How to reduce your council tax bill – 14 people who can get a discount | Personal Finance | Finance

People in a number of circumstances can apply to have their council tax bill reduced by 25%. Council tax is a major financial consideration for many households across the UK, especially those in councils where this tax is particularly high. While your bill could be reduced by as much as 100% if you’re on a low income or claim benefits, there are other situations in which bills drop by a quarter. 

It is important to note that council tax bills assume that at least two adults live in a property. If this is not the case, or if you still believe you are in a scenario where you should not be paying as much council tax, then you should check if you are eligible for a discount. When it comes to this, you need to know about the term ‘disregarded person’, as it will be important in determining whether you can get a discount.

The term means a person who is not counted as a second resident for council tax bills, even if they are living at the property. If this is the case, you could get a 25% discount on your council tax bill.

If this is the case for both people living at the property, then your bill could be reduced by 50%. However, if every person is exempt, then you will have no council tax to pay.

The following people are considered ‘disregarded’, meaning the household could be eligible for a council tax discount:

People who believe they are entitled to a discount should find out by writing to their local council. Meanwhile, if you are on a low income, then you could get a complete 100% discount, but the criteria for this differ from council to council. 

Additionally, if your home is undergoing major repairs and is remaining empty for a period of time, it could be exempt from council tax altogether. However, the repair work must be undertaken with the purpose of making the property livable, and the exemption runs out after 12 months.

Meanwhile, certain properties are guaranteed exempt from council tax. This is only the case if all residents of the home are: