How council tax is calculated

Government legislation requires Hampshire County Council’s total council tax to be split into two separate lines on council tax bills: 

• most is shown on the main 'Hampshire County Council' line
• however, we are required to show the council tax which is dedicated to funding adult social care pressures on a separate line, called the 'Adult social care precept'

The council tax increase for the County Council is calculated using our total amount of council tax (i.e. the main 'Hampshire County Council' line plus the 'Adult social care precept' line).

The worked example below sets out the calculations. The amounts used in the example are for a Band D property.

Hampshire County Council’s council tax has increased this year by 4.99%. Funding for adult social care pressures accounts for 2% of this. The remaining 2.99% is being used to help fund all of the services the county council provides.

The presentation on council tax bills, including how the percentage increases are shown, is required by Government legislation and is being used throughout England. The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is responsible for the legislation. Hampshire County Council, along with many other councils, has raised concerns with the Department that the legislation results in bills which are not as clear as we would like them to be. It would be preferable to just show one total amount on bills for Hampshire County Council, especially as a large amount of all our council tax revenue is used to fund social care, but unfortunately the legislation does not permit us to do this.