Council Tax

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What is Council Tax?

Council Tax is a local tax set by your local councils.

It helps to pay for local services such as schools, libraries, refuse collection and sports centres which are provided by Worcester City Council, Worcestershire County Council, West Mercia Police and Hereford & Worcester Fire Authority.

Plain English guide to Council Tax (gov.uk)

If you live in the parish of Warndon or St Peters you will also pay a small amount for parish council services.

You pay your Council Tax to the City Council and we send the county, police or parish the amounts they have asked for.

Find out more about what your Council Tax pays for.

The Secretary of State made an offer to adult social care authorities. (“Adult social care authorities” are local authorities which have functions under Part 1 of the Care Act 2014, namely county councils in England, district councils for an area in England for which there is no county council, London borough councils, the Common Council of the City of London and the Council of the Isles of Scilly).

The offer was the option of an adult social care authority being able to charge an additional “precept” on its council tax without holding a referendum, to assist the authority in meeting expenditure on adult social care from the financial year 2016-17. It was originally made in respect of the financial years up to and including 2019-20. If the Secretary of State chooses to renew this offer in respect of a particular financial year, this is subject to approval of the House of Commons.

Important information about your Council Tax

Where possible, we communicate with you by email or text message. If you're expecting a response from us, a new Council Tax bill, or payment reminders, please keep an eye on your inbox and text messages.

Our emails will come from This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., and our text messages will come from WORC CITY C or WorcesterCC.

If you're not yet receiving your Council Tax bill electronically, you can sign up for e-billing to receive future bills online.

Single Person Discount

You may be eligible for a 25% Single Person Discount on your Council Tax if you are the only adult aged 18 or over living in your property as your main home.

Apply online for a single person discount

Occupied properties that are exempt

Class N – occupied only by students
Class S – Occupied only by persons under 18
Class U – Occupied only by people who are severely mentally impaired

Please visit our exemption page for more information and how to apply.

Empty properties that are exempt

Class B – Owned by a charity that is unoccupied for less than 6 month
Class D – Left empty by someone who is in prison or detained
Class E – Left empty by someone who has moved into a hospital of care home
Class F – Left empty where the former owner has died and awaiting grant of probate
Class H – Left empty awaiting occupation by a minister of religion
Class I – Left empty by someone who lives elsewhere to receive personal care
Class J – Left empty by someone who has moved out to provide personal care
Class K – Left empty owned by a student
Class L – Repossessed property
Class Q – Left empty by bankrupt individual
Class T – Unoccupied property forming part of a property (annex) which cannot be let separately

Please visit our exemption page for more information and how to apply.

Council Tax for Ukrainian nationals

Changes to Council Tax rules mean that your Council Tax position may depend on your visa, where you live and whether your Homes for Ukraine host is eligible for government Thank You payments.

The rules below explain how this may affect you.

If you are still living with your Homes for Ukraine host and you still hold your original Homes for Ukraine visa

You will continue to be disregarded for Council Tax discount purposes for as long as you hold this visa. Your presence will not affect your host’s eligible Council Tax discounts, such as the 25% Single Person Discount. Any qualifying Council Tax exemption will also be protected.

If you are still living with your Homes for Ukraine Host and you have moved onto a Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) visa

Your host’s Council Tax discount or exemption will continue to be protected if they are eligible for government Thank You payments under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.

If your host is not eligible for Thank You payments, the special Council Tax protections under these rules will not apply. You may then count as an adult when the council calculates your host’s Council Tax discount. This could mean your host loses their 25% Single Person Discount.

If you live in your own accommodation provided by your Homes for Ukraine host and have a Homes for Ukraine Visa

If you live in self contained accommodation provided by your host, you will be made liable to pay Council Tax as the occupant of that address. You will be entitled to a 50% discount if all occupants have this type of Visa. You may also be able to apply for Council Tax Support which helps households that are on a low income. It is important you apply for this straight away as it is not something that can be backdated.

If you have moved onto a Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) visa

If you live in separate accommodation provided by your Homes for Ukraine host and your host is eligible for government Thank You payments, your Council Tax bill will remain reduced by 50%.

If your host is not eligible for Thank You payments, this special 50% reduction will not apply. You may have to pay the full Council Tax charge, unless you qualify for another discount, exemption or Council Tax Support.

If you have moved out of your Homes for Ukraine host’s accommodation

If you move out and leave the Homes for Ukraine sponsorship arrangements, the Council Tax 50% discount will end at the end of that calendar month.

If you move into your own accommodation, you will become responsible for Council Tax and should complete a move form to let us know of the change. Please tell us you are moving.

You may qualify for Council Tax Support or another discount or exemption, more information can be found on our exemptions, discounts and Council Tax Support pages.

What should you do if your circumstances change?

Please contact the council if:

Your visa changes from a Homes for Ukraine visa to a UPE visa.
You move out of your host’s accommodation.
Your host’s eligibility for government Thank You payments changes.
You move into a property where you may be responsible for paying Council Tax.

We can check your circumstances and explain how the rules affect your Council Tax bill.

Please note: The rules depend on your individual circumstances. Moving onto a UPE visa does not automatically mean you must pay Council Tax or that your host will lose a discount. The council will assess your circumstances and any other discounts, exemptions or support that may apply.