Tonbridge and Malling Council Tax 2026/27
Band D council tax in Tonbridge and Malling is £2,471.83 for 2026/27, up 4.1% (£97.06) on last year. That is £80.31 above the England average of £2,391.52 — the 180th lowest of 296 councils. Most homes here are in Band C (28%), so the average bill per home is about £2,698.
Updated 2026-10-03 · Shire district, South East · Official England government statistics
Tonbridge and Malling council tax bands 2026/27
| Band | Property value (1991) | Annual | 10 instalments | 12 instalments | Living alone (−25%) | Homes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Up to £40,000 | £1,647.89 | £164.79 | £137.32 | £1,235.92 | 1,750 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | £1,922.53 | £192.25 | £160.21 | £1,441.90 | 4,130 |
| C | £52,001 to £68,000 | £2,197.18 | £219.72 | £183.10 | £1,647.89 | 16,430 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | £2,471.83 | £247.18 | £205.99 | £1,853.87 | 14,860 |
| E | £88,001 to £120,000 | £3,021.13 | £302.11 | £251.76 | £2,265.84 | 9,840 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | £3,570.42 | £357.04 | £297.54 | £2,677.82 | 5,650 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | £4,119.72 | £411.97 | £343.31 | £3,089.79 | 5,220 |
| H | More than £320,000 | £4,943.66 | £494.37 | £411.97 | £3,707.75 | 480 |
- Tonbridge and Malling
- England average
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Where your Tonbridge and Malling council tax goes
Your bill is collected by Tonbridge and Malling but shared between 5 bodies. Of the £2,471.83 Band D charge, £252.65 (10%) 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 | £252.65 | 10.2% | £224.58 |
| County council (incl. adult social care) | £1,758.60 | 71.1% | £1,563.20 |
| Police and crime commissioner | £285.15 | 11.5% | £253.47 |
| Fire and rescue authority | £99.81 | 4.0% | £88.72 |
| Parish/town council (average) | £75.62 | 3.1% | £67.22 |
- District council £253 10.2%
- County council (incl. adult social care) £1,759 71.1%
- Police and crime commissioner £285 11.5%
- Fire and rescue authority £100 4.0%
- Parish/town council (average) £76 3.1%
The parish or community council figure is an average across Tonbridge and Malling; your own bill is higher or lower depending on which parish you live in, and is shown on your bill.
Tonbridge and Malling council tax history
Band D in Tonbridge and Malling has risen from £1,597.03 in 2016/17 to £2,471.83 in 2026/27 — 55% in 10 years. Over the last five years it rose 23.5%, the 229th biggest increase of 296 councils in England.
- Tonbridge and Malling Band D
| Year | Band D | Change | Band C |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £2,471.83 | +4.1% | £2,197.18 |
| 2025/26 | £2,374.77 | +4.8% | £2,110.91 |
| 2024/25 | £2,266.15 | +4.6% | £2,014.36 |
| 2023/24 | £2,166.71 | +5.0% | £1,925.96 |
| 2022/23 | £2,064.28 | +3.1% | £1,834.92 |
| 2021/22 | £2,001.99 | +4.9% | £1,779.55 |
| 2020/21 | £1,909.14 | +3.9% | £1,697.01 |
| 2019/20 | £1,837.35 | +5.5% | £1,633.20 |
| 2018/19 | £1,741.44 | +4.8% | £1,547.95 |
| 2017/18 | £1,661.36 | +4.0% | £1,476.76 |
| 2016/17 | £1,597.03 | – | £1,419.58 |
Homes by council tax band in Tonbridge and Malling
Tonbridge and Malling has 58,360 homes on the valuation list (31 March 2026). 10% 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 £2,197.18 a year (£219.72 a month over 10 instalments).
Tonbridge and Malling compared with South East
Tonbridge and Malling is the 30th cheapest of 64 councils in South East, where the average Band D across councils is £2,475.45 (£3.62 more than here). Cheapest: Windsor and Maidenhead (£1,952.62); most expensive: Lewes (£2,756.17).
| Council | Band D 2026/27 | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Worthing | £2,456.13 | +4.8% |
| Dover | £2,461.74 | +4.1% |
| Chichester | £2,469.68 | +5.3% |
| 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% |
Discounts and reductions
- Living alone: 25% off — a Band C bill in Tonbridge and Malling drops from £2,197.18 to £1,647.89.
- Council Tax Reduction: Tonbridge and Malling 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).
Tonbridge and Malling'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.
Second homes and empty homes in Tonbridge and Malling
There is no discount for second homes in Tonbridge and Malling. Since 1 April 2025 a 100% premium has applied, so a Band C second home (the borough's most common band, 16,430 homes) pays £4,394.36 in 2026/27. Seasonal homes that cannot be lived in all year round are excepted.
Empty homes pay the full charge from the start. A 100% premium applies once a home has been empty for more than one year (two years before 1 April 2024), 200% after five years and 300% after ten. A home needing or undergoing major repairs or structural alterations can be excepted for up to 12 months from when it first needed the work. You apply for an exception using the council's online form.
Paying and getting help
- Direct Debits can be taken on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th of the month. To set one up, register for an online account.
- Council Tax Reduction is for people on a low income with under £16,000 in savings. The borough publishes its scheme for 2026 alongside the application form.
- Second Adult Rebate is only for people of State Pension age who share their home with someone on a low income.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Band D council tax in Tonbridge and Malling?
£2,471.83 a year in 2026/27, or £247.18 a month over 10 instalments. This includes police, fire and average parish precepts.
What council tax band are most homes in Tonbridge and Malling?
Band C: 16,430 of 58,360 homes (28%). A Band C bill is £2,197.18 in 2026/27.
How much has Tonbridge and Malling council tax gone up?
4.1% this year, from £2,374.77 to £2,471.83 at Band D. Since 2016/17 it has risen 55%.
Who gets the council tax I pay in Tonbridge and Malling?
District council £252.65; 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) £75.62 (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 Tonbridge and Malling charge a second homes premium?
Yes. Since 1 April 2025 second homes pay 200%. On a Band D home that is £4,943.66 in 2026/27.
What direct debit dates does Tonbridge and Malling offer?
The 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th or 25th 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)
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council – Second homes and empty properties
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council – Apply for council tax reduction
- Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council – Pay your council tax