A guide to your Council Tax

Council Tax is something most of us pay, but not everyone knows exactly where that money goes.

Who collects it?

At Horsham District Council we collect your Council Tax, but we only keep a small portion, just 7.4%. The rest is shared out to

• West Sussex County Council (at 77.4%),
• Sussex Police (at 11.6%) and
• Local Parishes/Neighbourhood Councils (at 3.6%).

The rates for each charge making up the entire Council Tax bill are set annually by those organisations.

Here is a breakdown of how your contributions help keep your community running:

What does it pay for?

Council Tax makes up 22% of Horsham District Council’s income (the rest comes from
fees and charges, investments, government funding, contributions from other agencies and our share of Business Rates).
With our total budget for 2026/27 of £55.1million we deliver:

• Recycling, waste and environmental services: £14.8million (26.9%)
• Planning, property, building control and economic development: £9.6million (17.5%)
• Supporting front-line services (this includes democratic services like running elections as well as emergency planning, customer service and finance): £13.4million (24.3%)
• Revenues and benefits, housing and community services: £8.8million (16.0%)
• Leisure and culture: £5.6million (10.1%)
• Parking: £2.9million (5.2%)

West Sussex County Council use their share for:

• Social care and health services
• Schools and education
• Fire and rescue services
• Highways and public transport
• Libraries and community centres.

Sussex Police funding supports:

*Local policing
*Crime prevention
*Victim support and justice services.

Parish Councils focus on:

*Local events and safety
*Some local parks and leisure facilities
*Some street cleaning and bus shelters.

Council Tax helps fund the services that make Horsham District a great place to live. From clean streets to safe communities, your contribution goes a long way.

Do you pay by Direct Debit?

79% of residents pay their Council Tax by Direct Debit.  Paying by Direct Debit is the easiest and most secure way to pay. It saves the hassle of paying each month and avoids any late or missed payments.