Council Tax discount? 30 October 2013 at 10:07AM in UK armed forces MoneySaving 6 replies 2.4K views

gr7ace

I am in the RAF and own a house with my girlfriend (who is also in). She lives in the house and I, now, live in the Mess on my new station 200+ miles away.

I only manage to get home 2-3 wknds a month and the mess is classed as my primary residence by the RAF (well it is on JPA).

My question is, can we get a council tax reductions as there is only 1 person living in our home? The council in question is Richmondshire district council.

And if DII logs me out of MSE forums once more, without posting this thread I'm gonna...:mad:

Red_dog_Sam

You will still be classed as living at the house you own for Council Tax purposes so aren't entitled to a discount even though you live in the Mess for a lot of the time.

Some people make reference to a military council tax discount but that is really a payment sometimes made by the MoD : in the April 2012 budget it was announced that military personnel serving overseas would start to receive an increase in their council tax allowance to cover 100% of the national average charges rather than the previous 50%. That meant a 6 month tour overseas = £592 tax free lump sum on return (amount could be different now).
To be clear - this is still not a discount given by your local council who will still bill for the full amount - this is an amount paid to serving personnel by the MoD to cover the cost.

Alias_Omega

Grace,

On DII you need to "Go Advanced", then submit your post otherwise it will not post a thread/reply.

ICATQ

gr7ace,

I suggest that you speak to your Council. If there was only one occupant then you would attract the single occupant rate, which is a significant difference. However that is not the case although I would speak to them, you never know they may agree to reduce it further.

I am a single occupant that lives in during the week and there is provision for the council to reduce the single occupancy rate further, if they wish, as I pay a contribution at my Service weekday address.

ICATQ

Red_dog_Sam wrote: »

You will still be classed as living at the house you own for Council Tax purposes so aren't entitled to a discount even though you live in the Mess for a lot of the time.

Some people make reference to a military council tax discount but that is really a payment sometimes made by the MoD : in the April 2012 budget it was announced that military personnel serving overseas would start to receive an increase in their council tax allowance to cover 100% of the national average charges rather than the previous 50%. That meant a 6 month tour overseas = £592 tax free lump sum on return (amount could be different now).
To be clear - this is still not a discount given by your local council who will still bill for the full amount - this is an amount paid to serving personnel by the MoD to cover the cost.

After a qualifying operational tour the council tax rebate is from your local council and not the MoD. Well, it was in my case.

CIS

After a qualifying operational tour the council tax rebate is from your local council and not the MoD.

A local authority may offer their own localised scheme but the main rebate is from the MOD.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/council-tax-relief-for-personnel-on-operations-increased

*pinkpanther*

We have been advised to get a letter from the council proving they will not reduce the council tax while hubby is on tour and then we can claim it back from the MoD.

In reference to the original question, when hubby isn't on tour, he only gets home at weekends but we aren't entitled to any discount. Sorry