Your Council Tax bill
Here is some additional information to help you understand your Council Tax bill, including an example of a Council Tax bill.
- this is the financial year that relates to your bill
- name and address of person responsible for paying the bill
- property address which the charge relates to. If post is re-directed to a different address it will show here
- account number - please quote this in any communications to us
- how the Council Tax charge is calculated. This year there will be an increase of 4.95 per cent in the core element of Council Tax, your bill may show 5 per cent as we must show the figure to one decimal point. This includes a charge for adult social care precept of 2 per cent to help meet the rising costs of adult social care services for vulnerable adults. This includes a charge for adult social care precept of 2 per cent to help meet the rising costs of adult social care services for vulnerable adults. View the Council Tax charges in your area. (PDF, 168 KB)
- breakdown of the bill showing the full charge for the property and period it covers, plus any discounts or exemptions and adjustments made to your bill. Anything followed by the letters 'CR' means that the value will be deducted from the bill. Anything without CR means adjustments will be added to your bill. Read more about exemptions and discounts.
- the amount you have to pay
- this is the amount owed from the previous year or years, however this balance is calculated with payments made until 25 February 2026. If you have paid an amount since then or you have an arrangement to pay a further payment, this will not be shown on this bill. If you pay by Direct Debit, this may be your final instalment
- details of your payment instructions. If you are paying by Direct Debit, it will say "the instalments shown below will be collected by Direct Debit". Direct Debit continues from year to year unless it has been cancelled. If you have chosen to pay by standing order, you will need to contact your bank to renew the amount each time you receive a new or amended bill
- the date the bill was issued, the reason why the bill has been issued and the reference number for the property
At the bottom of your bill, you will see a box detailing your payment instructions. If you are paying by Direct Debit, it will say "the instalments shown below will be collected by Direct Debit". Direct Debit continues from year to year unless it has been cancelled.
If you have chosen to pay by standing order, you will need to contact your bank to renew the amount each time you received a new or amended bill.
The balance of your new bill is usually calculated with payments made until the end of February. If you have paid an amount since then or you have an arrangement to pay a further payment, this will not be shown on your bill.
Where my Council Tax is spent
Where the money comes from 2026 to 2027 (total £545 million)
In 2026 to 2027, the money will come from:
- £274.3 million from sales, fees and charges and other funding
- £121.491 million from government funding
- £53.264 million from business rates
- £134.207 million from Council Tax
Where the money is spent (total £545 million)
The money will be spent in:
- £165.9 million in adults and health
- £186.8 million in children's services and school funding
- £78.9 million in community services, environment and culture
- £62.3 million in finance, development and regeneration
- £21.4 million in corporate services
- £13.7 million in corporate items
- £10.3 million in regeneration and inclusive growth
- £0.3 million in Port Health and Environment Agency Levy
Budget Statement 2025 to 2026 (PDF, 115 KB)
What is a precept?
Some of your Council Tax bill goes towards the funding of both the Police and Crime Commissioner for Cleveland and the Cleveland Fire Authority These are called precepts. They are included as part of your bill and the Council has no influence over the charges that the police and fire authorities set.
Depending on where you live, your bill can also include parish council precepts too. These are often called town councils. These are independent from Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council and it is the responsibility of that parish council to calculate their own precepts in line with legalisation. They appear on your bill as the Council collects these on behalf of the town or parish councils, so you only get one bill.
Billingham Town Council Precept 2026 to 2027
| Item | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Management and support costs | £210,666 | £186,808 |
| Running costs | £31,950 | £39,290 |
| Recreation and leisure (events) | £31,800 | £32,600 |
| Environmental projects | £0.00 | £0.00 |
| Community projects (including JWP) | £44,500 | £71,300 |
| Grants | £46,000 | £51,000 |
| Election costs | £3,000 | £3,000 |
| Other | £16,105 | £10,690 |
| Gross precept (income) | £384,021 | £394,688 |
| LCTS grant (income) | £23,509 | £23,509 |
| Net precept (income) | £360,512 | £371,179 |
Ingleby Barwick Town Council Precept 2026 to 2027
The Town Council set its budget in January 2026 and the precept requirement for 2026 to 2027 is £180,300.
Outgoing
| Item | 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|
| Management and support costs | £118,760 |
| Operation and running costs | £6,750 |
| Community safety and CCTV | £60,000 |
| The Rings Community Hub and Youth Facility | £93,375 |
| Christmas tree and lights | £10,000 |
| Events and competitions | £15,000 |
| Grants | £7,000 |
| Total | £310,885 |
Incoming
| Item | 2026 to 2027 |
|---|---|
| Balance brought forward from 2025 to 2026 | £15,331 |
| Local Council Tax Support Grant | £3,445 |
| Seamer Wind Farms Receipts | £3,000 |
| VAT Reclaim | £12,000 |
| Hub Hire | £45,000 |
| Reserves | £51,809 |
| Precept | £180,300 |
| Total | £310,885 |
Thornaby Town Council Precept 2026 to 2027
| Item | 2025 to 2026 | 2026 2027 |
|---|---|---|
| Administrative costs | £63,750 | £105,120 |
| Events | £47,100 | £46,400 |
| Projects | £28,000 | £29,000 |
| Town Hall maintenance | £48,140 | £16,199.12 |
| Publications | £24,000 | £23,000 |
| Total expenditure | £210,990 | £219,719.12 |
| Grants (income) | £36,050 | £36,050 |
| Precept (Income) | £174,940 | £183,669.12 |
| Total income | £210,990 | £219,719.12 |
Receive your bill in an alternative format
You can receive your Council Tax bill in large print or braille, or register for our Talking Bill service. Contact our customer services team for more details on 01642 397108.
