Dartford Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Dartford is £2,375.15 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£94.60) on last year. That is £16.37 below the England average of £2,391.52 — the 103rd lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (30%), so the average bill per home is about £2,382.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Dartford council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,583.43 | £158.34 | £131.95 | £1,187.58 | 1,750 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,847.34 | £184.73 | £153.94 | £1,385.50 | 6,860 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,111.24 | £211.12 | £175.94 | £1,583.43 | 15,410 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,375.15 | £237.52 | £197.93 | £1,781.36 | 14,840 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,902.96 | £290.30 | £241.91 | £2,177.22 | 8,000 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,430.77 | £343.08 | £285.90 | £2,573.08 | 3,080 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £3,958.58 | £395.86 | £329.88 | £2,968.94 | 1,130 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,750.30 | £475.03 | £395.86 | £3,562.73 | 70 |
- Dartford
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Dartford council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Dartford but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,375.15 Band D charge, £188.64 (8%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county council, police and crime commissioner, fire and rescue authority, parish/town council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £188.64 | 7.9% | £167.68 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 74.0% | £1,563.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 12.0% | £253.47 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.2% | £88.72 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £42.95 | 1.8% | £38.18 |
- District council £189 7.9%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 74.0%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 12.0%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.2%
- Parish/town council (average) £43 1.8%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Dartford; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Dartford council tax history
Band D in Dartford has risen from £1,553.90 in 2016/17 to £2,375.15 in 2026/27 — 53% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.0%, the 259th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Dartford Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,375.15 | +4.1% | £2,111.24 |
| 2025/26 | £2,280.55 | +4.9% | £2,027.16 |
| 2024/25 | £2,174.67 | +4.7% | £1,933.04 |
| 2023/24 | £2,077.98 | +4.7% | £1,847.09 |
| 2022/23 | £1,985.14 | +2.8% | £1,764.57 |
| 2021/22 | £1,930.75 | +4.5% | £1,716.22 |
| 2020/21 | £1,846.85 | +3.8% | £1,641.64 |
| 2019/20 | £1,779.01 | +5.4% | £1,581.34 |
| 2018/19 | £1,688.57 | +4.8% | £1,500.95 |
| 2017/18 | £1,610.57 | +3.6% | £1,431.62 |
| 2016/17 | £1,553.90 | – | £1,381.24 |
Homes by council tax band in Dartford
Dartford has 51,140 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 17% are in Bands A or B, fewer than in most areas — homes here are concentrated in the middle and upper bands. The most common band is C, which costs £2,111.24 a year (£211.12 a month over 10 instalments).
Dartford compared with South East
Dartford is the 15th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£100.30 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Gosport | £2,344.29 | +4.8% |
| Winchester | £2,359.76 | +4.8% |
| Milton Keynes | £2,372.21 | +5.1% |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 | +4.1% |
| Southampton | £2,381.48 | +5.1% |
| Hart | £2,400.02 | +5% |
| Swale | £2,405.65 | +4.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Dartford drops from £2,111.24 to £1,583.43.
- Council Tax Reduction: Dartford 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).
Dartford's 4.1% 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.
Where each pound of Dartford council tax goes
For each pound collected, Dartford Borough Council says Kent County Council receives 75p and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent 12p. Dartford keeps 8.5p, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue gets 3p and town and parish councils 1.5p on average. On the £2,375.15 average Band D bill that is roughly £201.89 for the borough. Dartford publishes separate charges for its parished and unparished areas, because each town or parish council adds its own precept on top.
Empty homes, second homes and annexes in Dartford
Dartford gives no discount on an empty, unfurnished home. The full charge applies from the start. After one year it doubles; before 1 April 2024 that took two years. After five years it is three times the normal charge and after ten years four times. On an average Band C home (£2,111.24) that rises to £8,444.98 a year after a decade empty.
Second homes and furnished rental properties with nobody living in them have paid a 100% levy since 1 April 2025, so £4,750.30 at Band D. This means a landlord whose furnished flat is between tenants is charged as a second home for that period, unless an exception applies.
- An annexe lived in by a dependent relative of the main household (aged 65 or over, disabled or severely mentally impaired) pays nothing.
- An empty annexe that cannot be let separately under planning rules also pays nothing.
- An annexe used as part of the main home, or by a relative who is not a dependant, gets 50% off after any other discounts.
Council Tax Reduction and paying
Dartford's Council Tax Reduction for working-age residents is reduced by a percentage, so it does not cover the full bill. Pension-age claimants are assessed under the government's prescribed rules. The award depends on household income and savings, children, other adults living with you, and any disability or caring role.
Direct debit can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 23rd of the month. Online and automated phone payments made after 5pm take two working days to reach your account.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Dartford?
£2,375.15 a year in 2026/27, or £237.52 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Dartford?
Band C: 15,410 of 51,140 homes (30%). A Band C bill is £2,111.24 in 2026/27.
How much has Dartford council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,280.55 to £2,375.15 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 53%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Dartford?
District council £188.64; County council (incl. adult social care) £1,758.60; Police and crime commissioner £285.15; Fire and rescue authority £99.81; Parish/town council (average) £42.95 (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.
Is there a discount on empty homes in Dartford?
No. Empty, unfurnished homes pay the full charge from the start, and 200% after one year empty.
Does a furnished rental between tenants pay the second homes premium in Dartford?
Dartford's definition of a second home includes furnished rental properties where nobody lives. These have paid a 100% levy since 1 April 2025, unless an exception, such as being actively marketed to let, applies.
What direct debit dates can I choose in Dartford?
The 1st, 8th, 15th or 23rd of the month.
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)
- Dartford Borough Council – Empty properties and second homes
- Dartford Borough Council – What your Council Tax pays for
- Dartford Borough Council – How do I pay
- Dartford Borough Council – How much Council Tax Reduction will I get
- Dartford Borough Council – Council tax bands and charges