Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

Council Tax

How Can I Get Money Off My Council Tax?

• Single person discount
• Disregarded residents
• Exemptions
• Disabled residents
• Council Tax Benefit

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Single person discount

The full Council Tax bill assumes that there are two adults living in a home. If you are the only person over 18 living in a property, you are entitled to claim a discount of 25% off your bill.

 

If you want to claim a single person discount, email counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.

 

If someone else over 18 moves in while you are in receipt of a single person discount, you must inform us immediately. We will take legal action against anyone who fraudulently claims a discount or exemption.

 

This discount will be reviewed on a regular basis by the council.

Disregarded residents

When counting the number of adults living in a property, certain groups of people are not counted and are disregarded for Council Tax purposes.

 

If this means that only one person is counted, you are entitled to a single person discount of 25% off your bill.

 

Where everyone living in a property is disregarded, you are entitled to a 50% discount off your bill. In some circumstances the property may even be exempt so that no Council Tax is payable at all.

 

If your bill shows that we have given you a discount, you must tell us about any change in your circumstances that could affect your discount. We will take legal action against anyone who fraudulently claims a discount or exemption.

 

This discount will be reviewed on a regular basis by the council.

Exemptions

Some properties are exempt from Council Tax while they are occupied, such as student halls of residence.

 

Some other properties are exempt only if they are unoccupied.

 

Some exemptions apply for a limited period of time, and others last as long as the circumstances leading to the exemption qualification continue.

 

If your bill shows that we have given you an exemption, you must tell us about any change in your circumstances that could affect your entitlement. We will take legal action against anyone who fraudulently claims a discount or exemption.

Disabled residents

If you or anyone who normally lives with you is disabled we may reduce your tax by one valuation band. This will depend on whether you have extra rooms or have changed the way you use the rooms in your home.

 

For more information on this reduction, see Disabled Relief.

Council Tax Benefit

If you are in receipt of other benefits, such as Income Support, Jobseekers Allowance or Housing Benefit, you may also be entitled to Council Tax Benefit. If you think you may be entitled to Council Tax Benefits, please complete the Cut your Council Tax form which is available in pdf format (52 Kb) .  (Help with Portable Document Format ). Please return the form to the address shown on the form. The benefits department will then be in contact with you to let you know what information they need to process your claim.

 

For more information, see Council Tax Benefit.

 

For further information please contact the Council Tax office on Tel: 01329 824651, or e-mail counciltax@fareham.gov.uk.

 

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