Council tax

A 25% discount on council tax for properties with only one resident.

You may be able to get a council tax discount if you're the only adult living in a property and nobody else uses your property as their sole or main residence.

An adult is a person aged 18 or over.

If you're the only adult living in a property, you can apply for a 25% council tax discount.

You can also get a 25% discount if you normally live with someone but they're away from home in:

• hospital
• prison
• a residential care home.

You could get a 25% discount if you live with people who don't have to pay council tax, including:

• young people leaving care
• full-time students
• student nurses
• apprentices
• people with certain learning disabilities or mental impairments.

You'll need to register for council tax before you can apply for a discount.

You'll also need your council tax reference number to apply. 

You can find this at the top of the most recent bill we have sent to you.

Apply for a single occupier council tax discount

We'll let you know of our decision by email.

If your discount is confirmed, we'll send you a revised council tax notice.

You should continue to pay your council tax as normal until you have received a revised notice.

If you no longer qualify for a discount, you must tell us of your change in status.

We'll then update your council tax account and send you a new bill.

You may have to pay a fine if you do not tell us.

Get help with paying your council tax

If you think you may not be able to make your council tax payment, phone us on 0300 300 0300 and ask for advice. There may be support available to help you avoid missing your payments.

Second Adult Rebate is a Council Tax Reduction for people living with one or more other adults (ages 18+) who are on a low income.

You may be eligible for Second Adult Rebate if:

• you're responsible for paying council tax for your home
• you share your home with one or more adults.

It's not based on your own income or savings.

The adult you share your home with must:

• be aged 18 or older
• be on a low income
• not be your partner
• not pay you rent
• not be responsible for paying council tax themselves
• not be exempt from paying council tax (for example, if they're a full-time student, then you are not eligible for Second Adult Rebate).

You'll need to provide evidence to support your application, such as proof of your identity, proof of your income, and your address.

Apply for Second Adult Rebate

If you have any questions, you can:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0204.

We'll contact you if we need any more information to assess your application.

We'll aim to let you know our decision within 10 days, but this is only an estimate. It may take longer depending on your situation.

Council Tax Reduction helps people on a low income reduce their council tax bills.

Council Tax Reduction is based on income. There are other discounts and exemptions for people in specific circumstances, such as students and single people.

You may be eligible for Council Tax Reduction depending on:

• if you have a low income
• how much you have in savings (and your partner, if you live together)
• your personal circumstances (for example, how many children live with you or if you're disabled).

If you're living with one or more other adults (ages 18+) who have a low income, you may be eligible for Second Adult Rebate instead. It's not based on your own income or savings.

To apply for Council Tax Reduction, you must:

• be the person who pays the council tax bill for this property
• live in the property you're applying for.

You'll need to provide evidence to support your application, such as proof of your identity, proof of your income and savings, and your address.

Apply for Council Tax Reduction

If you have any questions, you can:

• contact us online
• phone us on 0300 300 0204.

We'll contact you if we need any more information to assess your application.

We'll aim to let you know our decision within 10 days, but this is only an estimate. It may take longer depending on your situation.

There are other discounts and exemptions for people in specific circumstances, such as students and single people.

2026 to 2027 charges

These charges apply from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.

2025 to 2026 charges

These charges apply from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.

Search for your council tax band

You can find your council tax band by searching for your postcode on the Scottish Assessors Association website.

Find your council tax band (Scottish Assessors Association website).

Ask about your council tax band

If you want to ask us about your council tax band:

• email assessor@renfrewshire-vjb.gov.uk
• phone 0300 300 0150.

Water and sewerage charges

Your council tax bill may also include separate charges for water and sewerage. We collect these on behalf of Scottish Water, but we have no say over how much they should be.

Learn more about your water and sewerage charges (Scottish Water's website).

Discounts, exemptions and reductions

Every property in Renfrewshire is in a council tax band.

A property gets its council tax band based on what it was worth on 1 April 1991.

Properties built after this date have been assessed and assigned a council tax band based on each property's estimated 1991 value.

Pay by direct debit

Set up a direct debit, and we'll automatically take your council tax payment from your account on the same date each month.

Paying by direct debit can make your life easier, and it can help us save money.

You can choose for the money to come out on the 1st, 14th, or 27th day of the month.

To set up a direct debit, you'll need:

• your council tax reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• your bank account details.

Set up or change a direct debit online or phone us on 0300 300 0300.

Pay online

You can pay online with a debit or credit card.

To pay online, you'll need:

• your council tax reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• a debit or credit card
• the billing address for the payment card.

Pay your council tax online

Pay over the phone

You can pay over the phone with a debit or credit card.

To pay over the phone, phone us on 0300 300 0300. You'll need:

• your council tax reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• a debit or credit card
• the billing address for the payment card.

If phoning out of hours, select the option for 'automated payments'. Any payments you make using this option will apply to the current tax year only.

Pay using PayPoint

You can pay your council tax at places that display a PayPoint sign. This includes any UK post office or shops that display the PayPoint sign.

Find your nearest PayPoint (PayPoint website).

You'll need your barcoded bill or a payment card.

If paying at a post office, you cannot pay more than £999.99 at a time.

Pay by standing order

You can pay your council tax by setting up a standing order.

If you want to set up a standing order, or if you already pay by standing order and want to change it, fill in the form attached to your council tax bill and send it to your bank or billing society.

You can choose to pay across 10 or 12 monthly payments.

Pay by cheque or postal order

You can pay your council tax by sending us a cheque or postal order.

To pay by cheque or postal order, you'll need to:

• ensure the cheque is marked 'A/C payee only' (write it on the cheque if it's not printed on there already)
• tell us your council tax reference number (find it at the top of your most recent bill)
• tell us what financial year your payment is for (such as 2023-24).

Send your cheque or postal order to:

Check your council tax balance and see your payment history

You can use MyAccount to:

• check the balance on your council tax account
• see your payment history.

Before you start, you'll need to register for MyAccount through mygov.scot. If you've already registered, you do not need to do it again. 

Once you log in, select the Account tab.

Your council tax balance and payment history will be there if you've already linked your council tax account.

If you've not already linked your council tax account, select Link Account and follow the instructions. To do this, you:

• must be named on the council tax bill
• will need your 11-digit council tax reference number (you can find this on your council tax bill).

You can link more than one account if you're responsible for paying council tax on multiple properties, but you'll need to link each council tax property to your MyAccount.

Check your council tax balance and see your payment history.

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