Coping with the economic downturn
Sources of advice and
support for individuals and families on a range of issues
including money matters, employment and training and free or low
cost activities and days out can be found on the coping with the
economic downturn pages.
What discounts are available?
A 25% discount is awarded if there is only one resident aged 18
or over.
A 25% discount is awarded where there is more than one resident,
and all but one are 'disregarded persons' for the purposes of the
council tax.
A 10% discount is awarded for a furnished dwelling which is not
used as a sole or main residence, for example a second home. (The
Local Government Act 2003, in amending the Local Government Act
1992, gave local councils some discretion in the level of discounts
offered to council tax payers, notably enabling them to reduce the
discounts on furnished properties not used as main residences, for
example second homes, from 50% to 10%. The Court of Common Council
of the City of London has determined that with effect from 1 April
2007 the amount of discount awarded to dwellings in Class B as
defined in the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)
(England) Regulations 2003 prescribed by the Secretary of State
under the provisions of Section 11A of the Local Government Finance
Act 1992 should be 10%).
A 50% discount is awarded for a dwelling which is both
unoccupied as a sole or main home and is unfurnished, ie empty.
Physical inspection of all unfurnished properties will be carried
out to verify their status.
If you think that you may be entitled to a discount and it is
not shown on your bill please
contact Liberata.
Assistance for those with disabilities
For information about reductions for people with
disabilities see
band reductions.
Disregarded persons
Certain people are not counted when looking at the number of
adults resident in a dwelling if they meet certain conditions:
- Full-time students, student nurses, apprentices, youth training
trainees and foreign language assistants
- A student's spouse or dependent who is not a British Citizen
and who is prevented by the terms of their entry visa from taking
paid employment or from claiming benefits
- 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
- People under the age of 20 who are at school or have just left
school
- People in respect of whom child benefit is payable
- Care workers working for low pay, usually for charities
- People caring 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)
- Diplomats or people who benefit from diplomatic immunity and
certain members of their household.
If you think any of the above apply to you and that you may be
entitled to a discount, please
contact Liberata.
Important notices
If your bill shows that you have been given a discount but you
think that you are not entitled to the discount, or the
circumstances in your household change, for example a child reaches
the age of 18, you must
advise Liberata within 21 days, otherwise you may have to pay a
penalty of £70, as well as the increased council tax.
Council Tax and Data Protection
How we will use your information The information that you
provide will be processed in accordance with the provisions of the
Data Protection Act 1998 and relevant legislation. This authority
has a duty to protect public funds it administers, and may use
information held about you for the prevention and detection of
fraud and other lawful purposes. This may include, but not be
limited to, matching council tax data with Electoral Registration
records. The council will also use the information for the purpose
of performing any of its statutory enforcement duties. It will make
any disclosures required by law and may also share this information
with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public
funds. We will not disclose your personal information to third
parties for marketing purposes.
National Fraud Initiative
The National Fraud Initiative (NFI) is the Audit Commission’s
data matching exercise that tackles a broad range of fraud risks
faced by the public sector. This means the Audit Commission is to
cross check claims for council tax single occupier discount against
other databases held by them. For more information please go to
www.audit-commission.gov.uk/
Warning - Council Tax Scam
Please note there are several council tax scams operating
nationally.
Find out more about the current scams