Cut The Cost Of Your Council Tax

If you pay your council tax over ten months rather than 12, then in February and March you’ll have a break from payments. But wouldn’t it be nice to see a reduction every month?

- Andy Webb

Well, depending on your situation, you might be entitled to a discount or cashback on your bill. And if not, there’s a chance you can challenge your council tax band. Last year, 25% of appeals were successful, that’s a whopping total of more than 10,000 households.

Check for a discount

If you live alone, your council tax can be cut by 25%. You get the same discount if you’re the only adult— and that can be the case even if there are under 18s, students and anyone with a severe mental impairment living with you.

You might get a discount if you are on a low income, are disabled, receive certain benefits or are a live-in carer for a non-relative who is disabled, though these are all dependent on different factors.

There’s also a discount for second or empty homes, though that does depend on where you live as each council has a different policy.

Spread out your bill over 12, not ten payments