The Council Tax bill assumes there are at least two adults living in the property.  If there is only one adult, there is a 25% reduction.  If the property is a second home, there is a 10% reduction.  All adults count for council tax unless they are:

• 18 or 19 year old and at, or have just left school
• A full-time student, a student nurse, an apprentice or a youth training trainee
• Severely mentally disabled
• A patient living in hospital permanently
• Being looked after in a care home
• A care worker working for low pay (usually for a charity)
• Caring for someone with a disability who is not their husband, wife or partner or child under 18
• A member of a visiting force or certain international institutions
• Staying in certain hostels or night shelters
• In prison (but not people in prison for not paying Council Tax or a fine)
• A member of certain religious communities (for example, monks and nuns)
• A foreign diplomat

Please remember that if your circumstances change, you must tell us with 21 days.  If you don’t, you may receive a fine.

Reductions for people with permanent disabilities

If you or someone who lives with you needs an additional room to meet their special (for example, an extra bathroom or kitchen or other room) you could qualify for a reduction in your council tax.

The criteria that must be met is as follows:

• A room predominately used by or to meet the needs of the disabled person
  or
• An additional bathroom or kitchen
  or
• A wheelchair used indoors.

Discount for empty properties

If a property you own becomes unoccupied you must tell staff in the Council Tax department immediately. You could qualify for a reduction if the property is unfurnished.
For six months from the date the property becomes unfurnished, there is no tax payable, provided the property remains unfurnished and is not lived in. After that, full Council Tax is payable. The person responsible for paying is the owner or the person who holds a lease or rental agreement. If at any time during the six months the property becomes occupied or furnished, you must tell us immediatley.
Please contact our Council Tax section, tel. 08456 034713 for full details and conditions attached to all exemptions and disabled relief.

Should you get a discount?

To find out, add up all the adults who live in your home, including yourself, then take off those who do not count for the tax.  If this leaves one person who counts for the tax, you should get a 25% discount.  If no-one counts for the tax, you should get a 50% discount except for the following :

• second homes that qualify for a 10% discount ( unless the person who has to pay the Council Tax has to live there as part of their job).  Second homes do not include a pitch for a caravan or a mooring for a boat.
• homes which are empty and have hardly any furniture, after a period of exemption ( see exemption notes ).  These do not qualify for a discount.

Enquiries/Applications for relief

If you wish to apply for any discount, exemption, or disabled relief, then please contact us at:
Revenues Service, Mid Suffolk District Council, 131 High Street, Needham Market, Ipswich, Suffolk IP6 8DL
Telephone: 08456 034713
Email: ctax@midsuffolk.gov.uk

Back to council tax front page