Skip to content

We use cookies on this site

If you don't want to accept cookies, you can change your preferences

Accept Manage cookies
  1. Home
  2. About the council
  3. Information governance
  4. Data protection
  5. Privacy notice
Town Hall icon

Revenues (Council Tax and Business Rates) privacy notice

This privacy notice applies to the council's revenue services. It explains what personal data (information) we hold about you and how we use it.

Last updated: December 2025 

What this notice is about 

This notice explains how we process and store personal information about you so that we can collect statutory revenues (Council Tax and Business Rates) and assess if you can get any associated discounts, exemptions or reliefs.   

You should also read our main privacy notice, which gives more details about your rights and how to contact us. 

What information we collect, hold and use 

We may collect: 

  • full name 
  • address and contact details 
  • date of birth 
  • National Insurance number 
  • financial information, such as bank details if you pay by direct debit 
  • health or medical information, if you apply for certain council tax discounts or reliefs 
  • information about other members of your household 
  • property details, for example photographs, ownership details, tenancy or lease details 
  • business information, such as company registration number 
  • information from current and previous local authorities, where legislation allows 
  • equalities information for example disability status if you apply for disability-related discounts or services.

Where we get your information from 

We get information from:

  • directly from you or someone who is acting for you 
  • previous owners, landlords, letting or managing agents 
  • Government departments, for example the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) or HM Revenue and Customs(HMRC) 
  • the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) 
  • credit reference agencies 
  • enforcement agents and tracing services 
  • publicly available sources, for example Companies House or the Land Registry.

How we use this information 

We use your information to: 

  • process your revenues account and payments 
  • decide if you qualify for any discounts, reliefs or exemptions 
  • recover outstanding debt 
  • prevent fraud, for example by working with other council departments and the National Fraud Initiative. See the National Fraud Initiative privacy notice 
  • let you know about important council initiatives or other services that may help you access support more easily or manage your Council Tax or Business Rates account more effectively. This helps us deliver services efficiently and support residents and businesses in the borough.

Our legal reasons for processing (using) your data 

Under UK General Data Protection Regulations (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 (DPA 2018) and the Data Use and Access Act 2025 (DUAA 2025) we use your data because: 

  • it’s our legal obligation (the law says we must) 
  • we are doing something in the public interest or as part of our official duties 
  • in other situations where you give your consent (you said that we can). 

If the information you provide includes special category data - such as details about your health, disability status, or other equalities information - we will only use this where it is necessary and lawful to do so. The legal basis we rely on is: 

  • Article 9(2)(g) of the UK GDPR processing is necessary for reasons of substantial public interest, as supported by Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Data Protection Act 2018 (e.g. statutory and government purposes, preventing fraud, or safeguarding).
  • in some cases, we may rely on Article 9(2)(a): your explicit consent, for example, if you choose to provide medical evidence to support a discount or exemption. 

Other laws that apply to our services 

We follow these laws:  

  • Local Government Finance Act 1982, 1988 and 1992 
  • The Council Tax Reduction Schemes (Prescribed Requirements) (England) Regulations 2012 
  • The Council Tax (Administration and Enforcement) Regulations 1992 
  • The Non-Domestic Rating (Collection and Enforcement) (Local Lists) Regulations 1989 
  • The Business Improvement Districts (England) Regulations 2004  
  • The Digital Economy Act 2017 (for data sharing) 
  • The Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 (for ONS sharing). 

Who we share your information with 

We may share your information with the following: 

  • other departments in the council 
  • the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) 
  • Government departments 
  • Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) 
  • HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) 
  • Office for National Statistics (ONS) 
  • National Audit Office (NAO)  
  • Cabinet Office (for NFI) 
  • National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN) 
  • enforcement agents (bailiffs) 
  • the police 
  • judicial agencies, for example Courts 
  • legal representatives 
  • other local authorities 
  • credit reference and tracing agencies 
  • someone acting on your behalf, for example with power of attorney
  • companies that work on our behalf such as software providers and printing and mailing providers. 

Sometimes the law requires us to share your data, and in those cases, we do not need your consent. 

We will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. 

How we store your data 

We keep your information safe in our secure case management system. Only staff who need it can see it.  To protect your data, we use security measures like encryption, access controls, and routine audits. 

To find out how long we keep your information for, please check our main privacy notice and retention schedule. 

Your individual rights 

You have rights over your personal data. For more details see our main privacy notice and the page about your individual rights.  

Complaints 

If you are unhappy with how we use your data, please see the council’s main privacy notice to find out how to make a complaint.   

Was this information helpful?



Data protection: We will handle your personal information in line with the Data Protection Act 1998 and in accordance with the council’s Fair Processing Notice.