Council tax rebates: expert advice from RIFT

Council Tax rebates, discounts and reductions can be a tricky subject, leaving a lot of people paying out more tax than they should. If you don’t check your Council Tax band, you can even end up paying the wrong Council Tax altogether.

Depending on your circumstances and the people you live with, you might be able to get your Council Tax rate reduced. Knowing how to apply for a Council Tax rebate, and which kinds of tax relief you qualify for, is the key – so here’s a quick rundown from the friendly experts at RIFT.

Council tax bands explained

The bands for council Tax are rated from A-H, based on the value of your property – or at least, its value way back in 1991. The problem is, the band you’re in won’t necessarily always be correct. For instance, if the property’s been changed, is being used for different purposes now or has been demolished altogether, you’ll need to check your Council Tax band as soon as possible.

To do this, your first move should be to visit the gov.uk website and look the property up there (if your property’s in Scotland, you should visit the Scottish Assessor’s site instead). You’ll be asked to back up your challenge with some basic information, but if the band’s wrong you should be able to get it fixed.

Apply for a Council tax rebate, discount or reduction

There are several reasons why you might be able to apply for a Council tax rebate, and two basic types of help you can get:

Council tax discount: A 25% council tax discount can apply if you're living alone (or with someone who doesn’t count for Council Tax). You may also be able to get this discount for holiday homes or properties that have been altered to fit the needs of a disabled person.
Council Tax Reduction: You can apply for a Council Tax Reduction if you and your partner have under £16,000 in savings and capital, or if you’re on a low income.

There’s also a special Council Tax rebate called the Second Adult Rebate or ‘alternative maximum Council Tax Reduction’. This sounds complicated, but it basically just means you’re the only person at your property who’s responsible for Council Tax, but you’re living with another adult who doesn’t pay rent, isn’t your partner and is on certain benefits or a low income.

To apply for a Council tax rebate, you’ll need to get in touch with your council directly. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can check by typing your post code into the special page on the gov.uk website. Naturally, you’ll have to back up your application with some information about your property and the people living there, but if you qualify it’s well worth claiming.

Need more?Need more information on Council tax?

Council tax debt help - where do I start?

Use this guide to understand why Council tax debts need to be cleared fast, if you're paying the right amount of council tax and help available if you're struggling with your bill.

Read guide

Council tax breakdown - what it goes towards

Our research found that just over half of people aren't aware what they contribute towards by paying their Council tax despite it being the second largest outgoing for 57% of people.

Read guide

Council Tax£2bn more paid in council tax last year

Last year we paid £2bn more in council tax, find out what was paid across your local area.

Want more?Want to save some money?

Of course you do! Get a grip on your cash with our money saving tips, guides and videos sent straight to your inbox.

Submit your email address