Swansea Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Swansea is £2,238.29 for 2026/27, up 4.5% (£95.41) on last year. That is £44.79 below the Wales average of £2,283.08 — the 7th lowest of 22 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (25%), so the average bill per home is about £2,160.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Welsh principal council · Official Wales government statistics
Swansea council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (2003) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £44,000 | £1,492.19 | £149.22 | £124.35 | £1,119.15 | 17,800 |
| B | £44,001 to £65,000 | £1,740.89 | £174.09 | £145.07 | £1,305.67 | 29,230 |
| C | £65,001 to £91,000 | £1,989.59 | £198.96 | £165.80 | £1,492.19 | 25,200 |
| D | £91,001 to £123,000 | £2,238.29 | £223.83 | £186.52 | £1,678.72 | 17,440 |
| E | £123,001 to £162,000 | £2,735.69 | £273.57 | £227.97 | £2,051.77 | 13,290 |
| F | £162,001 to £223,000 | £3,233.09 | £323.31 | £269.42 | £2,424.81 | 8,210 |
| G | £223,001 to £324,000 | £3,730.48 | £373.05 | £310.87 | £2,797.86 | 3,910 |
| H | £324,001 to £424,000 | £4,476.58 | £447.66 | £373.05 | £3,357.44 | 1,210 |
| I | More than £424,000 | £5,222.68 | £522.27 | £435.22 | £3,917.01 | 550 |
- Swansea
- Wales average
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Where your Swansea council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Swansea but shared between 3 bodies. Of the £2,238.29 Band D charge, £1,807.38 (81%) stays with the council itself; the rest pays for county/county borough council, police and crime commissioner, community council.
| Body | Band D | Share | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| County/county borough council | £1,807.38 | 80.7% | £1,405.74 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £405.14 | 18.1% | £315.11 |
| Community council (average) | £25.77 | 1.2% | £20.04 |
- County/county borough council £1,807 80.7%
- Police and crime commissioner £405 18.1%
- Community council (average) £26 1.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Swansea; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Swansea council tax history
Band D in Swansea has risen from £1,394.60 in 2016/17 to £2,238.29 in 2026/27 — 60% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 27.6%, the 17th biggest increase of 22 councils in Wales.
- Swansea Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,238.29 | +4.5% | £1,740.89 |
| 2025/26 | £2,142.88 | +6.2% | £1,666.68 |
| 2024/25 | £2,018.14 | +6.6% | £1,569.66 |
| 2023/24 | £1,893.55 | +6.2% | £1,472.76 |
| 2022/23 | £1,782.44 | +1.6% | £1,386.34 |
| 2021/22 | £1,753.52 | +3.4% | £1,363.85 |
| 2020/21 | £1,696.25 | +4.8% | £1,319.31 |
| 2019/20 | £1,618.47 | +6.6% | £1,258.81 |
| 2018/19 | £1,517.75 | +5.6% | £1,180.47 |
| 2017/18 | £1,437.27 | +3.1% | £1,117.88 |
| 2016/17 | £1,394.60 | – | £1,084.69 |
Homes by council tax band in Swansea
Swansea has 116,840 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 40% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,740.89 a year (£174.09 a month over 10 instalments).
Swansea compared with Wales
Swansea is the 7th cheapest of 22 councils in Wales, where the average Band D across councils is £2,326.14 (£87.85 more than here). Cheapest: Cardiff (£2,013.18); most expensive: Merthyr Tydfil (£2,593.60).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Torfaen | £2,155.68 | +4.7% |
| Pembrokeshire | £2,166.15 | +5.2% |
| Vale of Glamorgan | £2,231.54 | +6.6% |
| Swansea | £2,238.29 | +4.5% |
| Isle of Anglesey | £2,260.73 | +5.4% |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | £2,289.43 | +4.5% |
| Wrexham | £2,308.88 | +5.3% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Swansea drops from £1,740.89 to £1,305.67.
- Council Tax Reduction: Swansea runs its own scheme for people on low incomes or benefits under the national Welsh scheme.
- 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).
Swansea's 4.5% rise compares with a Wales average of 5.2%. Welsh councils have no referendum cap; rises are set locally each February.
Swansea's 100% premium on empty and second homes
Swansea charges a flat 100% premium on long-term empty homes (since 1 April 2020) and second homes (since 1 April 2021). The bill doubles to about £4,476.58 at the average Band D. Unlike councils that raise the rate over time, Swansea's premium stays the same however long a home is empty. The Welsh Government's 2026/27 returns show 2,014 chargeable empty homes in Swansea, the most of any Welsh council, and 1,831 second homes.
To be excepted as "for let", a home must be offered on a tenancy of at least 6 months. Holiday and Airbnb-style lets do not count. Welsh Government changed the rules on which self-catering properties pay business rates instead of council tax from 1 April 2026, so owners of holiday lets should check how their property is now assessed.
Paying council tax in Swansea
Direct Debit can be taken on the 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd. You can also pay by bank transfer to the council's Lloyds account, by phone on 0300 4562765, or in person at the council's cash office or local area housing offices. American Express is not accepted. Self-catering lets that move onto council tax and are furnished but nobody's main home are treated as second homes, so the 100% premium applies unless an exception such as a planning restriction on year-round occupation (Class 6) covers them.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Swansea?
£2,238.29 a year in 2026/27, or £223.83 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Swansea?
Band B: 29,230 of 116,840 homes (25%). A Band B bill is £1,740.89 in 2026/27.
How much has Swansea council tax gone up?
4.5% this year, from £2,142.88 to £2,238.29 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 60%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Swansea?
County/county borough council £1,807.38; Police and crime commissioner £405.14; Community council (average) £25.77 (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 Swansea charge a council tax premium on second homes?
Yes, 100% since April 2021. A second home pays about £4,476.58 at the average Band D.
Which Direct Debit dates does Swansea Council offer?
The 1st, 8th, 15th or 22nd of the month.
Sources
Figures are taken from official government publications and were last reviewed on 2026-10-03.
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels April 2026 to March 2027
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels 2026-27 data tables (XLSX)
- VOA / GOV.UK: Understand how Council Tax bands are assessed
- GOV.UK: Council Tax – who has to pay (single person discount)
- Welsh Government: Council Tax reform
- VOA: Council Tax stock of properties 2026, Table CTSOP1.0 (properties by band at 31 March 2026, England and Wales)
- Welsh Government / StatsWales: Composition of average band D council tax by billing authority
- Welsh Government: Council tax levels, April 2026 to March 2027
- Swansea Council – Council Tax premiums for empty properties and second homes
- Swansea Council – Pay your Council Tax
- Welsh Government: Council Tax dwellings, April 2026 to March 2027