What Council Tax is

Who needs to pay, how your bill is calculated, how it is spent.

Contents

What Council Tax is and about your bill

Council Tax is charged on owned and rented residential properties including: 

  • houses
  • bungalows
  • flats
  • maisonettes
  • mobile homes
  • house boats

One bill will be issued per household no matter how many people live in your home.

How your bill is calculated

The amount you pay is calculated using:

  • your property’s valuation band on GOV.UK, set by the Valuation Office Agency
  • yearly local charges (known as 'precepts'), set by us, Surrey County Council and Surrey Police and Crime Commissioner

To find your band and charges go to Council Tax bands and charges.

What's in your bill and when it's sent

Every year in March we send out your yearly household Council Tax bill. You can access your bill in My services.

Your bill shows you: 

  • who is responsible for paying
  • your property’s band
  • the total amount you have to pay for the year 
  • how the amount has been worked out
  • your payment (known as 'instalments') dates and amounts 
  • any discounts or exemptions that you receive
  • any outstanding payments you may owe us for previous years

Your total Council Tax is automatically split into 10 monthly payments, starting from April of that year.

If you have applied for your payments over 12 months, your bill will show this.