Dorset Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Dorset is £2,765.02 for 2026/27, up 5.1% (£134.72) on last year. That is £373.50 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 296th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (23%), so the average bill per home is about £2,779.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Dorset council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,843.35 | £184.33 | £153.61 | £1,382.51 | 20,930 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £2,150.57 | £215.06 | £179.21 | £1,612.93 | 32,080 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,457.80 | £245.78 | £204.82 | £1,843.35 | 43,780 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,765.02 | £276.50 | £230.42 | £2,073.77 | 37,780 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,379.47 | £337.95 | £281.62 | £2,534.60 | 29,100 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,993.92 | £399.39 | £332.83 | £2,995.44 | 16,250 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,608.37 | £460.84 | £384.03 | £3,456.28 | 8,250 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £5,530.04 | £553.00 | £460.84 | £4,147.53 | 740 |
- Dorset
- England average
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Where your Dorset council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Dorset but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,765.02 Band D charge, £2,205.90 (80%) 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 C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £2,164.05 | 78.3% | £1,923.60 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £41.85 | 1.5% | £37.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £322.58 | 11.7% | £286.74 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £96.95 | 3.5% | £86.18 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £139.59 | 5.0% | £124.08 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,164 78.3%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £42 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £323 11.7%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 3.5%
- Parish/town council (average) £140 5.0%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Dorset; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Dorset council tax history
Band D in Dorset has risen from £2,037.59 in 2019/20 to £2,765.02 in 2026/27 — 36% in 7 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.4%, the 180th biggest increase of 296 councils in England. Dorset was created in 2019, so earlier figures are for its predecessor councils and not shown.
- Dorset Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,765.02 | +5.1% | £2,457.80 |
| 2025/26 | £2,630.30 | +5.1% | £2,338.04 |
| 2024/25 | £2,503.63 | +4.9% | £2,225.45 |
| 2023/24 | £2,387.81 | +4.3% | £2,122.50 |
| 2022/23 | £2,290.20 | +3.0% | £2,035.73 |
| 2021/22 | £2,223.01 | +4.9% | £1,976.01 |
| 2020/21 | £2,118.86 | +4.0% | £1,883.43 |
| 2019/20 | £2,037.59 | – | £1,811.19 |
Homes by council tax band in Dorset
Dorset has 188,910 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 28% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is C, which costs £2,457.80 a year (£245.78 a month over 10 instalments).
Dorset compared with South West
Dorset is the 27th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£253.62 less than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Mid Devon | £2,656.41 | +5.4% |
| West Devon | £2,705.33 | +5.1% |
| Bristol | £2,713.68 | +5% |
| Dorset | £2,765.02 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Dorset drops from £2,457.80 to £1,843.35.
- Council Tax Reduction: Dorset 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).
Dorset's 5.1% 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.
Second homes in Dorset: double council tax and a hardship route
Dorset has charged a 100% premium on second homes since 1 April 2025, so a furnished home that is nobody's main residence pays twice the normal charge. At the area-average Band D that is £5,530.04 a year, and a Band F home pays £7,987.84. Before April 2025 second homes paid the standard 100%, with no discount.
Exceptions must be backed by evidence, and the council will not process a claim without it. For a home on the market you need proof it is clearly advertised, a letter from the agent or solicitor confirming a fair market price, and a copy of the EPC. The sale exception lasts up to 12 months and can only be used once by the same owner. If the premium causes exceptional financial hardship, Dorset will consider a discretionary reduction under Section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. You have to request an application form by email.
Empty homes in Dorset
- An unoccupied, substantially unfurnished home can get 100% off for up to one month.
- A home needing structural work can get 50% off for up to 12 months, and you can apply up to six months after the work finishes if it has stayed empty. New kitchens, bathrooms, rewiring and redecoration do not count as structural.
- Long-term empty premium: double after one year empty (since 1 April 2024; previously two years), 300% after 5 years and 400% after 10 years. A Band D home empty for over a decade pays £11,060.08.
Dorset's banded Council Tax Support
Since 1 April 2024 Dorset has used an income-banded scheme for working-age residents. Your net weekly income (after tax, National Insurance and half of any pension contributions) sets a fixed discount of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% or 20%, so support stays steady from month to month. The savings limit is £6,000, unless you get Income Support, income-based JSA or income-related ESA. Universal Credit claimants must still apply separately for Council Tax Support. The 2026/27 bands are:
- Example: a couple with one child on £240 a week net gets 60% off. On a Band C home at the area average (£2,457.80), that leaves about £983.12 to pay.
- Before your band is worked out, £20 a week of household earnings is ignored, plus a further £50 a week if someone in the household gets certain disability benefits. Support is capped at a Band E charge for your parish, and £5 a week is deducted for each other adult not in full-time education. You must report changes within 21 days.
- Direct debit can be taken on the 1st or 16th of the month, and you can ask to spread the bill over 12 monthly payments.
| Discount | Single person | Couple | Family, 1 child | Family, 2 children | Family, 3+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0–£98 | £0–£154 | £0–£180 | £0–£249 | £0–£318 |
| 80% | £98.01–£135 | £154.01–£196 | £180.01–£222 | £249.01–£291 | £318.01–£359 |
| 60% | £135.01–£171 | £196.01–£238 | £222.01–£265 | £291.01–£333 | £359.01–£402 |
| 40% | £171.01–£209 | £238.01–£280 | £265.01–£306 | £333.01–£376 | £402.01–£444 |
| 20% | £209.01–£245 | £280.01–£323 | £306.01–£349 | £376.01–£417 | £444.01–£486 |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Dorset?
£2,765.02 a year in 2026/27, or £276.50 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Dorset?
Band C: 43,780 of 188,910 homes (23%). A Band C bill is £2,457.80 in 2026/27.
How much has Dorset council tax gone up?
5.1% this year, from £2,630.30 to £2,765.02 at Band D. Since 2019/20 it has risen 36%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Dorset?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £2,164.05; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £41.85; Police and crime commissioner £322.58; Fire and rescue authority £96.95; Parish/town council (average) £139.59 (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.
Does Dorset charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 second homes pay a 100% premium, which is £5,530.04 at the average Band D in 2026/27. You can apply for a Section 13A hardship reduction if the premium causes exceptional hardship.
How much Council Tax Support can I get in Dorset?
Working-age households in the lowest income band get 100% off, for example a single person on up to £98 a week net. Higher bands get 80%, 60%, 40% or 20%. The savings limit is £6,000.
What direct debit dates does Dorset Council offer?
The 1st or 16th 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)
- Dorset Council – Council Tax on second homes
- Dorset Council – Council Tax discount for empty properties and annexes
- Dorset Council – Council Tax Support for working age people (2026/27 income bands)
- Dorset Council – Pay your Council Tax