The Council Tax you pay is split between various authorities.
| Authority | Percentage of Council Tax | 2026 to 2027 amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oxford City Council (including parish precepts) | 13.94% | £373.34 |
| Oxfordshire County Council | 74.92% | £2,006.78 |
| Police and Crime Commissioner (Thames Valley) | 11.14% | £298.28 |
All figures quoted refer to Council Tax band D and are rounded to the nearest pound. Percentages here and on the actual Council Tax bill are expressed to one decimal place.
Oxford City Council's basic amount of Council Tax inclusive of parish precepts is £373.34 for 2026 to 2027. Excluding parish precepts, the Basic Amount of Council Tax is £367.38 for 2026 to 2027.
Therefore, If you live in an average band D home in Oxford, £367.38 of your total Council Tax bill for this year helps pay for Oxford City Council services.
This is a 2.99% increase on the 2025 to 2026 figure of £356.72 which is an annual increase of £10.66 or approximately 20p per week.
The cost of Oxford City Council's services is equivalent to under one-sixth of your total Council Tax bill.
Increases being asked for this year
Oxfordshire County Council has increased their overall 2025 to 2026 Council Tax by 4.99% to £2,006.78. 2.99% of that figure is due to 'General Expenditure' and the remaining 2% is in respect of an Adult Social Care precept.
Oxford City Council's overall band D Council Tax (including Parishes) has increased by 3.00% from £362.45 in 2025 to 2026 to £373.34 in 2026 to 2027.
Oxford City Council's overall band D Council Tax (net of Parishes) has increased by 2.99% from £356.72 in 2025 to 2026 to £367.38 in 2026 to 2027.
The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley has increased their 2025 to 2026 band D Council Tax by £15 per year to £298.28. This is equivalent to a 5.30% increase.
Parish councils
Oxford City Council provides services to four parish councils within its boundaries.
The parishes ask for funding to pay for services they provide in the form of a precept on the the Council. Residents in the parishes pay this as part of their Council Tax.
Oxford City Council therefore also raises Council Tax to pay for parish councils and the Basic Amount of Council Tax inclusive of parish precepts is £373.34 (average figure across parishes) for 2026 to 2027.
In the Unparished Area, the the Council undertakes the parish functions.
| Parish | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Littlemore | £85,609 | £ 89,899 |
| Old Marston | £65,650 | £ 67,619 |
| Risinghurst and Sandhills | £67,200 | £ 76,000 |
| Blackbird Leys | £54,389 | £ 57,109 |
| Sub-total | £272,848 | £ 290,617 |
| Unparished Area | £734,560 | £ 773,943 |
| Total "Special Items" | £1,007,408 | £1,064,560 |
Council Tax requirement (including parishes)
In accordance with the Localism Act 2011 the Council is required to calculate its Council Tax requirement. This figure is the amount that the Council will raise in Council Tax from the residents in the city to fund services for the coming year 2026 to 2027.
The Oxford City Council's requirement from Council Tax for 2026 to 2027 is £18,191,281. This includes the parish precepts of £290,617.
The equivalent figure in 2025 to 2026 was £17,266,136.
The Tax Base for 2026 to 2027 (the total number of dwellings adjusted for exemptions and discounts, and expressed as band D equivalents) has increased from the 2025 to 2026 figure of 47,637.80 to 48,725.20.
The reasons for this are:
- the introduction of the second home premium charge
- reduction in households eligible for the Council tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS)
- an increase in properties subject to Long Term Empty property charges
The band D Council Tax (excluding parishes) for 2026 to 2027 is £367.38. This is a 2.99% increase on the 2025 to 2026 figure of £356.72.
