North East | England | Unitary authority
Council Tax Bands in Darlington 2026/27
Band D 2026/27
£2,493.83
+£122.23 (+5.2%) vs 2025/26
Full band A to H council tax rates for Darlington from 1 April 2026.
Quick answer
Council tax bands in Darlington for 2026/27 run from £1,662.55 (Band A) to £4,987.66 (Band H), with the Band D reference rate set at £2,493.83 (up 5.2% on 2025/26). All eight bands (A to H) are fixed fractions of Band D; the full rate table with monthly figures is below.
Band A to H Rate Table - Darlington 2026/27
| Band | Annual rate | Monthly (10 mths) |
|---|---|---|
| ABand A | £1,662.55 | £166.26 |
| BBand B | £1,939.65 | £193.97 |
| CBand C | £2,216.74 | £221.67 |
| DBand D | £2,493.83 | £249.38 |
| EBand E | £3,048.01 | £304.80 |
| FBand F | £3,602.20 | £360.22 |
| GBand G | £4,156.38 | £415.64 |
| HBand H | £4,987.66 | £498.77 |
Source: Council Tax levels set by local authorities in England: 2026 to 2027, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (Accredited official statistics). Table 9 (area council tax by band) and Table 10 (local authority level data). Snapshot: 2026-27 tables, published 25 March 2026. Published under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Monthly figures are the annual rate divided over the standard 10-instalment plan and the 12-month direct debit option.
What Makes Up the £2,493.83 Bill
A Band D bill in Darlington is not one charge. It is 3 separate charges set by 3 different bodies and collected together. The largest is Darlington at £2,064.97, which is 83% of the total. Of the billing authority's own share, £39.18 is the adult social care precept added for 2026/27 (2% of last year's Band D).
| Charged by | Band D element | Share of bill |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington | £2,064.97 | 82.8% |
| Durham PCC | £300.74 | 12.1% |
| Durham Fire | £128.12 | 5.1% |
| Total Band D | £2,493.83 | 100% |
Registry Record for Darlington
ONS code
E06000005
MHCLG E-code
E1301
Authority type
Unitary authority
Tax base 2026/27
36,142
Assumed collection rate
99.00%
Parishes in area
24
Parishes setting a precept
10
Band D rank in England
Registry snapshot
25 March 2026
Darlington is a unitary authority in the North East. Its 2026/27 tax base for setting council tax is 36,142 Band D equivalent dwellings, calculated on an assumed collection rate of 99.00%. 10 of the 24 parish or town councils in the area set their own precept for 2026/27, so households in those parishes pay slightly more than the area figures shown here. Its Band D rate is 99th highest of 296 in England, so see how Darlington compares with the cheapest and most expensive councils in the UK or the rest of the North East.
Year-on-Year Change
Band D 2025/26
£2,371.60
Band D 2026/27
£2,493.83
Annual increase
+£122.23 (+5.2%)
Darlington's Band D rate increased by £122.23 (5.2%) in 2026/27 compared with the previous year. The total bill is above 5%, but for most councils that reflects the separately-capped police, fire and (where relevant) mayoral or Greater London Authority precepts added on top of the billing authority's own increase, which is itself limited to 5% before a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept). A small number of councils in financial difficulty were also granted a higher bespoke limit.
Darlington Against the Rest of the North East
Across the 12 billing authorities in the North East, Band D for 2026/27 runs from Sunderland at £2,197.14 to Gateshead at £2,715.81, a spread of £518.67. The regional mean is £2,525.66, so Darlington sits £31.83 below it. See the full North East table.
Closest North East authorities by Band D
| Council | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| North Tyneside | £2,461.77 |
| Newcastle upon Tyne | £2,542.19 |
| Redcar and Cleveland | £2,544.48 |
| Middlesbrough | £2,549.16 |
| South Tyneside | £2,434.43 |
| Hartlepool | £2,560.20 |
How Band Rates Are Worked Out in Darlington
Like every billing authority, Darlington sets a single Band D rate each year. All other bands are then calculated as fixed fractions of that rate, set nationally by central government. The fractions are expressed in ninths:
| Band | Fraction of Band D | Calculation | 2026/27 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Band A | 6/9 | £2,493.83 x 6/9 | £1,662.55 |
| Band B | 7/9 | £2,493.83 x 7/9 | £1,939.65 |
| Band C | 8/9 | £2,493.83 x 8/9 | £2,216.74 |
| Band D | 9/9 | Baseline rate | £2,493.83 |
| Band E | 11/9 | £2,493.83 x 11/9 | £3,048.01 |
| Band F | 13/9 | £2,493.83 x 13/9 | £3,602.20 |
| Band G | 15/9 | £2,493.83 x 15/9 | £4,156.38 |
| Band H | 18/9 | £2,493.83 x 18/9 | £4,987.66 |
Contact Darlington Borough Council
For billing enquiries, payment arrangements, discounts, or to report a change in your circumstances, contact Darlington Borough Council directly.
Darlington Borough Council council tax pageArea Band D incl. police and fire precepts, per GOV.UK Table 9 (2026-27 release, MHCLG, 25 Mar 2026). Some parished areas add a small precept on top.
Related Guides
Darlington Council Tax: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Band D council tax in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band A in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band B in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band C in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band E in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band F in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band G in Darlington for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band H in Darlington for 2026/27?
What are all eight council tax bands in Darlington?
How much did council tax rise in Darlington this year?
Where does council tax in Darlington actually go?
Is council tax in Darlington higher or lower than the rest of the North East?
When do I pay council tax to Darlington Borough Council?
What discounts are available on council tax in Darlington?
How do I check my council tax band in Darlington?
Figures are the 2026/27 tax year, in force from 1 April 2026, as published by MHCLG on 25 March 2026. The 2027/28 tables are due in spring 2027.