Darlington Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Darlington is £2,493.83 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£122.23) on last year. That is £102.31 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 198th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band A (43%), so the average bill per home is about £2,073.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, North East · Official England government statistics
Darlington council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,662.55 | £166.26 | £138.55 | £1,246.92 | 23,170 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,939.65 | £193.96 | £161.64 | £1,454.73 | 11,250 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,216.74 | £221.67 | £184.73 | £1,662.55 | 7,900 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,493.83 | £249.38 | £207.82 | £1,870.37 | 6,020 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,048.01 | £304.80 | £254.00 | £2,286.01 | 3,660 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,602.20 | £360.22 | £300.18 | £2,701.65 | 1,430 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,156.38 | £415.64 | £346.37 | £3,117.29 | 700 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,987.66 | £498.77 | £415.64 | £3,740.75 | 50 |
- Darlington
- England average
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Where your Darlington council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Darlington but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,493.83 Band D charge, £2,056.87 (82%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,017.69 | 80.9% | £1,345.13 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £39.18 | 1.6% | £26.12 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £300.74 | 12.1% | £200.49 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £128.12 | 5.1% | £85.41 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £8.10 | 0.3% | £5.40 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,018 80.9%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £39 1.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £301 12.1%
- Fire and rescue authority £128 5.1%
- Parish/town council (average) £8 0.3%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Darlington; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Darlington council tax history
Band D in Darlington has risen from £1,579.21 in 2016/17 to £2,493.83 in 2026/27 — 58% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 25.5%, the 132nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Darlington Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band A |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,493.83 | +5.2% | £1,662.55 |
| 2025/26 | £2,371.60 | +5.0% | £1,581.07 |
| 2024/25 | £2,258.86 | +4.9% | £1,505.91 |
| 2023/24 | £2,152.96 | +5.1% | £1,435.31 |
| 2022/23 | £2,048.31 | +3.1% | £1,365.54 |
| 2021/22 | £1,986.95 | +5.0% | £1,324.63 |
| 2020/21 | £1,891.65 | +4.0% | £1,261.10 |
| 2019/20 | £1,819.69 | +4.1% | £1,213.13 |
| 2018/19 | £1,748.70 | +5.9% | £1,165.80 |
| 2017/18 | £1,651.07 | +4.6% | £1,100.71 |
| 2016/17 | £1,579.21 | – | £1,052.81 |
Homes by council tax band in Darlington
Darlington has 54,180 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 64% are in Bands A or B, so for most households the real bill is well below the Band D figure. The most common band is A, which costs £1,662.55 a year (£166.26 a month over 10 instalments).
Darlington compared with North East
Darlington is the 4th cheapest of 12 councils in North East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,525.66 (£31.83 more than here). Cheapest: Sunderland (£2,197.14); most expensive: Gateshead (£2,715.81).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | £2,197.14 | +5% |
| South Tyneside | £2,434.43 | +5.3% |
| North Tyneside | £2,461.77 | +5.4% |
| Darlington | £2,493.83 | +5.2% |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £2,542.19 | +5.3% |
| Redcar and Cleveland | £2,544.48 | +4.9% |
| Middlesbrough | £2,549.16 | +2.5% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band A bill in Darlington drops from £1,662.55 to £1,246.92.
- Council Tax Reduction: Darlington runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits — rules differ from council to council in England.
- Disregards and exemptions: full-time students, student halls, some carers and people with a severe mental impairment are not counted; all-student homes pay nothing.
- Disabled Band Reduction: if your home has been adapted for a disabled person you may be billed one band lower (Band A homes get a reduction of 1/9 of Band D).
Darlington's 5.2% rise compares with an England average of 4.9%. Councils responsible for social care can raise their own share by up to 4.99% without a referendum, districts by under 3% or £5, and police and fire bodies by fixed cash amounts — so the area total can move by a different percentage.
Darlington town versus its ten parishes
Darlington Borough Council set a Band D charge of £2,485.73 for 2026/27 in the urban area, which has no parish council. It is made up of £2,056.87 for the borough, £300.74 for the Durham Police, Crime and Victims' Commissioner and £128.12 for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue. The borough rose 4.99%, shown as 5.0% on bills. The police precept rose more, 6.55%, and fire 4.06%. The council notes that its own 4.99% is below the 5% referendum threshold that applies to it, so no referendum was needed.
Ten rural parishes add their own precept. High Coniscliffe has the highest Band D, at £2,559.67, which is £73.94 more than in the town. Middleton St George raises the largest parish precept in cash terms, £91,911.
| Area | Parish precept (total) | Band A 2026/27 | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Coniscliffe | £8,000 | £1,706.44 | £2,559.67 |
| Sadberge | £20,195 | £1,700.28 | £2,550.42 |
| Bishopton | £11,400 | £1,699.26 | £2,548.89 |
| Hurworth | £88,000 | £1,692.81 | £2,539.22 |
| Middleton St George | £91,911 | £1,685.76 | £2,528.65 |
| Heighington | £38,036 | £1,679.51 | £2,519.27 |
| Darlington urban area (no parish) | – | £1,657.15 | £2,485.73 |
Council Tax Support and care leavers
The key feature of Darlington's scheme is that working-age residents can get at most 80% off. Pensioners can get up to 100%. Band A is the most common band in Darlington, and the 20% minimum on an urban Band A bill of £1,657.15 is about £331 a year, or £33.14 a month over 10 instalments. If you said on your Universal Credit claim that you want help with council tax, Universal Credit should notify the council and you do not need to fill in Darlington's separate Council Tax Support form. Other claimants apply using the council's own short form.
Care leavers aged 18 to 25 who live in the borough and are named on the bill can apply for a reduction. That runs to a later age than the under-21 cut-off some councils use, such as Buckinghamshire.
Second homes, annexes and missed payments
- Second homes (furnished, nobody's main residence) get no discount, unless you keep one for particular job-related reasons, which can mean 50% off.
- An annexe lived in by a family member, or used by the resident of the main home, can get a 50% discount.
- If you miss an instalment, you have seven days after a reminder to catch up or you lose the right to pay by instalments. After two reminders in a year, the next missed payment makes the whole year's bill due without a further reminder.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Darlington?
£2,493.83 a year in 2026/27, or £249.38 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Darlington?
Band A: 23,170 of 54,180 homes (43%). A Band A bill is £1,662.55 in 2026/27.
How much has Darlington council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,371.60 to £2,493.83 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 58%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Darlington?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,017.69; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £39.18; Police and crime commissioner £300.74; Fire and rescue authority £128.12; Parish/town council (average) £8.10 (Band D, 2026/27).
How do I find my council tax band?
Search your postcode on GOV.UK “Check your Council Tax band”, run by the Valuation Office Agency. You can challenge your band if you think it is wrong.
What is the maximum Council Tax Support in Darlington?
80% for working-age residents. Pensioners can get up to 100%.
Which parish in Darlington has the highest council tax?
High Coniscliffe, at £2,559.67 for Band D in 2026/27. The urban area with no parish pays £2,485.73.
Do care leavers pay council tax in Darlington?
Care leavers aged 18 to 25 living in Darlington and named on the bill can apply for a reduction.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2026-27, Tables 1 to 9 (ODS)
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England 2026 to 2027, Table 10 local authority level data
- MHCLG: Council Tax levels 2025-26 (revised), Table 10 Local Authority Level Data (ODS), used for England % change
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- MHCLG: Band D Council Tax figures 1993 onwards, Table 5 area Band D (live table, 2026-27 revised)
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Darlington Borough Council – Council tax charges 2026/27
- Darlington Borough Council – Council Tax Support
- Darlington Borough Council – Council tax discounts (second homes, annexes, care leavers)
- Darlington Borough Council – Pay your council tax