Discounts

Please note that from 1st April 2008 there is no discount available if the property is unfurnished and it is no-one's sole or main residence. Council Tax will be payable in full after the six month empty exemption has expired. 

The full Council Tax assumes that there are two or more adults living in a dwelling. If only one adult lives in a dwelling (as their main home), the Council Tax bill will be reduced by 25%. If a dwelling is no one's main home, the bill will be reduced by 10%.

Certain people will not be counted when looking at the number of adults resident in a dwelling if they meet certain conditions:

• full-time students (A student qualifies even during a period when they are not attending the course. They only cease to be a student when they complete, abandon, or are no longer permitted by the educational establishment to attend the course)
• student nurses, apprentices and youth training trainees 
• patients resident in hospital
• people who are being looked after in care homes
• people who are severely mentally impaired
• people staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• 18 and 19 year olds who are at, or who have just left, school
• careworkers working for low pay, usually for charities
• carers for someone with a disability who is not a spouse, partner or child under 18
• members of visiting forces and certain international institutions
• members of religious communities (monks and nuns)
• people in prison (except those in prison for non-payment of Council Tax or a fine)

If your bill indicates that a discount has been allowed, you must tell the Council of any change of circumstances that affects your entitlement. If you fail to do so you may be required to pay a penalty.

The bill will show you if you have been granted a discount and the types are listed below:

Please note that from 1st April 2008 there is no discount available if the property is unfurnished and it is no-one's sole or main residence. Council Tax will be payable in full after a six month empty exemption has expired. 

• Single person - 25% discount because there is only one adult

  living in the property 

• Single with disregards - 25% discount because there is more than one adult living in the property but only one is counted (the others are disregarded)
• Disregards only - 50% discount because all the adult living in the property are disregarded 
• Single who is disregarded - 50% discount because there is only one adult living in the property and he or she is disregarded
• Second Home discount  - 10% discount because the property is furnished but it is nobody's only or main home.

Additional information together with application forms for some of the above discounts are held online and can be viewed here. In all other cases, further information can be obtained by contacting the Council Tax Section on 01483 755855 or email ctax@woking.gov.uk stating the discount you wish to claim.