The council tax discount worth 25% that thousands miss: How to check if you qualify

Council tax has become one of the biggest bills that households now need to pay every month.

But many could be missing out on a valuable discount that slashes bills by 25%.

The single person discount is one of the most common council tax reductions available, yet many eligible residents do not realise they need to apply for it themselves.

Council tax discounts are not always applied automatically, which means some households end up paying more than they should.

What is the 25% council tax discount?

If you are the only adult living in your home, you can usually claim a 25% discount on your council tax bill. The government states that a full council tax bill assumes at least two adults live in a property, so people living alone are entitled to a reduction.

Children under 18 are not counted, so a single parent living with their children can normally still qualify for the 25% discount.

In some cases, you may still qualify even if another adult lives with you, because certain people are not counted for council tax purposes.

These can include full-time students, student nurses, some apprentices, certain carers and people with severe mental impairments in specific circumstances.

This means some households with more than one occupant may still be entitled to a reduction.

How much could you save?

The exact amount you save depends on your council tax band and where you live.

A 25% reduction can be worth hundreds of pounds a year, especially after council tax increases introduced for the 2026/27 financial year.

if your annual council tax bill is £2,000, a 25% single person discount would reduce it by £500, cutting the bill to £1,500 - so it's well worth claiming.

How to check if you're paying too much council tax

You could be saving cash on your council tax account if you live alone or you're a single parent living with children under 18.

You should also check your bill if an adult who previously lived with you has moved out or other adults in your home are full-time students.

Most councils allow residents to apply for discounts online through their local authority website.

Other council tax help available

The single person discount is not the only support available, you can also get a Council Tax Reduction if you are on a low income.

People who qualify can hugely reduce bills significantly and in some cases by the full amount.

These rules depend on authority so contact your local council to find out what help could be offered.

You could also get a discount if you are a disabled person that requires extra space or facilities that may be able to have their property treated as being in a lower council tax band. A lower tax band means lower bills

Can the discount be backdated?

In some cases, councils may backdate discounts if residents can show they were eligible but did not claim sooner.

Rules vary between local authorities, so anyone who believes they may have missed out should contact their council directly and as soon as possible to ask whether a backdated claim is available

How to apply

Check your eligibility and then apply for your discount through your local council.

Anyone unsure which authority they need should use the Government's local council finder service and search for their council tax discounts page.