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 includes:

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

What type of information is collected from you

To bill and collect Council Tax payments, we collect the names of all liable persons, the address of the liable property, any other relevant addresses, and bank details. We may also collect and hold dates of birth and national insurance numbers to fulfill our Council Tax functions.

To award discounts and disregards, we require details of other occupiers (e.g., student certificates, proof of child benefit). To award exemptions, we may collect a variety of information (e.g., student certificates, medical information, probate information).

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

Who your information may be shared with (internally and externally)

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

  • 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 use your information to perform any service Central Bedfordshire Council is required to provide. We will make disclosures required by law or under any legal gateway or data protection exemption, such as for detecting or preventing fraud, apprehension or prosecution of offenders, or auditing purposes.

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

How long we keep your information for

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