In March you'll get a new council tax bill showing how much your instalments will be from 1 April 2024. If you’ve signed up for paperless billing, your bill will be sent to your email address on Thursday 29 February. If you still get your bill in the post, your bill will be dated and posted on Friday 1 March.
The bills show information correct as of February 2024. However, if you have provided any new information within the last 21 days we may not have processed this yet. If any changes result in a difference to the amount you have to pay we will send you a revised bill.
Please read your bill carefully to make sure you know what you need to pay and check whether the correct discounts and exemptions and council tax support have been given to you.
The council tax you pay goes towards local services such as policing, fire services, education, parks and household rubbish collections. The amount you pay depends on the area that you live in and which property band your home is given. Your bill will be adjusted if you qualify for any of the council tax discounts or exemptions, or if you qualify for help with your council tax because you have a low income.
Council tax charges 2024 to 2025
See council tax charges and parish precept charges for 2024 to 2025.
Precept
In this area, a 'precept' is a charge collected on behalf of us, Kent County Council, The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent, Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority and our parish councils.
We collect the council tax on behalf of all these authorities. Find out more about where your council tax goes.
You may like to read information from other authorities who deliver services in your area:
- Kent County Council
- The Police and Crime Commissioner for Kent
- Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority
The adult social care precept
The adult social care precept is an amount charged by Kent County Council to help fund adult social care. Read more about the adult social care precept.
Paying by Direct Debit
Please check the box on your bill where it says how much each instalment is; it tells you how you are due to pay. If it tells you that the instalments are collected by Direct Debit you don’t need to do anything as we will automatically change your payments to make sure the right amount is taken.
If you don’t currently pay by Direct Debit and you would like to, please sign up to Direct Debit.
Allpay cards
If you still live at the same address you can continue to use your existing payment card, you don’t need a new one.
Premiums for empty properties
An additional amount of council tax (a ‘premium’) is charged when a property has been empty for two years or more.
From 1 April 2024, the following premiums apply:
- For properties that have been empty and substantially unfurnished for one year but less than five years, the premium is 100%
- For properties that have been empty and substantially unfurnished for at least five years but less than 10 years, the premium is 200%
- For properties that have been empty and substantially unfurnished for 10 years or more, the premium is 300%
Find out more about the long-term empty premium
Kent County Council's offer to care leavers
If you're leaving care to become independent and you're aged between 16 and 25, Kent County Council (KCC) may be able to help support you. If you have left care, and KCC have appointed you a personal adviser, please give your council tax bill to them to arrange payment.
Find out more on the offer to care leavers
If you disagree with your council tax bill
Please see the appeals and disputes page for information about how to appeal and what you can appeal against.
If you appeal against your council tax, you must continue with your regular payments until your appeal has been dealt with.
If you don’t pay your council tax
The council tax is a priority bill that must be paid by everyone who is liable.
If council tax is not paid as and when it is due, we will take recovery action which could mean costs being added to your account.