In this section: Your area
Council tax in Oxford
Last updated . Figures refresh every night. How each figure is worked out.
Council tax in Oxford for 2026-27 is £2,678 a year for a Band D home, £1,786 for Band A and £5,357 for the top band. That is £267 above the England average of £2,411. It ranks 11 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
- £2,678Band D a year, 2026-27 up on a year earlier: +£121 (+4.7%) vs 2025-26
- £1,786Band A, the lowest
- +£267Band D against the England average of £2,411 Above average
- 11 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 | £1,785.60 | £148.80 |
| ||
Band BDetails for Band B | £2,083.20 | £173.60 |
| ||
Band CDetails for Band C | £2,380.80 | £198.40 |
| ||
Band DDetails for Band D | £2,678.40 | £223.20 |
| ||
Band EDetails for Band E | £3,273.60 | £272.80 |
| ||
Band FDetails for Band F | £3,868.80 | £322.40 |
| ||
Band GDetails for Band G | £4,464.00 | £372.00 |
| ||
Band HDetails for Band H | £5,356.80 | £446.40 |
| ||
Who gets the money?
| Who receives it | Band D | Share |
|---|---|---|
OxfordDetails for Oxford | £367 | 14% |
| ||
Other precepting bodiesDetails for Other precepting bodies | £2,311 | 86% |
| ||
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 £267 above the England average, 11 of 296 councils from the highest.
How does Oxford compare? The report card
Official figures on complaints, finances, audit, pay and services for Oxford, 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 year4.7%Lower than the England figure of 4.9%
- Council tax per head£786Lower than the England figure of £796
- Ombudsman uphold rate100% (3 of 3)Higher than the England figure of 86%
- Reserves as a share of net spending243%Higher than the England figure of 50%
- Borrowing per home£4,517Higher 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 services (county)Good73% of English councils are good or outstanding
- CQC, adult social care (county)Good62% of assessed councils are good or outstanding
- A roads needing maintenance considered (county)5%The same as the England figure of 5%
- Recycling rate48.2%Higher than the England figure of 42.0%
- Major planning decisions on time96.3%Higher 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 | Oxford | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
Complaints and enquiries receivedDetails for Complaints and enquiries received | 60 | — |
| ||
Complaints and enquiries decidedDetails for Complaints and enquiries decided | 33 | 25 in 2024-25 |
| ||
Detailed investigationsDetails for Detailed investigations | 3 | — |
| ||
UpheldDetails for Upheld | 3 | — |
| ||
Uphold rateDetails for Uphold rate | 100% | 86% for every body the Ombudsman covers; 74% for similar councils |
| ||
Upheld cases where the council had already offered a satisfactory remedyDetails for Upheld cases where the council had already offered a satisfactory remedy | 33% | 13% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
| ||
Ombudsman’s recommendations the council complied withDetails for Ombudsman’s recommendations the council complied with | 100% | 99.9% for every body the Ombudsman covers |
| ||
Uphold rate in 2024-25Details for Uphold rate in 2024-25 | 50% | — |
| ||
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 0 findings of severe maladministration against Oxford City Council in 2025-26, out of 25 findings in 10 determinations. Its maladministration rate for this landlord was 54%.
Source: Housing Ombudsman Service, Annual complaints review: landlord tables, 2025-26.
How healthy are its finances?
| Measure | Oxford | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
Net revenue spending, 2025-26Details for Net revenue spending, 2025-26 | £26.8m | — |
| ||
Reserves at the end of 2025-26Details for Reserves at the end of 2025-26 | £65.2m | — |
| ||
Reserves as a share of net spendingDetails for Reserves as a share of net spending | 243% | 50% for England; 0% in 2024-25 |
| ||
Outstanding borrowing at 30 June 2026Details for Outstanding borrowing at 30 June 2026 | £288.5m | — |
| ||
Borrowing per home on the valuation listDetails for Borrowing per home on the valuation list | £4,517 | £3,474 across English billing authorities |
| ||
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.
What have the auditors said?
| Accounts year | Status recorded by PSAA | Opinion signed |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Delivered by backstop | 27 February 2026 |
| 2023-24 | Delivered by backstop | 28 February 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 | 171 | 127 |
| ||
Councillors’ allowancesDetails for Councillors’ allowances | £418,000 | £410,000 |
| ||
The count is up 44 on the year before. 'The Council's other employees receiving more than £50,000 remuneration for the year (excluding employer's pension contributions)', following the senior employees table. Totals 171 (2025/26) and 127 (2024/25). Dashes recorded as 0. Oxford is a district council and does not employ school staff (includesSchools recorded false on that basis, not from the note). The accounts describe the allowances figure as “Members' Allowances: Allowances 417 (2024/25 408); Expenses 1 (2); Total Payments 418 (410) £'000”. 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: Oxford, Statement of Accounts 2025-26 DRAFT, PDF pages 71-72 (printed pages 69-70), Note 32. Checked 24 September 2026.
How are its services rated?
| Measure | Oxford | For comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Children's services, Ofsted overall effectiveness | Good (Oxfordshire County Council) | 9 April 2024. 73% of English councils judged good or outstanding |
| Adult social care, CQC assessment | Good (Oxfordshire County Council) | 5 September 2025. 62% of assessed councils rated good or outstanding |
| A roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 5% (Oxfordshire County Council) | 5% in England |
| B and C roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 9% (Oxfordshire County Council) | 7% in England |
| Unclassified roads where maintenance should be considered, 2024-25 | 20% (Oxfordshire County Council) | 17% in England |
| Household waste sent for reuse, recycling or composting, 2024-25 | 48.2% | 42.0% for England |
| Major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of june 2026 | 96.3% | 91.0% for England |
| Non-major planning decisions on time, 24 months to end of June 2026 | 91.4% | 90.7% for England |
Oxfordshire County Council runs children’s services, adult social care and most roads here, so those rows are the county council’s. 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 about the county council, Oxfordshire County Council?
Oxfordshire County Council sets its own share of the council tax bill here and runs social care, children’s services, most roads and waste disposal. Its own figures:
| Measure | Oxfordshire County Council | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Ombudsman uphold rate | 80% | 92 complaints decided, 2025-26 |
| Reserves as a share of net spending | 49% | 2025-26 |
| Outstanding borrowing | £260.9m | at 30 June 2026 |
| Accounts, 2024-25 | Delivered by backstop | Signed 3 February 2026 |
Official events for Oxfordshire County Council:
-
Audit
PSAA records the status as “Delivered by backstop”; auditor Ernst & Young LLP.Public Sector Audit Appointments
-
Ombudsman
Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman public interest report, case 21-009-723.Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman
Source: Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman, Annual review of local government complaints, 2025-26; 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; Public Sector Audit Appointments, Monthly audit opinion data, 2024-25.
What has happened recently?
Decisions and publications by official bodies about Oxford, newest first. Each links to the body that made or published it. News reports are not included.
-
Election
Green Party 9, Labour Party 7, Liberal Democrats 4, Labour and Co-operative Party 3, Independent 1Democracy Club
-
Council tax
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
-
Audit
PSAA records the status as “Delivered by backstop”; auditor Ernst & Young LLP.Public Sector Audit Appointments
-
Election
Labour Party 9, Liberal Democrats 5, Green Party 4, Independent Oxford Alliance 4, Labour and Co-operative Party 2, Independent 1Democracy Club
-
Election
Labour Party 12, Green Party 4, Liberal Democrats 4, Labour and Co-operative Party 3, Independent 1Democracy Club
Does the council think something here is wrong?
If you represent Oxford 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 Oxford: parking, roads, your MP and local services, and Oxford on the council map.
Common questions
- How much is council tax in Oxford?
- Band D is £2,678 a year for 2026-27. Band A is £1,786 and the top band £5,357.
- Is council tax in Oxford higher than average?
- Yes. Band D here is £267 above 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.