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What your Council Tax pays for
Council Tax is the local tax which helps to pay for local services. Your Council Tax helps to pay for local services such as sport and leisure facilities, street lighting, youth centres, supporting the elderly and much more.
It also contributes to police, fire and rescue services, the disposal of household waste and public transport.
Find out how the council raises and spends Council Tax
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 |
Adult Social Care information
Since 2016, the government has allowed the council to charge an additional amount of Council Tax each year to help cover the cost of Adult Social Care.
Adult social care services include helping people to live independently in their own homes or in residential care where necessary. Adults with physical and learning disabilities are also supported and funded by adult social care. Some people are required to contribute towards the cost of their care if they meet set criteria (for example, their level of savings and income), others need financial support from the council.
For 2025-2026 the maximum increase allowed for the Adult Social Care Precept is 2%. Wirral ‘s increase is 2%. The total increase in Council Tax in 2025-2026 is therefore 4.99% for Wirral Council.
Until 2024-2025, the Adult Social Care Precept had to be shown separately on Council Tax Demand Notices. From 2025-2026 the regulations have been amended so that the Adult Social Care Precept has to be shown with the Wirral Council element as one amount.
Council Tax 2024/25 Adult social care precept further information
Since 2016, the government has allowed the council to charge an additional amount of Council Tax each year to help cover the cost of Adult Social Care.
Adult social care services include helping people to live independently in their own homes or in residential care where necessary. Adults with physical and learning disabilities are also supported and funded by adult social care. Some people are required to contribute towards the cost of their care if they meet set criteria (for example, their level of savings and income), others need financial support from the council. This extra increase in Council Tax is called the adult social care precept and can only be used to fund adult social care.
For Wirral residents the Adult Social Care charge has increased by 2% of the total charge.
The presentation of the Adult Social Care precept information on Council Tax Bills is prescribed in the ‘Council Tax (Demand Notices) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2017’.
Liverpool City Region Mayoral Precept
Your Council Tax will contribute to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority which is working to promote further jobs, inclusive growth and investment across the area.
Find out more how the council raises and spends Council Tax
Further information is also available on the Liverpool City Region website