How Council Tax is Calculated
Everyone who pays Council Tax is contributing to the services we enjoy in Westmorland and Furness, which are delivered by different Authorities.
Changes from Last Year
In 2022/23 services were provided to you by your District Council (Barrow in Furness Borough Council, South Lakeland District Council and Eden District Council); Cumbria County Council; Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner; Cumbria Fire and Rescue (through Cumbria County Council) and your local Parish/Town Council. Due to Local Government Re-organisation this will change from 1 April 2023. Further information can be found here. You will therefore see a change in where your Council Tax is going on your bill, however the services provided will, in the majority, remain the same.
Council Tax Funding Requirements
Council Tax Requirements of the Authorities that receive Council Tax:
Authority | Council Tax Requirement £m |
Westmorland and Furness Authority | 152.700 |
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria | 26.059 |
Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority | 7.942 |
Total before Parish/Town Councils | 186.701 |
Parish/Town Councils | 3.908 |
Total | 190.609 |
To calculate Council Tax payable per property requires the calculation of the tax base (the number of properties against which we collect the tax). The Valuation Office has valued every property and once valued, we allocate the properties with one of the eight valuation bands (Bands A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H). We multiply each band by a set factor to bring it to the Band D equivalent. We multiply the total of the Band D equivalent by the declared collection rate, which for Barrow is 99%, to give a Council tax base. The tax base for Westmorland and Furness for 2023/2024 is 87,714.75
This gives an average Band D tax of £1,921.70 including Parish/Town Council precepts.
Band D Council Tax requirements of the Authorities that receive Council Tax:
Authority | Council Tax Requirement £ |
Westmorland and Furness Authority | 1,740.89 |
Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner | 104.43 |
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Authority | 31.82 |
Total Band D Council Tax (before Parish Precepts) | 1,877.14 |
Town/Parish Councils/Meetings (average) | 44.56 |
Total average Band D Council Tax | 1,921.70 |
Contact Details:
- Contact: Customer Services, Council Tax
- Email: counciltax1@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk
- Telephone: 01229 404242
- Address: Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria LA14 2LD