Thanet Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Thanet is £2,490.90 for 2026/27, up 4.2% (£99.67) on last year. That is £99.38 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 194th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band B (29%), so the average bill per home is about £2,146.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Thanet council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,660.60 | £166.06 | £138.38 | £1,245.45 | 16,480 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,937.37 | £193.74 | £161.45 | £1,453.03 | 20,450 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,214.13 | £221.41 | £184.51 | £1,660.60 | 18,570 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,490.90 | £249.09 | £207.58 | £1,868.18 | 8,390 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,044.43 | £304.44 | £253.70 | £2,283.33 | 4,270 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,597.97 | £359.80 | £299.83 | £2,698.48 | 1,700 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,151.50 | £415.15 | £345.96 | £3,113.63 | 850 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,981.80 | £498.18 | £415.15 | £3,736.35 | 40 |
- Thanet
- England average
Your result is ready
Where your Thanet council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Thanet but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,490.90 Band D charge, £279.15 (11%) 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 B |
|---|---|---|---|
| District council | £279.15 | 11.2% | £217.12 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 70.6% | £1,367.80 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 11.4% | £221.78 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.0% | £77.63 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £68.19 | 2.7% | £53.04 |
- District council £279 11.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 70.6%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.4%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £68 2.7%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Thanet; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Thanet council tax history
Band D in Thanet has risen from £1,600.79 in 2016/17 to £2,490.90 in 2026/27 — 56% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 24.0%, the 202nd biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Thanet Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band B |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,490.90 | +4.2% | £1,937.37 |
| 2025/26 | £2,391.23 | +5.0% | £1,859.85 |
| 2024/25 | £2,276.45 | +4.8% | £1,770.57 |
| 2023/24 | £2,173.17 | +5.0% | £1,690.24 |
| 2022/23 | £2,070.35 | +3.0% | £1,610.27 |
| 2021/22 | £2,009.54 | +4.6% | £1,562.98 |
| 2020/21 | £1,920.50 | +4.1% | £1,493.72 |
| 2019/20 | £1,845.72 | +5.5% | £1,435.56 |
| 2018/19 | £1,749.24 | +5.2% | £1,360.52 |
| 2017/18 | £1,662.07 | +3.8% | £1,292.72 |
| 2016/17 | £1,600.79 | – | £1,245.06 |
Homes by council tax band in Thanet
Thanet has 70,750 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 52% 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 B, which costs £1,937.37 a year (£193.74 a month over 10 instalments).
Thanet compared with South East
Thanet is the 33rd cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£15.45 less than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Tonbridge and Malling | £2,471.83 | +4.1% |
| Mid Sussex | £2,474.26 | +5% |
| Arun | £2,487.24 | +4.9% |
| Thanet | £2,490.90 | +4.2% |
| Runnymede | £2,492.99 | +4.7% |
| Wokingham | £2,497.70 | +5.1% |
| Maidstone | £2,502.59 | +4.1% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band B bill in Thanet drops from £1,937.37 to £1,453.03.
- Council Tax Reduction: Thanet 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).
Thanet's 4.2% 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.
Thanet's new Council Tax Support scheme from April 2026
After a public consultation, Thanet District Council replaced its working-age Council Tax Support with an income-banded scheme from April 2026. There are four award bands, worth 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% off. Your band depends on household type and weekly income. People on Universal Credit who are not working go straight into Band 1 (100%), and the council says this covers most of its working-age claimants. People on income-related ESA also get Band 1, and their capital is ignored.
There is a limit: support is worked out as if your home were in Band D. A claimant in a Band E home with a 100% award would still pay the difference between the Band E and Band D bills, which is £553.53 in 2026/27.
- The savings limit rose from £6,000 to £10,000 in April 2026.
- There is a flat deduction of £10 a week for each non-dependant (or non-dependant couple) living with you, unless you or your partner get a qualifying disability benefit.
- Childcare costs can be ignored from earnings, up to £175 a week for one child or £300 for two or more.
- Kent County Council care leavers aged 21 to 24 who would fall into the 75%, 50% or 25% band get the 100% award instead.
| Award | Single | Couple | Family, 1 child | Family, 2+ children |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | £0 to £109 | £0 to £164 | £0 to £246 | £0 to £327 |
| 75% | £109.01 to £184 | £164.01 to £239 | £246.01 to £321 | £327.01 to £402 |
| 50% | £184.01 to £259 | £239.01 to £314 | £321.01 to £396 | £402.01 to £477 |
| 25% | £259.01 to £334 | £314.01 to £389 | £396.01 to £471 | £477.01 to £552 |
Second homes and empty homes in Thanet
Thanet brought in its second homes premium on 1 April 2026. A furnished home that is nobody's main residence now pays 200%. For a Band B home, the most common band here (20,450 homes), that is £3,874.73 a year. Empty and substantially unfurnished homes pay a 100% premium after one year, 200% after five years and 300% after ten.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Thanet?
£2,490.90 a year in 2026/27, or £249.09 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Thanet?
Band B: 20,450 of 70,750 homes (29%). A Band B bill is £1,937.37 in 2026/27.
How much has Thanet council tax gone up?
4.2% this year, from £2,391.23 to £2,490.90 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 56%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Thanet?
District council £279.15; 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) £68.19 (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 savings limit for Council Tax Support in Thanet?
£10,000 for working-age claimants from April 2026, up from £6,000. Pension-age claimants have a £16,000 limit unless they get Guarantee Pension Credit.
Does Thanet charge double council tax on second homes?
Yes, from 1 April 2026. Furnished homes with no permanent resident pay 200% of the normal charge.
Can I get 100% Council Tax Support in Thanet?
Yes, if you are in Band 1. That includes working-age people on Universal Credit who are not working, and people on income-related ESA. Support is capped at the Band D charge.
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)
- Thanet District Council – Council Tax Support
- Thanet District Council – Your Council Tax bill explained
- Thanet District Council – Pay your Council Tax