What's Changing in April 2026 — Full List of UK Bill Changes
April 2026 brings the biggest set of household bill changes in years. Energy falls, but council tax, water, broadband and more are rising. Here's every change, the exact numbers, and what to do about each one.
What's Changing in April 2026 — Full List of UK Bill Changes
April 2026 brings the biggest set of simultaneous household bill changes in years. Energy bills are falling — but council tax, water, broadband, TV licence and car tax are all rising. Here is every change, the exact figures, and what you can do about each one.
April 2026 at a Glance
- Energy price cap — falls £117 from April 1
- Council tax — up 4.99% for most households
- Water bills — up 5.4% average
- Broadband — mid-contract rises hitting millions
- TV licence — up from £174.50 to £180
- Car tax (VED) — up from £195 to £200
- National minimum wage — up to £12.71/hr
- Universal credit — up 6.2%
- Making Tax Digital — sole traders £50k+ must act now
- What to do — action plan for April 2026
April marks the start of a new UK financial year and the annual round of price changes that come with it. This year has been dubbed "Awful April" by consumer groups — not because every bill is rising, but because the number of simultaneous changes happening at once makes it harder than ever for households to track what they owe and plan their budgets accordingly.
The good news: energy bills are falling for the first time in years. The less good news: council tax, water, broadband, TV licence and car tax are all rising at the same time — and the energy saving is partially offset by the other increases for most households.
1. Energy Bills — Falls £117 from April 1 ↓
Energy (Ofgem price cap) ↓ Falling
Important caveat: The price cap only directly sets unit rates for households on standard variable tariffs. However, all households — including those on fixed deals — should see some savings from April due to the removal of certain policy cost charges from bills.
Watch out for July: Analysts at KPMG and the Resolution Foundation warn that rising global energy prices driven by Middle East tensions could push the July 2026 cap higher — potentially reversing some of April's saving. The current relief may be temporary.
2. Council Tax — Up 4.99% for Most Households ↑
Council Tax ↑ Rising
In London, nearly every borough is raising council tax by the maximum 4.99%. Some councils have been granted permission to exceed this limit due to exceptional financial pressures — Birmingham residents have seen rises exceeding 17% over two years.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland set their own council tax rates independently — your increase may differ.
| Council tax band | Typical 2025/26 | Typical 2026/27 (+4.99%) | Annual increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | £1,520 | £1,596 | +£76 |
| Band B | £1,773 | £1,862 | +£89 |
| Band C | £2,027 | £2,128 | +£101 |
| Band D | £2,280 | £2,394 | +£114 |
| Band E | £2,787 | £2,926 | +£139 |
| Band F | £3,293 | £3,457 | +£164 |
| Band G | £3,800 | £3,990 | +£190 |
| Band H | £4,560 | £4,787 | +£227 |
3. Water Bills — Up 5.4% Average ↑
Water & Sewerage Bills ↑ Rising
The rise is not uniform. Some areas face significantly larger increases:
- United Utilities (North West) — average rise of £57
- Southern Water — average rise of £55, highest typical bill at £759/year
- Hafren Dyfrdwy — average rise of £54
- Severn Trent Water — average rise of £52
- Scotland — average rise of £42 (8.7%), typical bill £532/year
4. Broadband — Mid-Contract Price Rises ↑
Broadband & Mobile Bills ↑ Rising for many
Sky Broadband customers on contracts signed before 2024 that allow CPI-linked rises are among those facing increases. Sky customers facing a price rise also have the right to exit their contract without penalty. If you are out of contract, you have the most power — you can switch to a new provider immediately and typically save money.
5. TV Licence — Up from £174.50 to £180 ↑
BBC TV Licence ↑ Rising
You need a TV licence if you watch live television on any channel, use BBC iPlayer, or watch live TV on any platform or device. You do not need a licence if you only watch on-demand content from non-BBC services such as Netflix, Disney+ or Amazon Prime.
6. Car Tax (VED) — Up from £195 to £200 ↑
Vehicle Excise Duty (Car Tax) ↑ Rising
Cars with a list price above £40,000 must also pay a £440 annual luxury supplement for five years — taking the total to £640. Following the 2025 Autumn Budget, the threshold for electric vehicles was raised to £50,000, reducing the number of EV owners affected by this supplement.
7. National Minimum Wage — Up to £12.71/hr ↓
National Living Wage ↑ Good news for workers
18–20 year olds: Minimum wage rises from £10.00 to £10.85 per hour.
16–17 year olds and apprentices: Rises from £6.40 to £7.55 per hour.
8. Universal Credit — Up 6.2% ↓
Universal Credit ↑ Good news for claimants
- Single under 25: £316.98 → £338.58/month
- Single 25+: £400.14 → £425.44/month
- Couple under 25: £497.55 → £528.34/month
- Couple 25+: £628.10 → £667.44/month
9. Making Tax Digital — Sole Traders Must Act Now ↑
MTD ITSA replaces the annual Self Assessment return with four quarterly digital updates plus a final declaration. Submissions must come directly from HMRC-approved software — manually compiled spreadsheets are not compliant. Non-compliance attracts penalty points under HMRC's new points-based penalty system.
MTD ITSA rollout timeline: April 2026 — £50,000+ earners. April 2027 — £30,000+ earners. April 2028 — £20,000+ earners.
What to Do — April 2026 Action Plan
With so many changes happening simultaneously, here is a prioritised action list for April 2026:
This week (before April 1)
- Check if you are out of your broadband contract — if yes, compare deals and switch to avoid the price rise
- Sole traders earning £50k+ — switch to MTD-compliant software before April 6
- Check council tax bill — verify you are on the right band and receiving any discounts you qualify for
- Don't rush to fix your energy tariff — the price cap has fallen but July may see another change
After April 1
- Water bill — if struggling, contact your water company about social tariffs (up to 40% off)
- TV licence — if aged 75+ receiving Pension Credit, check if you qualify for a free licence
- Car tax — pay annually not monthly to avoid the 5% surcharge
- Universal credit — if not claiming but potentially eligible, use gov.uk benefits calculator
Frequently Asked Questions
Are bills going up or down in April 2026?
It's mixed. Energy bills fall by £117/year from April 1 following the Ofgem price cap reduction to £1,641. However council tax rises up to 4.99%, water bills by 5.4%, TV licence from £174.50 to £180, and car tax from £195 to £200. Many broadband customers are also seeing mid-contract price rises. Most households will find the rises outweigh the energy saving overall.
How much is council tax going up in April 2026?
Most councils in England are applying the maximum 4.99% increase — a 2.99% rise for general services plus a 2% adult social care precept. For a Band D property, this takes the average annual bill from £2,280 to approximately £2,394. Your exact amount depends on your local council and property band.
What is the energy price cap from April 2026?
The Ofgem energy price cap for Q2 2026 (April to June) is £1,641 per year for a typical household — down £117 from £1,758. This applies to standard variable tariff customers. All households should see some saving from April due to government policy cost changes, even those on fixed deals.
What is the minimum wage from April 2026?
The National Living Wage rises to £12.71/hour for workers aged 21+ from April 1, 2026 — up from £12.21. Workers aged 18–20 see their minimum wage rise from £10.00 to £10.85 per hour.
Is universal credit going up in April 2026?
Yes — universal credit standard allowances rise by 6.2% from April 1. Single people under 25 see their allowance rise from £316.98 to £338.58/month. The increase is applied automatically — no action required by claimants.
Summary — April 2026 Bill Changes
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