Accredited official statistics

Collection rates for Council Tax and non-domestic rates in England, 2023-24: technical notes (revised)

Updated 13 September 2024

Applies to England

1. Accredited Official Statistics Status

This status means that our statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics and should be labelled as ‘Accredited Official Statistics’. Accredited official statistics are called National Statistics in the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007. It is the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities’ statisticians’ responsibility to maintain compliance with these standards.

The designation of these statistics as Accredited Official Statistics was first confirmed in March 2010 following an assessment by the UK Statistics Authority against the previous code.

Since the latest review by the UK Statistics Authority, we have continued to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics, and have made the following improvements:

• Included details about the responsible statistician and the known uses of the data

• Annual review of the validations

• Ensuring that the data collected are fit for purpose.

2. Data collection

The QRC4 data collection is the final in a series of forms issued throughout the year to obtain data about the amounts of council tax and non-domestic rates collected each quarter by local authorities. The QRC4 form additionally collects data about the council tax and non-domestic rates due to be collected and the amounts actually collected (both in respect of the current year and other years), from which an in-year collection rate can be calculated. It also collects data relating to arrears and write-offs.

The QRC4 was issued in April 2024 to all 296 billing authorities in England in 2023-24.

3. Data quality

3.1 Things to note on this release

The information in this release is based on data returned to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on behalf of all 296 billing authorities in England on the final Quarterly Return of Council Taxes and Non-Domestic Rates (QRC4) returns. These returns were submitted between April and June 2024. The data are collected using legislative powers that require all billing authorities to return completed forms. The forms should be completed in accordance with the guidance provided, however this guidance is open to interpretation by local authorities when they complete the forms.

Figures are subjected to rigorous pre-defined validation tests both within the form itself, while the form is being completed by the authority, and then by the DLUHC as the data are received and stored.

Finally, the release document, once prepared, is also subject to intensive peer review before being cleared as fit for the purposes of publication.

3.2 Local government reorganisations

Reorganisations mean that comparisons relating to affected classes of authority (ie shire district, shire council, unitary authority aggregates) need to be made on a like-for-like basis, where the previous year’s data is calculated as if the new structure was in place.

In 2023-24, reorganisation took place in the previous county areas of Cumbria, North Yorkshire, and Somerset, and there are 17 fewer shire districts and 4 more unitary authorities compared to 2022-23. This means there is no direct comparison of figures for classes ‘Shire Districts’ and ‘Unitary Authorities’ between 2022-23 and 2023-24.

3.3 Imputation

No imputation has been required for this release.

4. Definitions

A list of definitions used in this publication relating to local government finance is given in the glossary at Annex G of Local Government Finance Statistics England 2016.

The most relevant terms for this release are explained below.

Arrears – unpaid council tax or non-domestic rates that, in the opinion of the billing authority, can still be collected. They also include costs the local authorities have incurred in attempting to collect unpaid council tax or non-domestic rates.

Billing authority – in 2023-24, there were 296 local authorities empowered to set and collect council tax, and manage the Collection Fund, on behalf of itself and local authorities in its area. They are also empowered to collect non-domestic rates. In England, shire and metropolitan districts, the Council of the Isles of Scilly, unitary authorities, London Boroughs and the City of London are billing authorities. Other types of authority are either precepting authorities or levying bodies.

Business rates retention - the business rates retention scheme was introduced in April 2013. The local government sector (local authorities and fire and rescue authorities) can now keep at least half of any business (non-domestic) rates revenue to invest in local services.

Council tax – a local charge (or charges) set by the billing authority in order to collect sufficient revenue to meet their budget and the precepts issued by the precepting authorities. It is calculated based on the council tax band assigned to the dwelling.

Localisation of council tax support – introduced on 1 April 2013 to provide support to low-income council taxpayers and replaced council tax benefit (where claimants were liable for the full charge, but it was paid by government). It is a locally set discount (claimants are only liable for part of the charge but have to pay it themselves).

National non-domestic rates (NNDR) – also known as business rates, they are a means by which local businesses or organisations contribute to the cost of local authority services. Liable properties include public buildings, pipelines and advertising hoardings, as well as businesses. Some non-domestic properties, such as agricultural land and associated buildings, and churches, are exempt. The national multiplier paid by businesses has been set by the Government.

Net collectable debit (NCD) - the income that authorities should collect in the year if everyone who is liable for either council tax or non-domestic rates pays what they should. This includes not only those who are liable to pay for the whole year but also those who are liable to pay for part of the year. It reflects the amount payable after discounts (council tax) and reliefs (non-domestic rates) are applied.

Precepting authority – this can be either a local precepting authority such as parish or town council, or a major precepting authority such as a county council in two-tier areas, police authorities, fire and rescue authorities and the Greater London Authority.

Technical Reforms to Council Tax – from 1 April 2013 several reforms were made to council tax discounts in a move to give local authorities more control over the level of discounts set in their area. These reforms replaced council tax exemptions for short term empty properties, and properties undergoing major structural repair with a new discretionary discount which allowed local authorities to offer a discount of between 0 and 100% on all empty properties.

An Empty Property Premium was also introduced in 2013 which allows local authorities to charge an additional council tax premium. In 2020-21 the premium was changed to allow a premium of up to 100% on properties which had been empty for between 2 and 5 years and up to 200% for properties which had been empty for more than five years. In 2021-22, the premium was changed to allow a premium of up to 100% on properties which had been empty for between 2 and 5 years, up to 200% for properties which had been empty for between 5 and 10 years, and up to 300% for properties which had been empty for more than 10 years.

Write-offs - the amounts of council tax or non-domestic rates local authorities no longer considered recoverable - this does not include any provision for bad debts. In this release the figures for council tax write-offs should include court costs or administration costs that have also been written off.

5. Revisions policy

The revisions policy has been developed in accordance with the UK Statistics Authority’s Code of Practice for Statistics and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Revisions Policy.

It covers two types of revisions that the policy covers, as follows:

5.1 Non-Scheduled Revisions

Where a substantial error has occurred as a result of the compilation, imputation or dissemination process, the statistical release, live tables, and other accompanying releases will be updated with a correction notice as soon as is practical.

5.2 Scheduled Revisions

At time of publication there are no scheduled revisions for this series.

5.3 Revisions in this release

In the June 2024 release, minor revisions to the 2022-23 figures were included as a result of the late submission and revision of data by Gosport. In the September 2024 revised release, minor revisions to the 2022-23 data have been included following investigations by Isle of Wight and Castle Point. These investigations were undertaken as part of the validation of the 2023-24 data. The impact is relatively small. Revisions to the write-off data have been made to the 2023-24 figures in Table 7 in this release following revised data submitted by Liverpool. Table 9 that accompanies the release has also been updated.

6. Other information

6.1 Uses of the data

The data in this Statistical Release are essential for a number of different purposes. A central and immediate purpose is to provide the Secretary of State, Ministers, HM Treasury and the Office for National Statistics (ONS) with the most up to date information available on the amount of council tax and non-domestic rates collected by local authorities and their performance as shown by collection rates. The data are important sources for various evidence-based policy and financial decisions and answering numerous parliamentary questions.
The figures are used by the ONS in compiling the Public Sector Finances and National Accounts, which are used to set fiscal and monetary policy. The data are collected quarterly during the year and estimates for England are provided to the ONS. These data are published on a quarterly basis and can be found at Live tables on local government finance.

In addition, it is used by local authorities and their associations, other government departments, members of the business community and the general public. The live tables also provide a local authority breakdown of figures relating to the specific billing year and the collection of finance regardless of the year to which it relates.

Because the statistical release includes data for individual authorities, it enables the public (including both council tax and non-domestic rate payers) to compare its authority with others in the same type or locally.

6.2 Related Statistics

The Statistical Release can be found as part of the council tax statistical collection.

Timings of future releases are regularly placed on the Department’s website.

For a fuller picture of recent trends in local government finance, readers are directed to the latest edition of Local Government Finance Statistics England which is available from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities website.

6.3 Devolved Administration Statistics

Both the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government also collect council tax data. Their information can be found at the following websites:

• For Scotland.

• For Wales, in English and in Welsh.

6.4 User Engagement

Users are encouraged to provide feedback on how these statistics are used and how well they meet user needs. Comments on any issues relating to this statistical release are welcomed and encouraged. Responses should be addressed to the contact given in the first page of the release or to qrc.statistics@levellingup.gov.uk.

See also the Department’s engagement strategy to meet the needs of statistics users.