Council Tax 2025-26

Page last updated 7 March 2025.

You can view the new charges by visiting My Council Tax.

My Council Tax (opens new window)

Council tax is collected by Chichester District Council on behalf of the precepting authorities as below (percentage shown indicates the share of council tax collected for each authority).

• West Sussex County Council (77%)
• Sussex Police Crime Commissioner (11%)
• Chichester District Council (8%)
• Local parish council (4%)

View The referendums relating to council tax increases 2025-26 (opens new window) for the amounts each individual authority can increase their share of the charge. The increases permitted without the need for a referendum are:

• West Sussex County Council - Permitted increase can be up to 5% (for a band D property)
• Sussex Police Crime Commissioner - Permitted increase can be up to £14 (for a band D property)
• Chichester District Council  - Permitted increase can be up to 3%, or, £5 (for a band D property)
• Local parish council - There is no limit, however, if a parish requests a precept more than £140,000 then their specific spending must be published

Each authority sets their council tax at different times. The relevant dates are:

• West Sussex County Council - Agreed on 14 February 2025
• Sussex Police Crime Commissioner - Agreed on 10 February 2025
• Chichester District Council - Agreed on 25 February 2025
• Local parish council - Agreed locally by each parish council

Council tax bill explained

New years guide will be available to view.

Council Tax bill explained (PDF, 317 KB)

You can set up a direct debit to pay your council tax account by visiting the My council tax page. If you already pay your council tax by direct debit then then your payments will continue to be collected by this method.

If you have registered for paperless billing your bills will show on your online account on the day they are produced. You will receive an email alert when your new council tax bill is ready to view.

To view your council tax bill, you must create an online council tax account. To access your account, or create a new online account please visit My council tax.

My council tax (opens new window)

Advantages of creating an online account

By visiting the My council tax page and signing up you can view/apply for the following:

• pay by direct debit
• view your up to date account information
• check your balance, payments and bills
• sign up to paperless billing
• apply for certain reductions
• tell us about a move

Second home and long-term empty premiums

A premium has been agreed for all properties that are not occupied as anyone's sole or main residence, and that are substantially furnished (more commonly referred to as second homes or holiday homes). This premium has been set at 100% from 1 April 2025, and will  be added to standard council tax charge, and will be shown on your bill. 

Properties that are considered long-term empty will also attract a premium. Up to 31 March 2025 a property is only considered long-term empty, once it has been substantially unfurnished for at least two years. However from 1 April 2025, any property that has been substantially unfurnished for one year or more will be considered long-term empty, and will attract a premium.

There are exceptions to the above premiums and these can be found by visiting the second home premium and long-term empty premium page. You can also see full details on all premiums as well as apply for an exception to a premium.

Council tax reduction

Any entitlement to council tax reduction is shown on your council tax bill. When your bill is dispatched your entitlement will be shown under your charge.

If you do not currently receive council tax reduction you can use our online calculator to calculate whether you may be entitled to any help.

If you wish to apply for council tax reduction please visit My benefits.

My benefits (opens new window)

What council tax pays for

Only 8% of your council tax collected is for the services provided by Chichester District Council. Council tax is also collected to pay for services provided by West Sussex County Council, Sussex Police & your local parish council. A specific amount is also collected on behalf of West Sussex County Council which goes towards adult social care. 

Council tax is collected to pay for all services provided. You do not pay specifically for services that you do or do not receive. More information on specific services spending can be found on the relevant authorities information guide.

Contact us 

For further information and advice email taxation@chichester.gov.uk. Alternatively, you can phone us on 01243 534501.