Council Tax discounts and reductions
Council Tax discounts
Single person discount
We calculate Council Tax based on two adults living in the property. If only one person lives in a property, they are entitled to a 25% single person discount.
Please note: when you click the button below, select 'Apply for single person discount'.
Apply for a single person discount
If you are no longer a single person living in a property, it's up to you to tell us to cancel the single person discount. If you don't, you may have to pay a fine. We are currently doing a review of single person discounts.
People who aren't counted for Council Tax
Some people living in a property are not counted when we calculate Council Tax. This is called a 'disregard'. If someone is disregarded, you may get a discount on your Council Tax bill.
These people can be disregarded for Council Tax purposes:
- Qualifying students and student nurses
- Certain school and college leavers under the age of 20, who have finished a full-time course between 1 May and 31 October
- People aged over 18 for whom child benefit is still payable
- People with a severe mental impairment who are entitled to a qualifying benefit
- Certain non-British spouses or dependants of students
- Carers (see carer’s discount below)
- Certain apprentices
- Certain youth training trainees under the age of 25
- Long-term or permanent hospital patients
- Certain residents of other properties (for example, residential care homes or hostels for the homeless)
- Most people who are detained in prison or other form of detention
- Members of religious communities (for example, monks and nuns)
- Members of visiting forces and certain dependants
- Members and dependants of international headquarters and defence organisations
- Diplomats
People who work away from home during the week are usually treated as living at the property they return to. This is normally where their family lives or where they manage their financial affairs.
Please note: When you click the button below, select 'Disregarded person discount'.
Apply for a disregarded person discount
Carer’s discount
You must be resident at the property you are applying for the discount at and live with the person that you provide care for. There are two types of people who can be classed as a care worker.
Employed care workers
A person may be disregarded for the purposes of discount if they are:
- providing care on behalf of an official or charitable body, or
- employed to provide such care or support by the person to whom it is provided and was introduced by the official or charitable body
- employed to do so for at least 24 hours per week
- in receipt of no more than £44 remuneration per week, and
- resident in premises provided by or on behalf of the official or charitable body, local authority, government department, or the person cared for, to enable the best care to be provided
Voluntary care workers
If you and your carer live in your home, you may be able to get a carers’ discount to reduce your bill by 25%. The live-in carer must provide care for at least 35 hours a week and they must not be either:
- the partner of the person who is being cared for
- the parent/guardian of the person receiving care if that person is under 18
The person being cared for must normally get one of these benefits:
- Disability Living Allowance (middle or higher rate of the care component)
- Personal Independence Payment (daily living component at any rate)
- Attendance Allowance (any rate)
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Constant Attendance Allowance (an increase in rate/higher rate)
- Disablement Pension (an increase in rate/highest amount of increase)
In certain circumstances, when just you and your carer live in your home, you may still be able to get a carers’ discount (when we do not count your live-in carer), even if the cared-for person does not get one of the benefits above.
If you think you may qualify for a reduction, you can apply online. When you complete the form, select the option that applies to you:
- If you are an employed care worker, select 'Carer (Employed)'
- If you are a voluntary or live-in carer, select 'Carer'
Apply for a discount because of a severe mental impairment
You may be entitled to a full or partial reduction if you or somebody living with you is registered as severely mentally impaired.
Please note: When you click the button below, select 'Apply for a reduction if you are severely mentally impaired or you have someone living with you that is'.
Apply for a discount because of a severe mental impairment
Discounts on properties
A property that has been adapted for a disabled person may also be eligible for a discount. See Council Tax reductions for disabled people.
There is one other property discount available:
- On separately assessed annexes, where the annex is occupied by either:
- the resident of the main home
- a close relative of the Council Tax payer who lives in the main home
You must tell us if you no longer qualify for a discount. If you don't, you may have to pay a fine.
Some properties are exempt from Council Tax. See Council Tax exemptions.
Sending us documents
You can upload evidence and supporting documents online.