What is Council Tax?

Council Tax is a local tax, set by each local council, to help pay for local services. The tax has two parts: a property part, based on eight "bands", and a personal part. When we set Council Tax, we assume that two or more adults live in each property. If only one adult lives in a property, Council Tax for that property will be reduced by 25% (a quarter).

If you let your property as holiday accommodation and it is available for letting for 140 days or more in a year, it should be Business Rated. For more information, please contact the Business Rates Section on (01263) 516110.

For further information on Council Tax, please download the Governement booklet 'Council Tax - A Guide to Your Bill'

How is Council Tax Spent

From each £1 collected 76p will go to Norfolk County Council to pay for services such as Education, Social Services, Waste Disposal, Libraries, Fire and Rescue.

Only 11p of every £1 goes to North Norfolk District Council, Parish and Town Councils. The range of services provide from this small percentage on your Council Tax includes Refuse Collection, Council Homes, Markets, Rebates, Buildings, Recycling, Planning, Street Cleaning, Public Health, Business Growth, Parks and Leisure Facilities, Pollution Control, Coast and Flood Defence, Bus Passes and much more ...

One bill for each property

There is only one bill for each property, and this must usually be paid by the owner-occupier or tenant of the home, including Council tenants. Look down the following list to find out who has to pay for your home. As soon as you reach a description which applies to the person living in your home, he or she is "liable". This means he or she is responsible for paying the Council Tax bill.

• A person who owns and lives in the property
• A secure tenant living in the property
• A person who has a contract to live in the property
• Other people who live in the property
• The owner, if nobody lives in the property, or if the property is:
• a residential home for the elderly or for ill people
• a nursing home
• a hostel
• the home of a religious community
• divided into bedsitting rooms
• a home in which staff live and which is occasionally used by an employer
• the home of a minister of religion who receives a stipend
• The owner must also pay the bill if nobody lives in the property as their main home.

  Who has to pay the bill?

  People who are joint owners or joint tenants will be jointly responsible for paying the Council Tax bill. Partners of liable people or civil partners of liable people will also be jointly responsible for paying the bill (a partner is someone you are married to, or with whom you are living as if you are married).

  However, a mentally-impaired person or full-time student cannot be held jointly responsible to pay with any other person.

  How much will I have to pay?

  How much you have to pay depends on the valuation band your home is in. The lower the band, the less you will pay. We set the actual amount in March each year, and we will send you a bill for the amount you have to pay. Read more about valuation and property bands or click here to find the valuation band and how much you have to pay for your property.

  Is Council Tax charged on all properties?

  Council Tax is charged on all properties, however in some circumstances a property may be exempt. Two examples of exempt properties are:

  • Properties where all the people living there are students
  • Empty and substantially unfurnished properties (which are exempt for a maximum of six months)

  Read more about exempt properties.

  How can I pay?

  You can pay your Council Tax bill for the year in ten monthly instalments. Details of this are included with your bill. You can pay in different ways, but direct debit is the easiest and most convenient way for you to pay. It is also the cheapest form of collection for us, helping to keep our costs as low as possible. If you want to pay by direct debit, call our helplines on 01263 516230.

  Are there any benefits I can claim?

  You can claim Council Tax Benefit for up to 100% of your bill if you are on a low income. Even if you can't get Council Tax Benefit, you might be able to claim a rebate if there is someone (not your partner) living in your home who is on a low income, unless they do not count for Council Tax. This is called a "second adult rebate". For more information, please contact the Benefit Section on (01263) 513811. Read more about Council Tax Benefit or Discounts.