What is Council Tax?

Council tax is a local tax set by local councils to help pay for local services. Council and police services are paid for by government grants, Council Tax, fees and other charges. There is one Council Tax bill for each domestic dwelling whether it is a house, flat, mobile home or houseboat.

We collect the Council Tax, but we keep less than one ninth of it. We pay the rest over to the Lincolnshire County Council, Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire, and to the parish and town councils.

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Beware of scam telephone calls

Residents are reminded to be cautious of giving bank details out to any cold caller after West Lindsey District Council became aware of a possible telephone scam campaign operating in Lincolnshire.

A small number of elderly residents have received phone calls from a caller who was persistent in telling them their Council Tax had been reduced after their properties had been revalued and that they were eligible for a refund if they gave their bank details.

The council stresses that residents should be careful if they are ever asked for their bank details from someone calling them and where they have not initiated the call themselves.

If it is a call from the council's revenues and benefits department and the customer is unsure, then they can always end the call and ring back on 01427 676676.

Also beware of emails with links referring to Council Tax benefit. Do not click on the link if you have not applied or are not sure about it — please contact our office and we will advise you if it is genuine.

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Who pays Council Tax?

Council Tax is usually paid by the owner occupier or the tenant of a property. Where there are two or more people who are joint owners or joint tenants, they are each responsible for paying.

Married couples, civil partners and people living together as a couple will be jointly liable for the bill while they both live at the property; this is the person or persons who come highest in the following list:

  • you own the freehold of the property
  • you hold the leasehold of the property
  • you are a tenant
  • you have some other right of occupation
  • you are a resident

In the following circumstances the owner of the property will be the person who has to pay:

  • houses in multiple occupation - this is usually properties divided into bedsits
  • dwellings occupied by resident staff
  • residential care homes
  • religious communities
  • asylum seekers