Your Council Tax bill explained

This guide contains important information about your council tax bill, how your money is spent, what your bill is for the coming year, and the different ways to pay. To ensure you pay the right amount, this guide explains the eligibility criteria for discounts and exemptions from council tax, including reductions for disabled persons, what to do if you dispute your council tax, and how the money paid contributes towards the services delivered by Cumberland Council.

Your bill explained

Your council tax bill helps to pay for all services delivered by Cumberland Council, Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority, Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria and the parish/town councils.

Cumberland Council acts as the billing authority, to levy and collect taxes, for all these authorities.

The amount of council tax you pay depends on:

• The value of your property based on values on 1 April 1991; and
• Your personal circumstances

Every home is placed into one of the bands below. This is calculated by the Valuation Office Agency and is based on what your property was worth on 1 April 1991, not what it would be worth today.

A typical house in the UK is one that was valued on 1 April 1991, at between £68,001 and £88,000 and so is in council tax band D. Houses with lower values are placed in bands A-C and pay less council tax, while those with higher values are placed in bands E-H and pay more council tax.