Council Tax: Discounts and reductions (People)
Council Tax is based on 2 or more eligible adults living in the same home.
Tell us about any other situation so that we can make sure you only pay the right amount of Council tax and no more. You may be able to receive a Council Tax discount. You may be able to receive a Council Tax discount, and this council tax reduction leaflet will help you find out if you are eligible to pay less Council Tax.
You cannot get a Council Tax discount just because you are having trouble paying it. If you are having difficulty paying Council Tax, you can talk to us to see if we can help.
You must tell us immediately of a change in your circumstances. Failure to do so may result in a Council Tax Penalty being imposed. If you disagree with a penalty imposed on you, you may wish to discuss it with us first. Alternatively, you may appeal direct to the Valuation Tribunal Wales
On this page:
- Council Tax when only one adult lives in a property
- If you are a Care Leaver
- Council Tax for students, apprentices and trainees
- People permanently in hospital or residential care
- A young person at home turns 18
- Housing benefit
- Disabled people
- Severely mentally impaired people
- Carers
- Council Tax when somebody has died
- People in prison or other legal detentions
- People in specific situations
- Exceptional individual circumstances
Council Tax when only one adult lives in a property
If you are the only eligible adult living in a property, you may qualify for a 25% discount. This may arise because of a death, separation, divorce or another adult simply moving out - or any other reason.
If you are a care leaver
A person who is between 18 and 25 years of age and is a category 3 young person as defined in the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
Apply for a Care Leavers discount here Council Tax: Care Leavers Discount / Exemption
Council Tax for students, apprentices and trainees
If you are an adult who is a student, apprentice or trainee, you may not have to pay Council Tax. You need to tell us that you are a student and where you are living.
Tell us you are a student here Council Tax: Help for students, apprentices and trainees
Tell us you are an apprentice here Help for apprentices
Tell us you are a trainee here Youth training
People permanently in hospital or residential care
If an adult has moved out of your house to stay in a hospital, residential care home or nursing home permanently, they will not be eligible to pay Council Tax.
Tell us when an adult is permanently in hospital or care here People in residential care
If the property is left permanently unoccupied, you should
Tell us the property is unoccupied here Unoccupied properties
A young person at home turns 18
If you have a young person living at home who turns 18, they are liable to pay Council Tax. If they are students or if you continue to receive child benefit for them, then they will not be liable for Council Tax.
Tell us when a young adult becomes 18 years old here Someone in your home turns 18
Housing benefit
If you receive Housing Benefit, you can claim help towards Council Tax (Reduction), Free School Meals and School Clothing Grants all at the same time.
Apply for housing benefit here Apply for Benefits
Disabled people
You may be able to get a reduction if you or a person that lives with you needs extra space or the use of the property has changed or been adapted.
Severely mentally impaired people
People with a severe mental impairment (such as dementia) could receive a reduction.
Carers
If you are a carer living in the same property as the person you are caring for, you may not have to pay Council Tax.
Find out more about Council Tax help for carers here Council Tax: Help for carers
Council Tax when somebody has died
When an adult has died, you must tell us so that we can make sure that you or the estate only pays the right amount of Council tax and no more. You must also register the death.
Tell Council Tax about a death here Someone has died
People in prison or other legal detentions
If you or an adult in your home has been detained by order of a court in prison, hospital or any other place, that person is not eligible to pay Council Tax.
Tell Council Tax when an adult is detained People in prison or other legal detentions
People in specific situations
You may not be eligible to pay Council Tax if you are a:
- member (or dependent) of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations
- member of Religious Communities
- member (or dependent) of visiting forces
- a non-British spouse of a student
- have diplomatic privilege or immunity
Exceptional individual circumstances
If you are under exceptional unforeseen personal circumstances you may be allowed a discretionary discount. You will have to provide evidence of why your circumstances are exceptional.