Council Tax Reduction, Discounts and Exemptions

About the Council Tax Reduction scheme as well as discounts and exemptions available

You can find full details about all discounts, reductions and exemptions (and whether you may be eligible) in our Icon for pdf Council Tax Guide 2023/24 [981KB] .

We've listed key information about the Council Tax Reduction (CTR) scheme and different discounts and exemptions below.

All Council Tax discounts are reviewed on a regular basis. If you have received a review letter asking to confirm your entitlement to a discount, please complete and return the letter as instructed. Failure to do so may result in the discount being cancelled.

Most Council Tax discounts require documentary evidence. Please contact the Council Tax Team for further information.

You can also find further details about Council Tax on the GOV.UK website.

On this page:

Council Tax Reduction

If you qualify for Council Tax Reduction, you'll get money off your Council Tax bill.

For full details about the scheme, please read our Council Tax Reduction Scheme [2MB] , or you can view a summary of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme [853KB] .

The 2023/24 Scheme

In 2023/24 there are no significant changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR) for West Berkshire. The CTR scheme for 2023/24 continues to mirror Housing Benefit annual uprating of allowances and premiums used in the calculation of entitlement.

Local variations in working age CTR schemes are summarised below, and were implemented following consultation. These amendments do not apply to pension age claimants or working age claimants who fall within a protected group.

The following working age scheme amendments continue into 2023/24:

The capital limit for people of working age seeking to claim CTR has reduced from £16,000 to £6,000, unless a claimant or partner qualify for an income-related benefit (income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support). Where the sum of capital held by a claimant and/or their partner exceeds £6,000, either on 1 April 2023 or on the date of a new claim for CTR, there will be no entitlement to CTR for the entire remainder of the billing year.
The maximum Council Tax liability eligible for CTR cannot exceed the amount for a Band C property. If you are residing in a property banded D to H you can receive CTR but this will be limited to the amount which would have been received if living in a Council Tax band C property within the same parish.
A minimum contribution is payable by working age claimants, equivalent to 30% of Council Tax liability after deductions for any other discounts or reductions.
If neither claimant or partner are receiving an income related benefit, the percentage of excess income (taper) used in the calculation is 30%. Excess income is the difference between weekly income and applicable amounts (the applicable amount is the minimum weekly income figure set by Central Government for anyone sharing your circumstances).
The minimum weekly CTR award is £10 per week. No CTR will be awarded where calculated entitlement is below this level.
Second adult rebate is no longer available where another adult is residing with you. CTR can only be awarded where the income and circumstances of a claimant and partner (if applicable) qualify for an entitlement.

The above provisions will not apply if you or your partner are:

of State Pension age and not receiving a working age benefit
in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment
in receipt of Attendance Allowance
in receipt of a War Pension
in receipt of a disability element of Working Tax Credit
in receipt of Severe Disablement Allowance
in receipt of Incapacity Benefit at the long term rate or, if they are terminally ill, the short term higher rate
in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance (income or contribution based)
in receipt of a 'limited capability for work' component within an award of Universal Credit
responsible for a child or young person who lives with you and receives Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment

Owners of empty homes in West Berkshire have to pay Council Tax for those properties.

Making a claim

You can apply for Council Tax Reduction whether you own your home, rent, are unemployed or working.

To find out how to make a claim for Council Tax Reduction, please see our Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction claims page.

Exceptional Hardship Fund

If you have applied for Council Tax Reduction but you believe that you (or a member of your family) will suffer exceptional hardship if you do not receive further assistance, you should complete a Icon for doc Council Tax Reduction Scheme Exceptional Hardship Claim [65KB] and return it to the Benefits Team. This form is now provided in Word format so that it can be completed and returned to us in the same way as a claim for Council Tax Reduction.

Keep us informed

If you are already receiving Council Tax Reduction (and/or Housing Benefit) and your circumstances have changed, please report the change(s) using our Icon for doc change of circumstances form [792KB] . This may affect how much Council Tax you have to pay.

We'll send you a revised Council Tax bill showing any changes.

Disagreements and appeals

If you disagree with our decision regarding your entitlement to Council Tax Reduction you can ask us to look at it again.

You should contact the Benefits Team promptly, in writing (by letter), telling us what you think is wrong and why.

Single Person Discount

If you're the only resident in your household over the age of 18, you can apply for Single Person Discount to get a 25% discount on your Council Tax bill.

This discount can still apply where there are other adults in the household. These adults can be:

full time students
student nurses
apprentices
youth training trainees
permanent hospital patients
residents of certain homes and hostels
severely mentally impaired people
residents of certain hostels and night shelters
members of certain religious communities
certain 18 and 19 year olds
carers and care workers
persons held in prison or legal detention
members of international headquarters or defence organisations
members of visiting forces
non-British spouses of students
residents of a self-contained annexe occupied by a relation of the person liable to pay Council Tax on the main dwelling (50% discount)

You can apply for Single Person Discount on the My Council Tax website (this form is underneath 'Apply for Council Tax reductions').

You can also cancel your Single Person Discount on My Council Tax if your circumstances change (this form is also underneath 'Apply for Council Tax reductions').

Disabled Reduction

If a disabled person is resident in your home, you may be eligible for Council Tax Disabled Reduction.

For full eligibility information, please refer to our Icon for pdf Council Tax Guide 2023-24 [981KB] .

To apply, please complete and return the Icon for pdf Council Tax Disabled Reduction application form [214KB] to the Council Tax Team.

Exemptions and unoccupied charges

The following categories of property are not eligible for an exemption or reduction:

vacant property (unless included in the exemptions below)
second homes
landlord unoccupied/unfurnished property
property newly constructed or subject to repair

Properties exempt from Council Tax are those:

unoccupied and owned by a charity
left empty by prisoners
unoccupied due to the person having gone to live in a care home
the unoccupied home of a deceased tax payer (certain conditions apply)
prohibited by law from being occupied
held for minister of religion
left empty because the liable person is providing care elsewhere
left empty by students
student halls of residence
only occupied by students
repossessed properties
UK armed forces accommodation
visiting forces accommodation
left empty by a bankrupt person
unoccupied caravan pitches or boat moorings
occupied solely by persons under the age of 18
unoccupied annexes which are unable to be let due to planning restrictions
occupied solely by severely mentally impaired persons
diplomatic residences
self contained annexes occupied by a relation of the person liable to pay Council Tax on the main dwelling who are aged over 65, disabled or mentally impaired

To find out more about exemptions, how to apply and council tax for empty properties, please read our Icon for pdf Council Tax Guide 2023 - 24 [981KB] .