Getting a discount on your Council Tax bill

Half of your Council Tax (50%) is made up of a personal element based on two people over 18 living at the property that are both counted for Council Tax purposes. If your circumstances are different you may be able to get a discount.

If there is only one person over 18 in your home you can get a discount of 25% on your bill. This is called a Single Person's Discount.

If there are people over 18 in your home who are not counted for Council Tax purposes you may be able to get another type of discount on your bill:

• Severely Mentally Impaired (SMI) Person's Discount if someone in your home is mentally disabled.
• Carer's Discount for when people are receiving care in their own home.
• Students living with you can reduce your bill, including some student nurses and some apprentices and youth trainees.
• If someone who usually lives with you is in prison or held somewhere else by the authorities your bill may be reduced.
• If someone who lives with you is a member of a religious community your bill may be reduced.

The following people are also not counted for Council Tax purposes. If any of them are part of your household we may be able to discount your bill by 25% or even by 50%. Tell us so that we can check:

• A non-British partner or other dependant of a student, who is not allowed to work or claim benefits.
• Someone under 20 and still at school or who has just left school.
• Someone who still has Child Benefit paid for them.
• A Foreign Language Assistant.
• Long-stay hospital patients.
• A person who lives in a hostel for the homeless or a night shelter.
• Members of international headquarters and defence organisations and their dependants.
• Members of visiting forces and their dependants.
• A person with diplomatic immunity and privileges.

If your house has been adapted in some way because you or someone who lives with you is disabled you may be able to claim a Disabled Person's Discount

If you have left your house unoccupied because you need to receive personal care whether in a care home or hospital you will not have to pay Council Tax on your unoccupied property. This does not include short stays in hospital.

Whether or not you qualify for a discount on your Council Tax bill if you have a low income you may be able to claim Council Tax Benefit.

If you live with other adults (not your partner) who can't afford to help you pay the Council Tax bill but who prevent you from getting a Single Person Discount you may be able to claim Second Adult Rebate.

If your property has been left empty (unoccupied) for some reason it may be exempt from Council Tax. 

Occupied properties are also sometimes exempt from Council Tax if they are occupied by certain groups of people.