If you are experiencing financial hardship and are unable to pay, you may be able to get a reduction in your ongoing Council Tax instalment plan. This is a discretionary reduction based on your individual circumstances.
Before you apply
A discretionary reduction will not be considered, except in exceptional circumstances, if:
- You have not yet had an application for Council Tax Support assessed by the Benefits department of the Council. Council Tax Support is the primary means-tested Council Tax reduction scheme, so should always be applied for in the first instance. You can apply for Council Tax Support online here.
or
- The entirety of your outstanding balance is "summonsed", i.e. a court summons has been issued in respect of the arrears, and a liability order has either been obtained or is due to be obtained. The effect of arrears being summonsed is that you can contact the Council Tax department as below to make an affordable arrangement to repay them. The discretionary reduction is used as a last resort if there are no other options available, but in the case of summonsed arrears there is the option to make an arrangement, so that is what should be done instead. This remains the case even if the arrears have now moved onto a further stage of recovery, as there was previously the option to make an affordable arrangement.
Apply for Council Tax discretionary reduction
Complete the online form below. You will also need to provide at least two months of recent statements from any bank accounts (including savings accounts) held by any of the people who are liable for Council Tax at your property - please provide these either by email to council.tax@reigate-banstead.gov.uk, or by post to the Council Tax department at Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, Town Hall, Castlefield Road, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 0SH.