On this page you can find:
- your Council Tax band and how it is decided
- how your Council Bill is calculated
- what your Council Tax pays for
Your Council Tax band and how it is decided
Council tax bands set out how much council tax you have to pay. The bands are set by the Valuation Office Agency, which is part of HM Revenue and Customs. You can use their online banding search to see which band your property is in. Your council tax bill also states which band applies to your property.
For more information on your Council Tax bill, please visit our Understanding your Council Tax bill page, or you can read our Council Tax leaflet [PDF, 0.1MB].
There are 8 bands, and they were decided based on how much homes were worth on 1 April 1991. The table below shows the different bands:
| Valuation band | Range of values | Proportion of Brand D Tax Payable |
|---|---|---|
| A | Up to and including £40,000 | 6/9 |
| B | £40,001 to £52,000 | 7/9 |
| C | £52,001 to 68,000 | 8/9 |
| D | £68,001 to £88,000 | 1 |
| E | £68,001 to £120,000 | 11/9 |
| F | £120,001 to £160,000 | 13/9 |
| G | £160,001 to £320,000 | 15/9 |
| H | More than £320,000 | 2 |
If you think your band is not right and want to appeal your band, please contact the Valuation Office Agency.
How your Council Tax Bill is calculated
Your total bill is made up of the following (the figures below are based off an average band D property):
| Authority | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cambridgeshire County Council | £1,431.19 |
| Cambridgeshire County Council: Adult Social Care Precept | £269.45 |
| South Cambridgeshire District Council | £175.40 |
| Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner | £299.43 |
| Cambridgeshire Fire Authority | £87.21 |
| Mayoral Combined Authority | £36 |
| Parish Council Precept | View our Parish Council Precept document for 2025/2026 [XLSX, 65Kb] |
The tables below show how the South Cambridgeshire District Council element of your Council Tax is calculated (for an average band D property):
| Category | 2024 to 2025 (£million) | 2025 to 2026 (£million) |
|---|---|---|
| Gross spending | £76.89m | £83.95m |
| Income | -£48.33m | -£52.98m |
| Net expenditure | £28.56m | £30.97m |
| Government funding | 2024 to 2025 (£million) | 2025 to 2026 (£million) |
|---|---|---|
| Business rates | -£22.18m | -£18.33m |
| Non-ring fenced grants | -£3.35m | -£2.95m |
| Internal funding | 2024 to 2025 (£million) | 2025 to 2026 (£million) |
|---|---|---|
| Use of/ addition to reserves | £8.57m | £2.53m |
| Council Tax requirement | £11.60m | £12.22m |
| Net expenditure | £170.31m | £175.40m |
To find out how much Parish Councils in South Cambridgeshire have agreed to charge for their proportion of Council Tax please read our Parish Council Precept document [XLSX, 65Kb].
What your Council Tax pays for
The Council Tax you pay funds a wide range of public services across the district and county area. To find out about how the money you pay is spent, please visit the following websites:
- Cambridgeshire County Council
- Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Commissioner
- Cambridgeshire Fire Authority
- Mayor General Precept
- For all enquiries relating to the Adult Social Care precept shown on your bill, please visit the County Council website.
To find out more please read our Financial information page.