Single person discount

All Council Tax payers who receive a 25% single person discount have been asked to complete a review to confirm that you are still the only adult resident in the property, or to notify us of any other adults who now live with you.

It is important that you confirm your current situation even if there has been no change in your circumstances.

The easiest way to do this is to complete the:

• form in the letter and return it to the address in the letter.

Please note: you will only need to complete this form if you have received a letter from us titled 'Single Person Discount – Review'.

If you are the only adult over 18 occupying your property, confirm it by completing the form.

If there is more than one adult living at the property, please provide:

• their name
• date of birth
• the date on which they moved in and their previous address.

If you think they should not be counted for Council Tax purposes, for example if they are an apprentice or if Child Benefit is still in payment for them, you should tell us why. Evidence such as a bank statement may be required to show that you are in receipt of Child Benefit for the person over 18. 

We may need to contact you again for more information. If you need advice on evidence you may need to provide, please email the Council Tax Review Team at spdreview@slough.gov.uk or phone 0300 373 0626.

Complete the form promptly

If the form is completed within the 14 day deadline or soon after, you will not be penalised. If the form is very late, you may receive a reminder letter. If you do, you should complete the form as requested.

If you don’t complete the form, we will assume that your situation has changed and you are no longer entitled to the discount. Your single person discount will be removed and a revised bill will be sent to you.

If you have already informed the council of a change in circumstances, you still need to complete the form. Please include all the details of your current situation.

Other people’s mail

If someone is using your address for correspondence only:

• provide their name and the address at which they actually live so that it can be verified
• give more information if you think it is relevant to assist your claim.

If you receive mail for previous occupiers:

• write on the envelope that the person no longer lives at the address and
• return it to the sender.

Other people staying in the property

If your friend stays in your house for three or four nights a week and keeps their belongings at your house, your address will be classed as their main residence and you will no longer be eligible for the discount.

We may also need to know if they:

• stay at various addresses but keep their belongings at your property
• use your address for their doctor/dentist
• work away and stay at your address on their days off.

You should provide as much information as possible. If you are unsure, please email spdreview@slough.gov.uk or phone 0300 373 0626 for advice. 

Data processing and data protection

Civica has a dedicated and specialist team of experienced Council Tax officers to carry out discount reviews for many local authorities. All returned forms are handled by Civica at their specialist mailing centre at Pershore. The data will be processed as follows:

• it will be scanned onto your Council Tax account
• Civica matches Council Tax data with third party sources and specialist validation services
• addresses are passed to Experian who run a search to match other data sources such as the electoral register or credit agreements
• Experian then gives Civica a list of possible adults at the property.

The law allows for the contracting out of Council Tax functions to companies such as Civica. They hold the data for the correct purposes i.e. the levying and collection of a tax. The data is held for as long as required then destroyed. No database is compiled that could be shared with or accessed by other bodies or sources. For details check Experian’s Privacy Notice.

Neither the council nor Civica hold any credit information. If you want to see your credit file, please contact any of the major credit referencing agencies:

• Experian           
• Equifax   
• TransUnion.