Local councils collected £36.5bn in Council Tax over the last financial year, almost £2bn more than the previous year, according to research by finance specialist RIFT.
Hackney saw the biggest year-on-year increase in the total paid (+52%), while residents in Buckinghamshire paid the most overall, with a total of £476.9m.
RIFT analysed Government data on Council Tax receipts collected across England since the start of the Millennium.
During the last financial year (2002-23), local councils across England collected £36.5bn.
This marked a 5.6% increase on the previous year, meaning almost £2bn more was collected versus 2021-22.
The total sum of Council Tax collected has increased every year, up from £12.2bn in 2000-01.
Birmingham (£449.8m), Leeds (£433.9m), Cornwall (£428.2m) and Wiltshire (£401.8m) made up the rest of the top five in terms of total amount paid.
For year-on-year increases, Hackney was followed by Durham (+11%), Tendring (+11%), Tandridge (+11%) and Fareham (+10%).
Bradley Post, MD of RIFT, said: “You may have come accustomed to an annual hike in your council tax bill, but you might be surprised to learn that total receipts collected from council tax have increased every single year this Millennium.
“Paying our way is just part and parcel of life when it comes to taxes and council tax is unfortunately no different.
“However, many households may feel slightly aggrieved at the increasing cost of council tax in the current climate as they struggle with the high cost of living.
“Especially if the local roads are still rife with potholes and their bin collection is intermittent, to say the least.”
