Dorset Council Tax 2026/2027

Official municipal billing authority: Dorset Council (Unitary Authority) in South West, England. Administering 19 postcode districts under Council Tax (England Statutory 1991 Valuation).

Band D Base Annual£2,765.02100% Consistent Base

YoY Annual Increase+5.14%+£135.17 vs 2025/26

Regional Rank (South West)#1 of 27In South West

Postcodes Monitored19Postcode Districts

Statutory Tariff Table: Dorset

Full annual fees and discounted rates applicable across all 19 outcodes in this authority.

10 & 12 Monthly Direct Debit

Valuation Band	Full Annual (£)	10-Mo Direct Debit	12-Mo Installment	Single Person (-25%)	Single 10-Mo
Band A	£1,843.35	£184.34/mo	£153.61/mo	£1,382.51	£138.25/mo
Band B	£2,150.57	£215.06/mo	£179.21/mo	£1,612.93	£161.29/mo
Band C	£2,457.80	£245.78/mo	£204.82/mo	£1,843.35	£184.34/mo
Band DBenchmark	£2,765.02	£276.50/mo	£230.42/mo	£2,073.77	£207.38/mo
Band E	£3,379.47	£337.95/mo	£281.62/mo	£2,534.60	£253.46/mo
Band F	£3,993.92	£399.39/mo	£332.83/mo	£2,995.44	£299.54/mo
Band G	£4,608.37	£460.84/mo	£384.03/mo	£3,456.28	£345.63/mo
Band H	£5,530.04	£553.00/mo	£460.84/mo	£4,147.53	£414.75/mo

2026/27 Statistical Rank & Regional Benchmark

Deterministic mathematical comparisons against statutory England benchmarks and regional council tax league averages.

Fiscal Year 2026/2027

1. Benchmark & Regional Delta+£373.02vs England average Band D (£2,392)

Dorset Band D is +15.6% higher than the statutory England benchmark. Cumulative 5-year difference: +£1865.10.

Regional mean in South West: £2511.40 (+£253.62).

2. England StandingRank #1 of 296 in EnglandTop 1% highest Band D in England

Within South West, Dorset ranks #1 of 27 billing authorities for Band D charges.

Nation Percentile: 1th percentile in England.

3. Direct Debit Installment Options£276.50 / 10 mosor £230.42 / 12 months

Switching from the default 10-installment plan to the statutory 12-month schedule lowers your monthly bill by £46.08 / month, spreading cash outflows across February and March.

Local authorities are legally required to grant 12-month billing upon written or online request.

Nearby Authorities in South West: Cheaper vs Pricier Alternatives

Cheaper Neighbouring Councils in South West:

Bristol, City of

Save £51.34/yrBand D: £2713.68 (-1.9%)

West Devon

Save £59.69/yrBand D: £2705.33 (-2.2%)

Mid Devon

Save £108.61/yrBand D: £2656.41 (-3.9%)

Who Sets Your Bill: Precepting Authority Structure

Statutory breakdown structure for Council Tax levied across Dorset (Dorset Council).

Statutory Local Tiers

Unitary / Metropolitan Council Precept Structure

As an all-purpose unitary authority, Dorset Council sets the primary proportion of your bill, combining core civic services with the Adult Social Care precept.

Unitary Council Services: Education, social services, waste collection, housing, and planning.
Police Precept: Levied by the regional Police & Crime Commissioner.
Fire & Rescue Precept: Levied by the Combined Fire Authority.
Mayoral Precept: Combined authority precept where applicable.

Official Bill Verification: Exact statutory line-by-line pound allocations are itemised on your annual Council Tax Demand Notice issued each March. For specific budget schedules, consult Dorset Council's official 2026/27 council tax resolution.