CouncilTaxCostUK
2026/27 Official MHCLG Billing Data
Tunbridge Wells District Council • ONS LAD E07000116
Above England averageRank #144 of 296 (England)

Tunbridge Wells Council Tax 2026/2027

Official municipal billing authority: Tunbridge Wells District Council (District Council (Two-Tier)) in South East, England. Administering 7 postcode districts under Council Tax (England Statutory 1991 Valuation).

Band D Base Annual£2,446.15100% Consistent Base
YoY Annual Increase+3.99%+£93.86 vs 2025/26
Regional Rank (South East)#39 of 64In South East
Postcodes Monitored7Postcode Districts

Statutory Tariff Table: Tunbridge Wells

Full annual fees and discounted rates applicable across all 7 outcodes in this authority.

10 & 12 Monthly Direct Debit
Valuation BandFull Annual (£)10-Mo Direct DebitSingle Person (-25%)Single 10-Mo
Band A
£1,630.77£163.08/mo£1,223.08£122.31/mo
Band B
£1,902.56£190.26/mo£1,426.92£142.69/mo
Band C
£2,174.36£217.44/mo£1,630.77£163.08/mo
Band DBenchmark
£2,446.15£244.62/mo£1,834.61£183.46/mo
Band E
£2,989.74£298.97/mo£2,242.31£224.23/mo
Band F
£3,533.33£353.33/mo£2,650.00£265.00/mo
Band G
£4,076.92£407.69/mo£3,057.69£305.77/mo
Band H
£4,892.30£489.23/mo£3,669.23£366.92/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+£54.15vs England average Band D (£2,392)

Tunbridge Wells Band D is +2.3% higher than the statutory England benchmark. Cumulative 5-year difference: +£270.75.

Regional mean in South East: £2475.45 (-£29.30).
2. England StandingRank #144 of 296 in EnglandTop 49% highest Band D in England

Within South East, Tunbridge Wells ranks #39 of 64 billing authorities for Band D charges.

Nation Percentile: 49th percentile in England.
3. Direct Debit Installment Options£244.62 / 10 mosor £203.85 / 12 months

Switching from the default 10-installment plan to the statutory 12-month schedule lowers your monthly bill by £40.77 / 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 East: Cheaper vs Pricier Alternatives

Cheaper Neighbouring Councils in South East:
Horsham
Save £5.14/yrBand D: £2441.01 (-0.2%)
New Forest
Save £26.39/yrBand D: £2419.76 (-1.1%)
Canterbury
Save £26.82/yrBand D: £2419.33 (-1.1%)
Higher-Tariff Neighbouring Councils in South East:
Worthing
+£9.98/yrBand D: £2456.13 (+0.4%)
Dover
+£15.59/yrBand D: £2461.74 (+0.6%)
Chichester
+£23.53/yrBand D: £2469.68 (+1%)

Who Sets Your Bill: Precepting Authority Structure

Statutory breakdown structure for Council Tax levied across Tunbridge Wells (Tunbridge Wells District Council).

Statutory Local Tiers

Four-Tier Shire County & District Precept Structure

As a two-tier non-metropolitan district, your total bill in Tunbridge Wells is split between four separate precepting bodies:

  • County Council (typically ~70% of bill): Funds upper-tier services including adult social care, children's services, education infrastructure, major highways, and public health.
  • Tunbridge Wells District Council (District Billing Authority, ~10–15%): Collects your tax and funds local borough functions—refuse collection, housing, planning approvals, and environmental health.
  • Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC, ~10–12%): Sets an independent precept to fund regional policing operations.
  • Fire and Rescue Authority (~3–4%): Funds emergency fire rescue and prevention operations.

Where applicable, parished communities also contribute a local Town or Parish Council precept for hyper-local amenities.

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 Tunbridge Wells District Council's official 2026/27 council tax resolution.