April to September 2026, larger contracts only
15.3 days
average time to pay an invoice
- Within 30 days
- 31 to 60 days
- Over 60 days
- Paid within 30 days
- 93.8%
- Paid in 31 to 60 days
- 3%
- Paid after 60 days
- 3.2%
- Paid within agreed terms
- 92.9%
Source: payments compliance notice 103161-2026, published 30 October 2026, Find a Tender, Cabinet Office.
Kent's finances
For context. How fast a council pays is a matter of its own processes as well as its money: across England, councils with more to spend per resident do not pay faster.
- Spending power, 2026-27
- £1.66 billion £1,006 a resident; typical county council: £1,003
- Net budget, 2026-27
- £3.12 billion Net current expenditure, as budgeted
- Reserves forecast, 1 April 2026
- £257.3 million 15% of a year's spending power; typical county council: 19%
- Emergency government support
- None No Exceptional Financial Support since 2024-25
Sources: Core spending power 2026-27 and local authority revenue expenditure and financing 2026-27 budget, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government; Exceptional Financial Support lists on GOV.UK. Open Government Licence v3. Reserves are unallocated plus earmarked reserves the council forecast for 1 April 2026.
What the law asks of Kent
Pay within 30 days. Under section 68 of the Procurement Act 2023, a council must pay an undisputed invoice within 30 days of receiving it.
Publish every six months. Section 69 requires a payments compliance notice on Find a Tender within 30 days of 31 March and 30 September.
Owed money by a council? Suppliers can claim statutory interest on a late commercial invoice. Work it out with our late payment interest calculator.
Figures are as the council published them and are not audited. Source: payments compliance notices, Find a Tender, Cabinet Office, Open Government Licence v3.