Your New Council Tax Bill
Your New Council Tax Bill
Council Tax bills for 2013/14 are being issued the week commencing 18 March 2013. This page includes useful information to help you make sense of your bill, understand what the money is used for and lists our most frequently asked questions.
What does Council Tax pay for?
The Council Tax you pay helps support a wide range of services provided by the Police and Fire Services, Norfolk County Council, your Town or Parish Council, as well as those provided by Breckland Council. These include wheelie bin collection, street cleaning, schools, roads, libraries, planning, support for local businesses, street lighting, transport and Fire and Police services. We all live in the district and benefit from many of these services so every house in the district gets a bill.
'Your Council Tax Explained' includes a summary of some of the services provided, a visual guide to understanding your bill along with some useful contact information that is included with your bill.
Brecklands Spending Plan focuses on our core values; taking pride in Breckland, Building Stronger Communities, Supporting the Local Economy and being an Entrepreneurial Council.
How is the Bill Calculated?
The Anglia Revenues Partnership provides Council Tax and Benefit services for Breckland and their website provides a wealth of detailed information including What Is Council Tax, How Your Bill is Calculated, Discounts, Exemptions, Reductions for the Disabled, a guide to Bandings and Making an Appeal (should you believe the banding is incorrect) and also a Guide to Your Bill.
Brecklands Council Tax Support Scheme
Central Government has changed the way the Council Tax beneifits system works. Local Authorities have been asked to set up their own schemes and Breckland Councils comes into force on 1 April 2013.
Read a Summary of the scheme or Full scheme details.
Town and Parish Precepts
The portion of your bill that goes to your Town or Parish Council (known as the Town or Parish Precept) varies from place to place. Larger Councils such as Attleborough, Dereham, Swaffham, Thetford and Watton are required to publish Budget Details.
Bawdeswell, Dereham, Thetford and Watton Council have special arrangements for the payment of street lighting under the heading of Special Expenses.
A list of all Town and Parish Precepts including a comparison to last financial year is also available.
What do I need to do?
Please check your bill carefully, if you are not familiar with the layout have a look at our Guide to Your Bill.
If you are already on direct debit you needn’t take any action, just check the bill for your new direct debit instalments.
If you pay by standing order you will need to contact your bank and let them know your new instalment schedule.
If you pay by cash or cheque you will need to visit a PayPoint with your bill (which has a barcode printed on the bottom left hand corner) and your payment. You can locate your nearest PayPoint here.
Frequently Asked Questions:
| 1 | Q | How do I make a payment |
| A | Visit our Pay for it page or call our automated payment line 0845 600 1936. | |
| 2 | Q | I would like to register a change of address. |
| A | Visit our Report it page - change of address. | |
| 3 | Q | How do I obtain a bar code letter for paying council tax? |
| A | Visit our Apply for it page - barcode for council tax payment. | |
| 4 | Q | How do I apply for housing or council tax benefit? |
| A | Please visit the Anglia Revenues Partnership website to complete an electronic claim form or e-mail us (contactus@breckland.gov.uk) to request a call from a benefit assessor. | |
| 5 | Q | I'm struggling to manage my money |
| A | The Money Advice Service provides easy to understand information and advice. This service, set up by Government and paid for by the Financial Services Industry, is open to everyone. Book an appointment on-line or call 0333 321 3434. | |
| 6 | Q | How do I advise housing benefits of my change of circumstances? |
| A | Visit our Report it page – change of circumstances. | |
| 7 | Q | How can I apply to receive my bills and maintain my account on-line? |
| A | Visit our Apply for it page - register for E-billing | |
| 8 | Q | How can I set up a direct debit? |
| A | Direct debits can be set up on-line and are easy to maintain. What's more you can choose from three payment dates 5, 15 or 25 of the month. | |
| 9 | Q | There is a balance outstanding from previous years on my bill which appears to be incorrect? |
| A | Payments made after the issue date on the bill will not be included and will be listed as outstanding. This includes planned payments by direct debit. | |
| 10 | Q | How can I report a suspicion of benefits fraud? |
| A | Visit our Report it page – benefit fraud. |
