South East | England | Shire district
Council Tax Bands in Swale 2026/27
Band D 2026/27
£2,405.65
+£99.93 (+4.3%) vs 2025/26
Full band A to H council tax rates for Swale from 1 April 2026.
Quick answer
Council tax bands in Swale for 2026/27 run from £1,603.77 (Band A) to £4,811.30 (Band H), with the Band D reference rate set at £2,405.65 (up 4.3% 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 - Swale 2026/27
| Band | Annual rate | Monthly (10 mths) |
|---|---|---|
| ABand A | £1,603.77 | £160.38 |
| BBand B | £1,871.06 | £187.11 |
| CBand C | £2,138.36 | £213.84 |
| DBand D | £2,405.65 | £240.57 |
| EBand E | £2,940.24 | £294.02 |
| FBand F | £3,474.83 | £347.48 |
| GBand G | £4,009.42 | £400.94 |
| HBand H | £4,811.30 | £481.13 |
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 £2,405.65 Bill
A Band D bill in Swale is not one charge. It is 4 separate charges set by 4 different bodies and collected together. The largest is Kent at £1,758.60, which is 73% of the total.
| Charged by | Band D element | Share of bill |
|---|---|---|
| Swale billing authority | £262.09 | 10.9% |
| Kent | £1,758.60 | 73.1% |
| Kent PCC | £285.15 | 11.9% |
| Kent Fire | £99.81 | 4.1% |
| Total Band D | £2,405.65 | 100% |
Registry Record for Swale
ONS code
E07000113
MHCLG E-code
E2241
Authority type
Shire district
Area
Kent
Tax base 2026/27
51,024
Assumed collection rate
98.69%
Parishes in area
41
Parishes setting a precept
36
Band D rank in England
177 of 296
Registry snapshot
25 March 2026
Swale is a shire district in the South East, within the Kent area. Its 2026/27 tax base for setting council tax is 51,024 Band D equivalent dwellings, calculated on an assumed collection rate of 98.69%. 36 of the 41 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 ranks 177 of 296 in England.
Year-on-Year Change
Band D 2025/26
£2,305.72
Band D 2026/27
£2,405.65
Annual increase
+£99.93 (+4.3%)
Swale's Band D rate increased by £99.93 (4.3%) in 2026/27 compared with the previous year. This is within the 5% that an English social care authority can add for 2026/27 without a local referendum (a 3% core limit plus a 2% adult social care precept).
Swale Against the Rest of the South East
Across the 64 billing authorities in the South East, Band D for 2026/27 runs from Windsor and Maidenhead at £1,952.62 to Lewes at £2,756.17, a spread of £803.55. The regional mean is £2,475.45, so Swale sits £69.80 below it. See the full South East table.
Closest Kent and South East authorities by Band D
| Council | Band D 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Gravesham | £2,408.24 |
| Ashford | £2,410.16 |
| Canterbury | £2,419.33 |
| Dartford | £2,375.15 |
| Tunbridge Wells | £2,446.15 |
| Dover | £2,461.74 |
How Band Rates Are Worked Out in Swale
Like every billing authority, Swale 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 | £2,405.65 x 6/9 | £1,603.77 |
| Band B | 7/9 | £2,405.65 x 7/9 | £1,871.06 |
| Band C | 8/9 | £2,405.65 x 8/9 | £2,138.36 |
| Band D | 9/9 | Baseline rate | £2,405.65 |
| Band E | 11/9 | £2,405.65 x 11/9 | £2,940.24 |
| Band F | 13/9 | £2,405.65 x 13/9 | £3,474.83 |
| Band G | 15/9 | £2,405.65 x 15/9 | £4,009.42 |
| Band H | 18/9 | £2,405.65 x 18/9 | £4,811.30 |
Contact your council in Swale
For billing enquiries, payment arrangements, discounts, or to report a change in your circumstances, contact the billing authority for Swale directly.
Find contact details on GOV.UKRelated Guides
Swale Council Tax: Frequently Asked Questions
How much is Band D council tax in Swale for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band A in Swale for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band B in Swale for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band C in Swale for 2026/27?
How much is council tax Band E in Swale for 2026/27?
What are all eight council tax bands in Swale?
How much did council tax rise in Swale this year?
Where does council tax in Swale actually go?
Is council tax in Swale higher or lower than the rest of the South East?
When do I pay council tax to the billing authority for Swale?
What discounts are available on council tax in Swale?
How do I check my council tax band in Swale?
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.