for supporting documents and a refund application.

Quick answers

Band D council tax in the borough for 2026/27 is £2,314.35 with no parish charge. The single resident discount is 25%. Direct Debit dates are the 1st, 6th, 14th, 22nd and 28th. Moving house, discounts and payments all run through e-Services at basildon.gov.uk. For band appeals use the council's general information page, and for anything you cannot confirm here, the official council tax page is the place to check.