Clarification on the council’s systems and processes for council tax registration

We want to reassure people who may be concerned they have made an error when claiming a single person discount on their council tax. We want to give confidence that our systems are simple and robust.  

We know the majority of errors causing people to claim a single person discount when they are not eligible, are because they have not informed the council when their circumstances have changed, rather than because they have incorrectly filled out the form.

Our forms ask clear and precise questions to obtain the information we require to charge the correct amount of Council Tax. Just to reassure people about completing our online forms, we have provided an example of the change of address form process below.

Applying a single person discount  

The current and previous systems are not designed to apply a single person discount automatically.  In the previous system the following process applied to the change of address form:  

• When you registered for council tax or updated your details online you were asked “Are you the sole adult occupier of the property?” and given the options ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.  

• Neither of these options were pre-selected. 

• If you did not select one, you could not have moved on to the next part of the form and would get an error message. 

• If you selected ‘Yes’ a single person discount would then be applied. 

• If you select ‘No’ it would ask you about other household members and the single person discount would not be applied.   

• You are only asked about family members after completing the question about whether you are the sole adult occupier.    

The current system is similar:

• It asks you how many people over the age of 18 years reside in your home

• The answer is not pre-selected and you cannot proceed if you do not complete the question.

• If you answered ‘1’ it then asks if you want to claim a single person discount.

• If you answered more than ‘1’ you are asked for details of other residents and the system does not ask if you wish to claim a single person discount.

There is a second opportunity in both systems to check your responses when you reach the summary and declaration page at the end of the form which includes a statement of whether a single person discount has been requested. 

Correspondence and reminders around your council tax including single person discount 

In both the previous and current systems if they have signed up for electronic correspondence, a resident would receive an email at least once a year advising that they should log into their account to look at their council tax bill to check their details are correct.  

There is an additional requirement for councillors to ensure that they are up to date with payments on their council tax before voting on the council’s annual budget.

How we store council tax registration data  

We take collecting and retaining information very seriously. We securely retain the information collected from the forms submitted by everyone. 

Checking your online council tax account

To find out more about paying council tax, including what discounts you can apply for or to check your online council tax account, go to Council Tax | BCP