What your Council Tax pays for

Learn how your Council Tax is calculated and what factors affect your bill.

Council Tax started in April 1993. How much Council Tax you pay depends on your property’s tax band and if you can get discounts, exemptions, or local Council Tax help.

The rules for Council Tax help decide how much local Council Tax is. Portsmouth City Council is an Adult Social Care Authority and can charge extra for Adult Social Care.

For 2026/27, Portsmouth City Council has been able to increase council tax by up to 5% without the need for a local referendum.

At the Full Council meeting of 24 February 2026, Portsmouth City Council agreed:

• a 5% increase, made up of a 3% increase of general services
• and a 2% increase for Adult Social Care

What your Council Tax bill include

You may have different charges based on your property’s band, but as an example, if you live in a band D property for 2026/27 the charges shown on your Council Tax bill are:

• Portsmouth City Council: £1,908.41
• Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue: £92.84
• Police & Crime Commissioner for Hampshire and Isle of Wight: £290.46
• The total charge for a band D property in 2026/27 is £2,291.71

You can find details of all the increases on the Council Tax Bands page.