In this section: Your area
Council tax in Birmingham
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
Council tax in Birmingham for 2026-27 is £2,363 a year for a Band D home, £1,575 for Band A and £4,726 for the top band. That is £48 below the England average of £2,411. It ranks 201 of 296 billing areas in England. Figures are the council's own set rates.
Figures for the 2026–27 financial year. Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Key figures
- £2,363Band D a year, 2026-27 up on a year earlier: +£117 (+5.2%) vs 2025-26
- £1,575Band A, the lowest
- −£48Band D against the England average of £2,411 Below average
- 201 of 296Rank in England, highest first
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
What is the bill for each band?
| Band | A year | A month |
|---|---|---|
Band ADetails for Band A | £1,575.27 | £131.27 |
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Band BDetails for Band B | £1,837.81 | £153.15 |
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Band CDetails for Band C | £2,100.36 | £175.03 |
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Band DDetails for Band D | £2,362.90 | £196.91 |
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Band EDetails for Band E | £2,887.99 | £240.67 |
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Band FDetails for Band F | £3,413.08 | £284.42 |
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Band GDetails for Band G | £3,938.17 | £328.18 |
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Band HDetails for Band H | £4,725.80 | £393.82 |
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Who gets the money?
| Who receives it | Band D | Share |
|---|---|---|
BirminghamDetails for Birmingham | £2,023 | 86% |
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Other precepting bodiesDetails for Other precepting bodies | £339 | 14% |
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Each body sets its own precept and the council simply collects them together. The council that sends the bill keeps only its own share.
How does it compare?
Band D here is £48 below the England average, 201 of 296 councils from the highest.
How does Birmingham compare? The report card
Official figures on complaints, finances, audit, pay and services for Birmingham, each from the body that published it and set against the figure for England. See every council on the council map.
- Council tax rise this year5.2%Higher than the England figure of 4.9%
- Council tax per head£553Lower than the England figure of £796
- Ombudsman uphold rate88% (113 of 128)Higher than the England figure of 86%
- Reserves as a share of net spending80%Higher than the England figure of 50%
- Borrowing per home£7,460Higher than the England figure of £3,474
- Accounts, 2024-25Delivered by backstop92% of bodies had an opinion delivered by the backstop date
- Ofsted, children's servicesGood73% of English councils are good or outstanding
- CQC, adult social careGood62% of assessed councils are good or outstanding
- A roads needing maintenance considered2%Lower than the England figure of 5%
- Recycling rate20.3%Lower than the England figure of 42.0%
- Major planning decisions on time80.8%Lower than the England figure of 91.0%
Each figure is set against the figure for England as a whole. They are plain comparisons, one measure at a time: there is no overall score and no ranking of councils. Higher is not always better or worse; what each measure does and does not show is on the methodology page.
What do complaints to the ombudsman show?
| Measure | Birmingham | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
Complaints and enquiries receivedDetails for Complaints and enquiries received | 747 | — |
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Complaints and enquiries decidedDetails for Complaints and enquiries decided | 655 | 572 in 2024-25 |
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Detailed investigationsDetails for Detailed investigations | 128 | — |
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UpheldDetails for Upheld | 113 | — |
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Uphold rateDetails for Uphold rate | 88% | 86% for every body the Ombudsman covers; 83% for similar councils |
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Upheld cases where the council had already offered a satisfactory remedyDetails for Upheld cases where the council had already offered a satisfactory remedy | 8% | 13% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
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Ombudsman’s recommendations the council complied withDetails for Ombudsman’s recommendations the council complied with | 100% | 99.9% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
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Uphold rate in 2024-25Details for Uphold rate in 2024-25 | 82% | — |
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An uphold rate depends on how many complaints reach a detailed investigation. With few investigations, one decision moves it a long way.
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Annual review of local government complaints, 2025-26.
The Housing Ombudsman, which handles complaints from council tenants, made 9 findings of severe maladministration against Birmingham City Council in 2025-26, out of 197 findings in 91 determinations. Its maladministration rate for this landlord was 76%.
Source: Housing Ombudsman Service, Annual complaints review: landlord tables, 2025-26.
How healthy are its finances?
| Measure | Birmingham | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
Net revenue spending, 2025-26Details for Net revenue spending, 2025-26 | £1.14bn | — |
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Reserves at the end of 2025-26Details for Reserves at the end of 2025-26 | £906.8m | — |
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Reserves as a share of net spendingDetails for Reserves as a share of net spending | 80% | 50% for England; 93% in 2024-25 |
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Outstanding borrowing at 30 June 2026Details for Outstanding borrowing at 30 June 2026 | £3.49bn | — |
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Borrowing per home on the valuation listDetails for Borrowing per home on the valuation list | £7,460 | £3,474 across English billing authorities |
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Earmarked and unallocated revenue reserves at the end of the year, excluding schools and public health, as a share of net revenue expenditure. Much of any council’s reserves is set aside for particular purposes. Borrowing is total outstanding loans of every kind; councils borrow mainly to pay for buildings, roads and housing, and the figure does not show what the borrowing was for.
Source: Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local authority revenue expenditure and financing: revenue outturn time series, 2025-26; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Local authority borrowing and investment live table, 30 June 2026; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Council Taxbase statistics, 2025.
The council has issued a section 114 report since 2018. It is under statutory intervention by the government. It was agreed Exceptional Financial Support for 2024-25, 2025-26. Each is dated and linked in the events below.
What have the auditors said?
| Accounts year | Status recorded by PSAA | Opinion signed |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Delivered by backstop | 26 February 2026 |
| 2023-24 | Post backstop opinion delivered | 20 November 2025 |
“Delivered by backstop” means the auditor gave an opinion by the statutory backstop date. Many opinions given that way were disclaimed or qualified because the deadline cut the audit short; PSAA publishes which type of opinion each council received only as national totals, so it is not shown here. Auditors’ value-for-money findings are in each auditor’s annual report on the council’s website.
Source: Public Sector Audit Appointments, Monthly audit opinion data, 2024-25.
What are senior staff and councillors paid?
| Measure | 2025-26 | 2024-25 |
|---|---|---|
Employees paid £50,000 or moreDetails for Employees paid £50,000 or more | 2,973 | 2,509 |
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Councillors’ allowancesDetails for Councillors’ allowances | £2,600,000 | £2,600,000 |
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The count is up 464 on the year before. Council uses £10,000 bands with a top band of £120,000+. Headed 'Other Council employees receiving more than £50,000 remuneration for the year (excluding employer's pension contributions)'; split into 'Teaching Staff & Staff in Schools' and 'Other Council Employees'. Staff within Voluntary Aided and Foundation schools are excluded. Figures include employees with planned termination payments (94 in 2025/26). The accounts describe the allowances figure as “Allowances paid to Members of the Council in 2025/26 totalled £2.6m (2024/25: £2.6m). These figures include Members' allowances and expenses.”. These are draft accounts and may change at audit. Thresholds are not adjusted for inflation, so more staff cross them each year as pay rises.
Source: Birmingham, Draft Statement of Accounts 2025/26, PDF page 137. Checked 24 September 2026.
How are its services rated?
| Measure | Birmingham | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Children's services, Ofsted overall effectiveness | Good | 18 April 2023. 73% of English councils judged good or outstanding |
| Adult social care, CQC assessment | Good | 13 May 2026. 62% of assessed councils rated good or outstanding |
| A roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 2% | 5% in England |
| B and C roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 4% | 7% in England |
| Unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 8% | 17% in England |
| Household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting, 2024-25 | 20.3% | 42.0% for England |
| Major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of june 2026 | 80.8% | 91.0% for England |
| Non-major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of June 2026 | 74.3% | 90.7% for England |
Inspections happen at different times, so a rating can be several years old; the date is shown with each. Planning figures are measured differently in each nation: share of decisions made within the statutory time (13 weeks for major, 8 for non-major) or an agreed extension, over 24 months. Recycling rates are measured differently in England, Scotland and Wales, so compare within a nation.
Source: Ofsted, Children's social care: local authority inspection outcomes, as at 31 March 2026; Care Quality Commission, Local authority assessments, latest assessment; Department for Transport, Road condition statistics: data tables (RDC), 2024-25; Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Local authority collected waste management: annual results, 2024-25; Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, Live tables on planning application statistics (P151, P153), 24 months to end of June 2026.
What has happened recently?
Decisions and publications by official bodies about Birmingham, newest first. Each links to the body that made or published it. News reports are not included.
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Election
Reform UK 23, Green Party 19, Conservative and Unionist Party 16, Labour Party 16, Independent 13, Liberal Democrats 12, Labour and Co-operative Party 1, Workers Party of Britain 1Democracy Club
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Council tax
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Audit
PSAA records the status as “Delivered by backstop”; auditor Grant Thornton UK LLP.Public Sector Audit Appointments
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Council tax limit
Set for this council in the government’s referendum principles report, above the standard limit.Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Audit backstop
Draft accounts published by the deadline: no. Audit opinion delivered by the backstop date: no.Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Exceptional Financial Support
£180.0m (support agreed in-principle); Note: For support agreed in-principle for 2024-25, this has been revised to £490.0m (from £685.0m)Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Audit backstop
Draft accounts published by the deadline: no. Audit opinion delivered by the backstop date: not stated.Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Intervention report
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Council tax limit
Set for this council in the government’s referendum principles report, above the standard limit.Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Exceptional Financial Support
£685.0m (support agreed in-principle); This was subsequently revised to: £490.0m (support agreed in-principle for 2024-25); £570.1m agreed in-principle covering: 2020-21: £288.4m; 2021-22: £109.5m; 2022-23: £172.2mMinistry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Statutory intervention
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
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Section 114 report
Birmingham City Council
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-015-635.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-015-013.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 22-001-880.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 22-002-457.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-015-723.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-003-197.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Election
Labour Party 52, Conservative and Unionist Party 22, Labour and Co-operative Party 13, Liberal Democrats 12, Green Party 2Democracy Club
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-000-323.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 20-011-230.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 20-007-658.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 19-016-798.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
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Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 19-019-859.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Does the council think something here is wrong?
If you represent Birmingham and think a figure here is wrong, out of date or unfairly presented, email hello@whereyourmoneygoes.co.uk with this page’s address and the source you would point to. Every correction is logged, with its date, on the corrections page.
Where can I find out more?
What council tax is and why it works this way, including why the bands are still based on 1991 property values in England and Scotland, and how every area compares, everything else on Birmingham: parking, roads, your MP and local services, and Birmingham on the council map.
Common questions
- How much is council tax in Birmingham?
- Band D is £2,363 a year for 2026-27. Band A is £1,575 and the top band £4,726.
- Is council tax in Birmingham higher than average?
- No. Band D here is £48 below the England average of £2,411.
Sources for this page
| Source | Publisher | Figures as of | Updated | Licence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England | Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government | the 2026–27 financial year | annual | Open Government Licence v3.0 |
Each source's figures are used under the licence shown. Our own words, analysis, charts and derived calculations are ours, under CC BY 4.0.