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.

How we calculate Council Tax per property

To calculate Council Tax payable per property we calculate the tax base, which is 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 to give a Council Tax Base. The tax base for Westmorland and Furness for 2025 to 2026 is £96,159.8.

This gives an average Band D tax of £1,966.81 including parish and town council precepts.

Band D Council Tax requirements of the authorities that receive Council Tax

AuthorityCouncil Tax requirement
Westmorland and Furness Authority£1,918.97
Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner£324.00
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Authority£98.19
Total Band D Council Tax (before Parish Precepts)£2,341.16
Town/Parish Councils/Meetings (average)£47.84
Total average Band D Council Tax£2,389

Council Tax funding requirements

Council Tax requirements of the authorities that receive Council Tax.

AuthorityCouncil Tax requirement (in pounds and millions)
Westmorland and Furness Authority184.528
Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria31.155
Cumbria Commissioner Fire and Rescue Authority9.442
Total before Town and Parish Councils225.125
Parish and Town Councils4.600
Total229.725