Council Tax: how we use your data

Council Tax privacy notice

Who we are and what we do

The Revenues and Benefits Service is responsible for the efficient and effective billing, collection and recovery of Council Tax.

Address:

Revenues and Benefits
Central Bedfordshire Council
Priory House
Monks Walk
Chicksands
Shefford
Bedfordshire
SG17 5TQ

Why we need your information and how we use it

We are required by legislation to levy and collect Council Tax from those who are liable. That legislation is as follows:

We use your information for administering Council Tax to set up an account for billing and collection purposes and for processing any discounts, disregards and exemptions you may be entitled to.

What type of information is collected from you

To bill you and collect Council Tax payments we collect the names of all liable persons, the address of which you are liable, any other relevant addresses and bank details. We may also collect and hold dates of birth and national insurance numbers for the purpose of fulfilling our Council Tax functions.

To award discounts and disregards we require details of other occupiers, for example student certificates, proof of child benefit etc.

To award exemptions depending on the type of exemption we collect a variety of information, for example student certificates, medical information, probate information etc.

We also collect phone numbers and email addresses for the purpose of communicating directly with you by email or text when you have missed a payment, and / or to offer you a payment arrangement or to request or provide information.

Who your information may be shared with (internally and externally

We share information as required in legislation and/or for the administration and enforcement of Council Tax. This includes:

  • The Valuation Office Agency
  • The Valuation Tribunal
  • Her Majesty’s Court Service
  • Enforcement agents
  • The Department for Work & Pensions
  • Her Majesty's Revenues and Customs
  • to support a claim for Local Council Tax Support (provided by you)

We will use your information for the purpose of performing any service that Central Bedfordshire Council is required to provide.

We will make any disclosures required by law or under any legal gateway or data protection exemption to other bodies such as for detecting or preventing fraud, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or auditing purposes. We may share the details with other organisations that handle public funds and assist in the processing of other benefits.

We will share information with a third party where you have given us written permission to do so.

How long we keep your information for

We will not keep your information longer than what is necessary. We retain data for taxpayers dating back to 1993 for the purpose of successful challenges to liability and Council Tax banding.