Who needs to pay

If you’re 18 or over and own or rent a home, you’ll usually need to pay Council Tax.

A full Council Tax bill is based on at least two adults living in the property. These people do not count as an adult for Council Tax:

  • children under 18
  • people on some apprentice schemes
  • 18 and 19 year olds in full-time education
  • full-time college and university students
  • young people under 25 who get funding from the Skills Funding Agency or Young People’s Learning Agency
  • student nurses
  • foreign language assistants registered with the British Council
  • people with a severe mental impairment
  • live-in carers who look after someone who is not their partner, spouse, or child under 18
  • diplomats

If you live by yourself and do not count as an adult for Council Tax, you do not have to pay it. Check which discount or exemption you should apply for.

If you live with one other person and either you or they do not count as an adult for Council Tax, you can apply for single person discount.

If one person you live with does not count as an adult for Council Tax, but you live with other adults that do, you might be able to get a discount or exemption. Check which discount or exemption you should apply for.