Help if you are on a low income
If you are on a low income, you may be able to get help with your Council Tax through the local Council Tax Support scheme.
For help based on a low income, you will need to apply on Citizen Access Benefits.
Single person discount
If you are the only person over 18 years old who lives in your home, you may be entitled to 25% discount.
A temporary presence in a property does not make you a resident there.
Also, a temporary absence does not mean you are no longer resident.
For example, if you go to work in another part of the country, or even abroad, you may still be considered as having your main residence here.
Apply using Citizen Access Revenues.
Discounts for people who aren't counted
Certain people are not counted when working out the number of adults who live in your property. These include:
- the severely mentally impaired (which may include people with dementia including Alzheimers, Parkinsons or who have suffered a stroke)
- certain people in prison or detention
- school pupils, school leavers and people for whom child benefit is still payable
- certain 18 and 19 year olds
- certain full-time students
- non-British spouses of full-time students
- student nurses
- registered foreign language assistants
- apprentices
- youth training trainees
- patients resident in hospital, hostels or nursing or care homes
- care workers
- carers
- people with a relevant association with an international Headquarters and Defence Organisation
- members of visiting forces
- diplomats
- members of religious communities
If there is only 1 person living in your house who is not included in the above list, this person may qualify for a discount of 25%.
Apply using Citizen Access Revenues.
Band reduction for disabled people
If you or somebody you live with is disabled, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax. If a reduction is granted your Council Tax bill will be reduced to match that of a property one band lower.
To qualify for the band reduction the property must provide one or more of the following features essential to the wellbeing of the disabled person:
- a room (but not a bathroom, kitchen or lavatory) which is mainly required for meeting the disabled person’s needs, and is directly linked with the disabled persons disability - for example a room used especially for kidney dialysis treatment
- an additional bathroom or additional kitchen for meeting the needs of the disabled person
- sufficient floor space for a disabled person who has to use a wheelchair around the home
If you do not already receive this reduction and think you may qualify for it, email revenue.services@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
Annexe discount
A 50% reduction in the payable Council Tax is available for annexes. The annexe has to form part of a single property (within the grounds of the main house but not necessarily attached) and:
- be used by the occupier of the main house as part of the main home, or
- be occupied by a relative of the person living in the main house
The 50% reduction is on top of any other discount you or your relative may be entitled to but will be applied against the balance payable.
If you think you qualify for this discount, email revenue.services@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
There are some circumstances where no Council Tax is payable in respect of an annexe. These can be found on our exemptions page.
Discount fraud
The council is committed to making sure that discounts are only awarded to people who are entitled to them and we regularly conduct reviews of these discounts.
If you know of someone who you think may be claiming a discount that they are not entitled to, contact Revenue Services to report it.
Due to data protection we cannot tell you any information about an account or an investigation into an account, but be assured that we will take the matter seriously.
Tell us if your circumstances change
It is important that you let us know if you are no longer entitled to a discount or exemption from Council Tax. We are committed to making sure that discounts only apply to people who are entitled to them.
Let us know of any changes to discounts or exemptions by contacting Revenue Services.
Failure to do so could result in you having to pay a penalty of £70.