Council Tax is a charge made on all domestic properties to help pay for local services. The amount of council tax payable for a particular property varies according to property type and location. The council tax is paid to your local district and borough council, but a percentage of the amount you pay is used by Essex County Council (ECC) to pay for the services provided across the county.

Calculating council tax
Information about how the amount of council tax levied on a property is calculated.

District and borough council tax expenditure
Information about how district and borough councils in Essex spend council tax.

Revenue and expenditure
Information about how Essex County Council is funded, and how the council spends the money it receives.

Future council tax expenditure
Information about Essex County Council’s plans for future expenditure.

Council tax benefit and other benefits
Information about financial assistance to help pay Council Tax bills and other benefits.

Essex County Council does not collect council tax payments directly so if your query is related to the actual payments you make, how much they are, how to pay or any similar query, please contact your local district or borough council.

If your query is specifically related to the Essex County Council element of your council tax charge, our budget or any other related query you may want to raise with us directly, then please contact us:

For more information about Council Tax, visit the Directgov website.