People urged to check for £850 Council Tax saving ahead of new bills starting in April
Households across Scotland have received £4.1 billion in financial support through the Council Tax Reduction scheme since it launched in 2013. People on low incomes are eligible for the benefit if they live in Scotland - there is no equivalent in England where most local authorities require each household to contribute a minimum amount of Council Tax every month.
The latest figures from the Scottish Government show 460,560 recipients were eligible for Council Tax Reduction in October 2024, saving an average of over £850 a year. Finance Secretary Shona Robison is now urging people to “check their eligibility for Council Tax reduction, Council Tax discounts and other financial support” online or by contacting their local council.
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Ms Robison said: “The First Minister has been clear that one of the Scottish Government’s key missions is to eradicate child poverty. The Council Tax Reduction scheme is just one of the groundbreaking initiatives that we have introduced and continue to fund to support households.
“Alongside the Scottish Child Payment, we will continue the fight against poverty through the Scottish Budget by providing vital funding for universal winter heating payments for older Scots, and investment to allow the mitigation of the two-child cap from 2026.
“I urge people to check their eligibility for Council Tax reduction, Council Tax discounts and other financial support by visiting our online resources or by contacting their local council.”
Millions of households across Scotland could see Council Tax bills rise from April after the Scottish Government confirmed during the December Budget that the current freeze will end after the 2024/25 financial year ends.
However, in an effort to prevent big increases, the Scottish Government increased local authority funding by more than £1 billion for the 2025/26 financial year.
Speaking at the time, Ms Robison said: “While it will be for councils to make their own decisions with record funding, there is no reason for big increases in Council Tax next year.”
While any increase won’t happen until April, checking to see if you are due a Council Tax discount, reduction or even exemption now could ease pressure on stretched household budgets at the start of the year - and could even result in a back payment.
People can check whether they are eligible for a Council Tax Reduction through mygov.scot or by contacting their local council.
Below is everything you need to know about who might be eligible for a Council Tax saving.
Check if you could be exempt from paying Council Tax
You will not pay Council Tax if:
You are a full-time student
You are in the Armed Forces in Forces accommodation
You live in a care home or hospital
Your home is unoccupied and empty (up to six months) - for example, if you’ve gone into hospital
You have a severe mental impairment (e.g. dementia) - if you only live with someone who has dementia, then you’ll be treated as a sole occupant as they will be disregarded, but you won’t both be exempt
Contact your local authority about your eligibility and how you can apply for an exemption - a link to all 32 local authorities in Scotland is at the bottom of this page.
Could you be eligible for a discount on your Council Tax bill?
There are some circumstances where you may get a reduction on your Council Tax and the amount of discount varies depending on your circumstances.
If you live alone
The full Council Tax is calculated assuming there are two or more people living in each home – if you live alone, you should apply to your local council for a discount - you could get a 25 per cent reduction, regardless of your financial circumstances.
If you live with someone under 18 or a student
Council Tax is not calculated for anyone aged under 18, full-time students, student nurses and some apprentices or trainees.
If you are a carer
Carers who look after someone in the household for at least 35 hours per week and who meet additional criteria may be disregarded for Council Tax purposes, contact your local authority for their eligibility criteria.
Just be aware, this doesn’t apply if the person receiving care is the partner of the carer, or is the carer’s child aged under 18.
If there are major changes to the value of your home
You may be able to get your home moved to a lower band if it has decreased in value. For example, if you have made home adaptations for a disabled person, or if a motorway has been built nearby.
You may also get the band lowered if a room in the house is dedicated to equipment used by a disabled person on a daily basis.
If you change the way you pay
Although the total year’s amount will stay the same, you can request your bill be split over 12 months instead of 10, so you can spread the cost and reduce your monthly outgoings.
Alternatively, if you can afford to pay the whole bill in one lump sum, check with your local council if you can get a discount.
Apply for Council Tax Reduction
You may be eligible to claim a Council Tax Reduction if you’re on a low income or claiming certain benefits.
You can also claim Council Tax support regardless of whether you own your own home or rent, or whether you’re working or unemployed.
Each local council is responsible for operating their own Council Tax support scheme, so the amount of support given across the country may vary.
The amount you will get depends on many factors, including:
Which benefits you receive
Your age
Your income
Your savings
Who you live with
How much council tax you pay
You may get more Council Tax support if you receive a disability or carers benefit.
If you receive the Guarantee Credit Part of Pension Credit you may even get your Council Tax paid in full. If you don’t have it, but are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings, you may still get some help.
Local councils
Contact your local council from the list below to apply for a Council Tax Reduction or discount.
