UK · Council tax · Discounts
Single person discount council tax calculator.
Count the adults in your home, say how many are disregarded, and see the discount on your bill.
Sources Retrieved 2026-10-16. Figures are the published national rules; your council’s own decisions and bill are authoritative.
Inputs
Your discount
Enter the number of adults.
How the discount is worked out
Council Tax is billed per household, and the discount depends on how many adults count. GOV.UK says you get 25% off if you pay Council Tax and either live on your own or everyone else in the home is disregarded, and 50% off if everyone living in the household is disregarded. Two or more counted adults means no discount.
Disregarded people on the GOV.UK list include: under 18s; people on certain apprentice schemes; 18 or 19 year olds in full-time education; full-time college or university students; under 25s funded by the Education and Skills Funding Agency; student nurses; British Council foreign language assistants; severely mentally impaired people; live-in carers (not a partner, spouse or child under 18); and diplomats. GOV.UK also says households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax at all, which is an exemption and not a discount. You must apply to your council either way.
Worked example. Two adults live in a home with a £2,000 bill. One is a full-time student, so one adult counts: 25% off, a saving of £500 and a bill of £1,500. If both were full-time students the home would be exempt.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the single person discount on council tax?
25% off the bill when you pay Council Tax and live on your own, or when every other adult in the home is disregarded (GOV.UK).
When is the discount 50%?
When everyone living in the household is disregarded, for example two apprentices on qualifying schemes or a mix of other disregarded groups.
Do I need to apply?
Yes. GOV.UK says you need to apply for a discount or exemption even if you are disregarded.
What about a home with only students?
Households where everyone is a full-time student do not have to pay Council Tax (GOV.UK). That is an exemption, so this tool’s discount does not cover it.
Do Wales and Scotland have the same discount?
The GOV.UK page does not set out a separate Wales or Scotland rule, and the figures here are the England-published rules. Check your own council in Wales or Scotland.
Sources
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Scope
Discounts depend on your circumstances and your council’s decision. Your council is the authority. General information, not tax or legal advice.