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Home: Community: Money: Council tax

Council tax discounts available for personal circumstances

Helen Rodger - March 2011
council.tax@kirklees.gov.uk

Do you live alone?

You can claim a 25% council tax discount if you live alone. We call this 'single person discount'.

You can apply for single person discount online or download a single person discount application form (PDF: 49kb). Alternatively you can contact us. You must tell us straight away if another adult moves in with you, or if a dependent living with you turns 18, whilst you are receiving single person discount. You will no longer be able to claim single person discount, but depending on your circumstances you may be able to claim a different council tax reduction or benefit.

You can ask us to remove your single person discount online or contact us. The sooner you tell us, the more time we can give you to spread any council tax charge you have to pay.
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Are you an apprentice or trainee?

For council tax purposes we class an apprentice as someone:
  • learning a trade, business, profession, office employment or vocation, and
  • undertaking a programme of training leading to a qualification acceptable by the National Council for Vocational Qualification (NVQ), and,
  • payment is substantially less than expected on qualification, and is less than £195.00 per week
A youth training trainee is someone under the age of 25 and training under the arrangements of Section 2 of the Employment and Training Act 1973.

To claim an apprentice, or trainee disregard you must complete an application form. Contact us and we'll send one to you. If you are a full time student you may not have to pay council tax. This depends on your circumstances, and of the people you live with.
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Are you responsible for paying council tax for a property you don't live in?

You may not have any council tax to pay if you no longer live in the property because you have: You must apply for these exemptions. Either download an application form, or contact us and we'll send one to you. Other reductions are available for unoccupied second homes and properties which are unoccupied and unfurnished.
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Are you or your partner on a low income?

If yes, you may be able to claim council tax benefit.
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Do you live with another adult (not a partner) who is on a low income?

If yes, you may be entitled to a second adult rebate of up to 25%.
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Do you live with other adults who fall into one of these categories?

You may receive a discount if you live with another adult who is: We may be able to ignore, or 'disregard', these people when we calculate your council tax bill, which could reduce your council tax bill by 25%. This discount is known as a 'discount disregard'.

To apply for a discount disregard you must complete the application form relevant to your circumstances. Either download one of our online forms, or contact us and we'll send you the information you need.
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Are you staying in a care home or hostel?

You may be entitled to a discount of 50% if you and everyone else in your household is:
  • staying in a care home.
  • living in certain hostels.
If you think you may qualify for this discount you should contact us and tell us your address. We have a list of homes and hostels where you do not have to pay council tax, so we could arrange your council tax exemption automatically.
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Are you entitled to diplomatic privileges or are you a member of defence organisations?

You may be able to claim a council tax discount if you are:
  • a member of international headquarters, defence organisations or visiting forces.
  • entitled to diplomatic privileges or immunities.
Please contact us to discuss your situation.
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What happens if my circumstances change whilst I receive a council tax discount?

You may not be entitled to receive the council tax discount you are claiming, depending on what the change is.

You must tell us straight away if your circumstances change so we can check your bill is right. The sooner you tell us about a change, the more time we have to spread your council tax payments for you.

You can cancel a single person discount online. To cancel other discounts, or to ask about claiming other reductions, you will have to contact us. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to claim a different reduction or council tax benefit.

Receiving a discount when you know you are not entitled to it could be considered an offence under the Theft Act 1978.
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Council tax - Contact details

Email

  • council.tax@kirklees.gov.uk
    General enquires, discounts, disregards and payment up to court summons stage.
  • council.recovery@kirklees.gov.uk
    Enquiries about accounts which have been summonsed to court, or are involved in recovery action such as attachment of earnings, bailiffs or deductions from benefit.

Visit us

Write to us

  • Kirklees Council
    Council Tax Section
    Civic Centre 1
    Huddersfield
    HD1 2NF
    If your enquiry relates to an account which has been summonsed to court, or where we are taking recovery action against you, please mark your letter for the attention of the 'Council Tax Section - Recovery Team'.

Telephone

  • 01484 414818
    To make a payment using your debit or credit card. Automated line, open 24 hours a day, year round.
  • 01484 414900
    General enquiries about council tax, including discounts, disregards and payment, up to the stage where a reminder has been issued. Lines open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.
  • 01484 414959
    Recovery Team: For all enquiries after a reminder has been issued if you are unable to pay it, and where recovery action is taking place. Lines open from 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday.

Fax

  • 01484 221123

Minicom

  • 01484 414858
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