Check if you can pay less council tax

You might be able to pay less council tax or not pay it at all depending on your circumstances. 

You might be able to get:

• discounts - for example, for a single person or an empty property

• Council Tax Reduction (CTR) if you have low income

• a different reduction if you can’t get much CTR

Check if you can get a discount on your council tax

You might get a discount automatically on your council tax bill. If you're not sure whether you're already getting a discount, check your bill or contact the council. You can find your council's contact details on GOV.UK.

If you're not getting a discount, you might still be entitled to one. It depends who lives in the property.

Check if you can get a single person discount

If you're the only adult in your home, you’ll get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.

When working out how many people live in a property, some people aren’t counted - they’re called ‘disregarded people’.

If everyone who lives in the property is disregarded there’s still a council tax bill, but it will have a 50% discount.

You won't pay any council tax if everyone in your home is a student, severely mentally impaired or a 'care leaver'. Care leavers are certain people who used to live in care.

If you're entitled to a discount because someone has moved out, tell the council. You're entitled to the discount from when the person moved out, even if you told the council later.

Some other people might also be disregarded - for example, some live-in care workers. Your local council will tell you if they’re disregarded when you apply.

Enghraifft

Example 1

Dan has learning disabilities and lives in a property with his carer. They’re both disregarded people. They’re entitled to a 50% discount on their council tax.

If you have another home

Your local council might give you a discount if you have another home you don't live in - for example, if it's not safe to live in or it's connected to your main home.

If you or someone you live with is disabled

The council tax bill for the property might be reduced.

You must be able to show that a disabled person lives in the property to claim a reduction. The property must also have either:

• an extra kitchen or bathroom to meet the needs of a disabled person

• any other room (except a toilet) which is mainly used by a disabled person to meet their needs

• enough indoor space for a disabled person to use their wheelchair

If you or someone you live with is disabled, the council will charge you the rate for the next lowest council tax band instead.

For example, if your property is in band D, you'll pay the band C council tax rate. If your property is in band A, your council tax bill will be reduced by 17% instead - this is because band A is the lowest band.

Ask your local council if you can get a ‘disabled person’s reduction’. You can find your council's contact details on GOV.UK.

Some local councils ask for extra evidence - for example, a doctor’s letter.

If you’re a care leaver under 24 years old

You shouldn’t have to pay any council tax. If you share your home with other people who have to pay council tax, you’re not responsible for paying any of the bill.

If you think your bill is wrong

If you think you should get a discount and your bill doesn’t show you got one, you should apply to your local council for a discount as soon as possible. You can find your council's contact details on GOV.UK.

If your bill shows that your local council has applied a discount and you think you shouldn’t have had one, you must tell your local council within 21 days. If you don’t, your local council might send you a £50 penalty.

If you have a complaint about your discount

You can write to your local council and explain your complaint. They should get back to you within 2 months. If they don’t agree with you or they don’t reply within 2 months, you can appeal to a valuation tribunal.

You can find out more about how to appeal your council’s decision.

Check if you can apply for Council Tax Reduction

If you’re on a low income you might be able to get your council tax reduced. If you get benefits or have other people living with you, this might affect how much your council tax is reduced by.

Your local council will ask you details about your income and your circumstances, so they can work out if you’re entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR). They will then work out your new bill and tell you how much council tax you need to pay.

If you have other people living with you who are aged 18 or over, you might all be responsible for paying council tax. Only one of you needs to apply for CTR.

If you're awarded CTR, you won't normally get an actual payment. The council will reduce the amount of council tax you have to pay.

Check if you can claim UK benefits

You'll need to show that the UK, Ireland, Channel Islands or Isle of Man is your main home and you plan to stay - this is known as being ‘habitually resident’.

If you've recently returned to the UK after a period of living or working abroad you might have difficulty showing that you are habitually resident.

If you’re not a British citizen, you can only get CTR if your immigration status lets you claim 'public funds'. Check if your immigration status lets you claim public funds.

Check which CTR rules apply

Which rules apply usually depends on whether you’ve reached State Pension age. You can check your State Pension age on GOV.UK .

If you’re under State Pension age, the ‘working age rules’ apply.

If you've reached State Pension age, it depends if you or your partner get certain benefits.

The working age rules still apply if you've reached State Pension age and you or your partner get:

• Universal Credit

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Income Support

If you've reached State Pension age and don't get any of these benefits, the 'pension age rules' apply.

If you own capital jointly

If you own capital jointly with someone else who isn't your partner, you’ll usually be treated as owning half. For example, if you have a joint savings account with your son worth £16,000, you’ll be treated as having savings of £8,000.

If you share the account with your partner, you’ll be treated as having savings of £16,000.

If another adult lives with you the council might reduce how much CTR you get. This is because some adults are expected to pay towards your household bills.

The council won't reduce how much CTR you get if the other adult is your partner, or if they're also responsible for paying council tax.

Apply for CTR

You can find out about applying for CTR.

If you can’t get CTR

Your local council can still reduce your council tax bill or cancel it altogether, this is called ‘discretionary reduction’. They’ll normally only do this if you can show that you’re suffering severe hardship and can’t afford to pay council tax. If you’re in this situation you should ask your local council for help. You’ll need to show them evidence of your circumstances.

If your immigration status doesn’t let you claim public funds, you can still apply for a discretionary reduction. A discretionary reduction doesn’t count as public funds.

You can find your council’s contact details on GOV.UK.

If you don’t get a discretionary reduction

You might be able to appeal to a valuation tribunal. If the tribunal agree with you they can order your council to reduce or even cancel your council tax bill. 

You can find out more about how to appeal.

If you want to make a complaint about your local council

You should use your local council's own complaints process first. You can find your council’s contact details on GOV.UK.

If you're not happy with the council's response you might be able to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman.

You can check the factsheet on complaining to the Local Government Ombudsman about your CTR claim on the ombudsman's website.