Your Council Tax bill 2025-26
How much has WNC increased its main Council Tax for in 2025/26?
We have increased our main Council Tax to 4.99%. The regulations allow us to increase our main Council Tax by up to 4.99% without holding a referendum.
The Council Tax demand shows a 5.0% increase as Council Tax legislation requires us to display the percentage on the demand to the nearest 0.1%.
Special expenses
Special expenses are a part of the overall Council Tax charged by the Council. Most of our Council Tax is evenly distributed across all areas. However, special expenses allow some specific costs to be distributed according to where the services are provided.
We charge special expenses for the maintenance of our smaller parks and open spaces. This is because some Parish Councils also maintain parks and open spaces, and pass this cost on to their local taxpayers through their own precept.
As our smaller parks and opens spaces are not evenly distributed across the borough, the special expense charge (unlike the main Council Tax element) differs across the parishes in the area.
Why is the Adult Social Care charge no longer shown on my bill?
The government has removed the requirement for Councils to show a separate figure for Adult Social Care (ASC) on the bill, to show a single line for the annual charge and percentage increase.
This is to simplify the information displayed, avoid confusion and present the information in the same way for both ASC and non ASC authorities.
Who can I contact with an enquiry regarding the Northamptonshire Police Fire & Crime Commissioners budgets?
For PFCC budget enquiries, visit their official site.
Why does my bill show the Parish Council has increased their Council Tax requirement by more than 4.99%?
Parish councils are free to increase their Council Tax requirements to whatever they believe they need to run the services they deliver. Unlike larger authorities, they have no caps on what they can increase their demand by.
For more information on your Parish Councils budget and plans please contact your Parish council.
How do I find out the name of my Councillor?
You can visit our dedicated page to find the name of your councillor.
Why has my Parish Council changed?
Between 2023 and 2024, we undertook a Community Governance Review of parish boundaries and Councillor numbers.
The final proposal affected the boundaries of some of our parishes, whose boundaries have been changed from 1 April 2025.
Where can I find out more information regarding WNC’s budget?
The budget for West Northamptonshire Council, and its element of Council Tax, was set on 20 February 2025.
View full details of the budget.
Who do West Northamptonshire Council collect Council Tax on behalf of?
As a billing authority, West Northamptonshire sends out Council Tax demands and collects Council Tax on behalf of ourselves, and other precepting authorities that are entitled to collect Council Tax in the area.
These other authorities are:
- the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Northamptonshire (who sets one council tax precept for the Police service and another council tax precept for the Fire service)
- various town and parish councils within West Northamptonshire Council’s boundaries
Can I view my Council Tax bills online?
You can register to receive bills online, view your account balance and instalments due, notify us of a change in address and claim exemptions and discounts.
Register for or view your account online.
Has the Council’s second home discount policy changed?
We have determined that, from 1 April 2025, second homes will be charged a 100% premium. For Council Tax purposes, a second home is defined as a dwelling where no one lives as their sole or main residence.
There are some exceptions from this premium.
Find out more about empty properties and second homes.
Has the Council’s policy on long term empty property discounts changed?
We have not changed our policy towards the level of premiums charged for long term empty properties. However, the government has introduced legislation from 1 April 2025 to increase the number of classes of property that are excepted from the long term empty premium.
These exceptions can only be applied from 1 April 2025 and cannot be applied in retrospect.
I am a care leaver; do I have to pay Council Tax?
The Council introduced a discretionary discount from 1 April 2024 which means, in most cases, care leavers will not have to pay Council Tax until the age of 21.
An application needs to be made for this help.
Find out more information about this discount.
Last updated 07 March 2025