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Council tax

The council tax you pay goes towards a range of services provided by the County Council, police, district and parish councils.

Council tax is collected by your local district council.

For specific information about council tax, such as registering for council tax, billing and paying your council tax, changing address, council tax benefits, discounts and exemptions, and council tax banding, you will need to contact your local district council.

Council tax budget 2024-25

At its meeting on 20 February 2024, Norfolk County Council agreed to increase the council tax for 2024-25 by 4.99%. This increase works out at an extra £79.47 for a Band D property, approximately £1.52 per week. 

The financial climate in which local government operates continues to be challenging, with significant pressures of £122m across services. The agreed council tax increase of 4.99%, is below the referendum threshold set by government of 5%. This balanced approach recognises the financial pressures faced by local taxpayers while enabling the council to protect vital services and will help to ensure a robust and sustainable financial position in future years. 

The 4.99% rise comprises:

  • an increase in the element relating to county-wide services equivalent to a 3% rise in Council Tax; and
  • an increase in the element ring-fenced to help fund Adult Social Care (the Social Care Precept) equivalent to a 2% rise in Council Tax.  

This table shows how the increase affects the County Council's share of each Council Tax band:

 Band   Total Council Tax 2023-24General 3% increaseAdult Social Care Precept 2% increase  Total Council Tax 2024-25

 A

£1,061.76£31.80£21.18£1,114.74
 B£1,238.72£37.10 £24.71£1,300.53
 C£1,415.68£42.40£28.24£1,486.32
 D£1,592.64 £47.70 £31.77 £1,672.11 
 E£1,946.56  £58.30 £38.83 £2,043.69 
 F£2,300.48 £68.90 £45.89 £2,415.27
 G£2,654.40  £79.50 £52.95 £2,786.85 
 H£3,185.28  £95.40 £63.54 £3,344.22 

This is how the council tax increase is calculated for a Band D household:

  • The total 2023-24 charge was £1,592.64
  • Add £1,592.64 x 3% = £47.70 for the General council tax increase 
  • Add £1,592.64 x 2% = £31.77 for the Adult Social Care Precept increase 
  • Gives total 2024-25 charge of £1,672.11   

Summary of the council's budget and council tax requirement

 
Item2024-25 (£m)2023-24 (£m)
Gross expenditure1,963.81,803.3 
Income budgets and use of reserves -1,181.1-1,079.0 
 Revenue Support Grant and Business Rates income-255.0-230.6 
Council's Net Budget 527.7493.7 
 Estimated Deficit / (Surplus) on District Council Collection Funds-3.3-2.3 
 Council tax requirement (Precept charge on District Councils)-524.5-491.4 
Council tax for average Band D property £1,672.11£1,592.64 
 Of which -  
 Council tax for Band D (General)£1,443.96£1,396.26 
Council tax for Band D (Adult Social Care Precept) £228.15£196.38 

There is an increase in the precept charge on District Councils, which is due in part to the increase in the tax base (i.e. additional homes).

Levies to Agencies included in the council's budget:

 
Item2024-25 (£m)2023-24 (£m)
Environment Agency0.9890.960
 Eastern Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority0.6640.649

Statement concerning adult social care funding

The Secretary of State made an offer to adult social care authorities. ("Adult social care authorities" are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly.)

The offer was the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional "precept" on its council tax without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting its expenditure on adult social care from the financial year 2016-17. It was originally made in respect of the financial years up to and including 2019-20. If the Secretary of State chooses to renew this offer in respect of a particular financial year, this is subject to the approval of the House of Commons.

Within the flexibilities offered by Government, Norfolk County Council has chosen to levy the precept as 2% in 2016-17, 3% in both 2017-18 and 2018-19, 0% in 2019-20, and 2% in both 2020-21 and 2021-22, 1% in 2022-23, and 2% in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.