Council Tax General Information
How we provide this service
Council tax general information is supported by Finance, Benefits and Revenues.
Council Tax Levels for 2011-12
The year 2011-12 will be a challenging one in terms of service provision and financial matters for the Council. However, the fundamental changes that are being undertaken for both forward facing and back office services are designed to deliver efficiencies that can keep costs down in real terms as the financial environment tightens. The Council continues to provide a range of services including:
- Weekly refuse and recycling services throughout the District
- Affordable housing, housing advice and homelessness accommodation
- Inspecting food premises
- Dealing with planning applications
- Processing Housing and Council Tax Benefit applications.
The District Council's Council Tax for 2011-12 is held at £157.03 or £3.02 for a household paying Band D Council Tax. An active efficiency agenda continues to produce savings while protecting front line services.
Fax: 01775 711253
Email: counciltax@sholland.gov.uk
Address: South Holland District Council, Benefit and Revenues Team, PO Box 8, Priory Road, Spalding, Lincs. PE11 2XQ
What to do to get this service
Contact the office by telephone, letter, e-mail or personal visit
Further Information on this service
For more information, the following leaflets are available for reading and downloading by clicking on them:
Previous years' figures are available here:
If you are finding it hard to pay your council tax, please read the pages on this website about discounts, exemptions and council tax benefit that you can claim to help reduce your bill. This information is also given on pages 4, 5 and 6 of the booklet - 'Your guide to Council Tax, Budgets and Performance, Local Policing Summary and Efficiency Savings in South Holland' - that we send with everyone's first council tax bill of the year.
If you have a question regarding your Council Tax all you need to do is contact us by telephone, letter, e-mail or personal visit. Below are some of the most frequently asked questions in the section called Common Questions. Read through the list - it may save you time and a telephone call.
Who can apply?
Any person over 18 who is liable or is to become liable for Council Tax.
Contact Name for this service
Council Tax Billing Section
Telephone number for this service
01775 761161
Common Questions
Q. What do I get for my council tax - apart from my bin being emptied once a week?
A. Council tax is not a direct payment for services received. It is a means whereby each householder contributes towards the cost of services provided in their locality. Their contribution is based on the capital value of their dwelling.
Council tax bills include elements for Lincolnshire County Council (75p in every £1), Lincolnshire Police Authority (12p in every £1), South Holland District Council (11p in every £1) and a parish amount (2p in every £1 on average). Leaflets issued with the bills show which services each authority spends its share on.
Q. How is my council tax calculated?
A. The Council sets the 'standard' level of council tax (called the Band D tax level) in March each year. Each home is in one of eight valuation bands. The actual tax paid depends upon which valuation band the house is in.
Q. Why are there so many different elements on my bill?
A. The Council acts as a collection agent for Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Police Authority and the Parish Councils in the area. These organisations set their own budgets and South Holland District Council bills and collects council tax on their behalf as well as for itself. Only about 1/9th of the total collected is actually for South Holland District Council.
Q. How do you control the levels of Parish Council precepts and Drainage Board levies?
A. This Council has no control over Parish Council and Drainage Board finances. They are free to set their own levels of precepts and levies.
Q. How can I pay my council tax bill?
A. For information and instructions on how to pay the Council visit the Payments page.
Q. Why are you taking me to court already for the full year when it is only June and the year runs from April to March?
A. If payments are not made by the due dates, we have to send reminders promptly before people get too far behind and then find it even harder to bring their accounts up to date. If these reminders are not properly responded to the customer's lose the right to pay by instalments for the rest of the year. The full year then becomes due and can be recovered in the courts as early as June. So the message is, please pay on time or in advance.
Q. What should I do if I think my banding is too high?
A. Please contact the Valuation Officer their address is
The Listing Office
Valuation Office Agency
Queensgate House
12 Silver Street
Lincoln
LN2 1EW
Telephone number 03000 505250
Q. What should I do if I am moving house?
A. Please contact us by telephone or in person and we will take the details and amend our records or you can complete the change in occupancy form (PDF). [Council Tax Guidance Notes (PDF)]
Further Common Questions
Q. Why do I have to pay council tax on empty properties?
A. The reason for this is that the government wants to discourage owners from leaving property empty. They believe that such properties create extra costs for councils because they can encourage vandalism, crime, accumulation of rubbish, vermin and general nuisance. It is felt that the owners should contribute towards these costs especially as they benefit from other locally provided services like police, fire, roads, and such like.
Q. I am not paying my council tax because I am not satisfied with the standard of certain services. Presumably that's OK?
A. No, if you stop paying, we are obliged to commence recovery action against you. Your liability to pay in law is not affected by any shortcomings in local authority services. The thing to do, is pursue the matter with the local authority who is responsible for providing the service you are aggrieved about. Escalate it through their official complaints procedure if necessary and ultimately involve your local councillor and/or the Ombudsman as appropriate.
Q. Do I still have to pay if I have an appeal outstanding on my council tax? If so, can I have interest on any overpayment?
A. Yes you do still have to pay. The law clearly states that payment is still due irrespective of any appeal or benefit claim that may be outstanding. This is because there are separate legal avenues for pursuing such outstanding matters. If withholding payment was allowed in such circumstances that would encourage frivolous appeals and claims. You CANNOT get interest on overpaid council tax - there is no provision in law to allow it - so it would be illegal for the council to pay it.
Q. Can I have a discount for prompt payment? I've paid the full year up front.
A. The power to do this is at the discretion of the Council and the current policy is not to offer it in any circumstances. It is felt that to do so would discriminate against the poorer section of the community who could not afford to pay very far in advance. The better off can afford to pay up front, but they don't have to! Giving them a discount would be to their advantage, but it would be at the expense of the less well off.
Q. What should I do if I want to pay by Direct Debit?
A. Simply ring 01775 764691 to set it up straight away. Alternatively complete the direct debit form (PDF) and send it to the Council Offices.
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Contact Details
If you have any queries about the information provided above, or require further information, please contact Customer Services on 01775 761161 or email info@sholland.gov.uk.
Benefits - Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit
Council Tax Account Enquiries
Council Tax Discounts
Council Tax Exemptions
Council Tax Reductions For People With Disabilities
Council Tax Valuation Band Reductions
