How is Council Tax calculated?
Council Tax is made up of several charges:
- a charge for Wirral Council services (including Adult Social Care)
- a charge for the Liverpool City Region combined authority
- a charge for Merseyside Police services
- a charge for Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority services
The table below gives a breakdown of these charges for each property band for 2025-26.
| Wirral Council | City Region | Police | Fire and Rescue |
Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | £1,321.63 | £16.00 | £185.98 | £64.17 | £1,587.78 |
| B | £1,541.90 | £18.67 | £216.98 | £74.86 | £1,852.41 |
| C | £1,762.17 | £21.33 | £247.97 | £85.56 | £2,117.03 |
| D | £1,982.44 | £24.00 | £278.97 | £96.25 | £2,381.66 |
| E | £2,422.98 | £29.33 | £340.96 | £117.64 | £2,910.91 |
| F | £2,863.52 | £34.67 | £402.96 | £139.03 | £3,440.18 |
| G | £3,304.07 | £40.00 | £464.95 | £160.42 | £3,969.44 |
| H | £3,964.88 | £48.00 | £557.94 | £192.50 | £4,763.32 |
From 1 April 2025 the charge for Wirral Council includes the precept for Adult Social Care.
Why has the charge for Wirral Council increased in 2025-26?
For 2025-26 the Council Tax charge for Wirral has increased by 4.99%. This is a combination of the increase on the charges for Wirral council services of 2.99% (rounded to 3%) and a 2% Wirral Adult Social Care charge.
The total Council Tax charge for 2025-26 an overall 5.2% increase also includes:
- a 26.3% increase for the Liverpool City Region Mayoral precept
- a 5.3% increase for the Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
- a 5.5% increase for the Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner
Example of how 2025-26 Council Tax for a Band D property is calculated
| Type of charge | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2024-25 Wirral council services charge | £1,888.22 |
| Wirral 4.99% increase of total charge (includes 2% Adult Social Care) | £94.22 |
| Total Wirral 2025-26 charge | £1,982.44 |
| Liverpool City Region precept | £24.00 |
| Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner | £278.97 |
| Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority | £96.25 |
| Total Annual Council Tax Charge 2025-26 | £2,381.66 |