Swindon Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Swindon is £2,438.10 for 2026/27, up 5.2% (£120.47) on last year. That is £46.58 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 145th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (27%), so the average bill per home is about £2,222.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Unitary authority, South West · Official England government statistics
Swindon council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,625.40 | £162.54 | £135.45 | £1,219.05 | 15,220 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,896.30 | £189.63 | £158.03 | £1,422.23 | 28,130 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,167.20 | £216.72 | £180.60 | £1,625.40 | 25,400 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,438.10 | £243.81 | £203.17 | £1,828.57 | 18,740 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £2,979.90 | £297.99 | £248.33 | £2,234.93 | 9,730 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,521.70 | £352.17 | £293.47 | £2,641.27 | 4,040 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,063.50 | £406.35 | £338.63 | £3,047.63 | 1,520 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,876.20 | £487.62 | £406.35 | £3,657.15 | 70 |
- Swindon
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Swindon council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Swindon but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,438.10 Band D charge, £1,866.50 (77%) 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 B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Council (incl. earlier adult social care) | £1,830.94 | 75.1% | £1,424.06 |
| Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase | £35.56 | 1.5% | £27.66 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £298.27 | 12.2% | £231.99 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £96.95 | 4.0% | £75.41 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £176.38 | 7.2% | £137.18 |
- Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,831 75.1%
- Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £36 1.5%
- Police and crime commissioner £298 12.2%
- Fire and rescue authority £97 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £176 7.2%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Swindon; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Swindon council tax history
Band D in Swindon has risen from £1,460.09 in 2016/17 to £2,438.10 in 2026/27 — 67% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 26.9%, the 67th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Swindon Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,438.10 | +5.2% | £1,896.30 |
| 2025/26 | £2,317.63 | +5.4% | £1,802.60 |
| 2024/25 | £2,198.04 | +5.4% | £1,709.59 |
| 2023/24 | £2,086.20 | +5.3% | £1,622.60 |
| 2022/23 | £1,981.87 | +3.1% | £1,541.45 |
| 2021/22 | £1,921.79 | +5.1% | £1,494.73 |
| 2020/21 | £1,827.99 | +4.2% | £1,421.77 |
| 2019/20 | £1,755.15 | +4.9% | £1,365.12 |
| 2018/19 | £1,672.41 | +5.1% | £1,300.76 |
| 2017/18 | £1,591.35 | +9.0% | £1,237.72 |
| 2016/17 | £1,460.09 | – | £1,135.63 |
Homes by council tax band in Swindon
Swindon has 102,850 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 42% are in Bands A or B. The most common band is B, which costs £1,896.30 a year (£189.63 a month over 10 instalments).
Swindon compared with South West
Swindon is the 8th cheapest of 27 councils in South West, where the average Band D across councils is £2,511.40 (£73.30 more than here). Cheapest: Isles of Scilly (£2,047.96); most expensive: Dorset (£2,765.02).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Bath and North East Somerset | £2,383.42 | +5.2% |
| Cotswold | £2,391.65 | +5% |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | £2,435.58 | +7.5% |
| Swindon | £2,438.10 | +5.2% |
| Plymouth | £2,441.85 | +5% |
| Forest of Dean | £2,443.42 | +5% |
| Torbay | £2,470.25 | +5.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Swindon drops from £1,896.30 to £1,422.23.
- Council Tax Reduction: Swindon 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).
Swindon'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.
Where Swindon Borough Council's share goes
Swindon Borough Council raised its share by 4.99% for 2026/27, including 2% for adult social care. Its Band D share is £1,866.50, up £88.72. The council says this is mainly because of rising demand for adult and children’s social care. It plans more than £413 million of day-to-day spending, excluding the dedicated schools grant, and over £65 million of capital investment.
| Service | Share of the £1,866.50 Band D |
|---|---|
| Adult services | £772.63 |
| Children's services | £704.26 |
| Borrowing costs | £150.00 |
| Waste and recycling | £118.47 |
| Prevention and communities (incl. housing, libraries, public health) | £51.34 |
| Other services, support and levies | £36.95 |
| Highways and transport | £32.85 |
Parish charges and care leavers
The whole of Swindon is now parished, with 20 town and parish councils. Central Swindon is split into Central Swindon North and Central Swindon South, alongside Haydon Wick, Stratton St Margaret, Wroughton, Highworth and others. That is why the average parish precept is a high £176.38 at Band D. Your own figure depends on your parish. Parishes set their budgets independently: for 2026/27 the average Band D parish charge rose 7.1%, with individual changes ranging from a 1% cut to a 25% rise.
From 2026/27 Swindon gives more help to its care leavers, wherever they live for work or study: 100% off until their 21st birthday, 75% from 21 to 22 and 50% from 23 to 24.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Swindon?
£2,438.10 a year in 2026/27, or £243.81 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Swindon?
Band B: 28,130 of 102,850 homes (27%). A Band B bill is £1,896.30 in 2026/27.
How much has Swindon council tax gone up?
5.2% this year, from £2,317.63 to £2,438.10 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 67%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Swindon?
Council (incl. earlier adult social care) £1,830.94; Adult social care precept: 2026/27 increase £35.56; Police and crime commissioner £298.27; Fire and rescue authority £96.95; Parish/town council (average) £176.38 (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.
How much did Swindon council tax go up in 2026/27?
Swindon Borough Council’s share rose 4.99%, including 2% for adult social care, to £1,866.50 at Band D. That is an increase of £88.72.
Do care leavers pay council tax in Swindon?
Swindon care leavers get 100% off until 21, 75% from 21 to 22 and 50% from 23 to 24, from 2026/27.
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)
- Swindon Borough Council – Your Council Tax explained 2026/27
- Swindon Borough Council – Council Tax discounts and reductions