Council Tax – Frequently Asked Questions

Your Council Tax reference number is on the front of your bills and starts with a 5. Alternatively, if you pay by Direct Debit you will find your account number in your payment reference on your bank statement.

Your Council Tax goes towards waste and recycling collections, helping to tackle homelessness, maintaining your parks, cemeteries and green spaces, facilitating elections, awarding funds to local charities and improving your area by working with residents and local businesses.

The easiest way to pay is by Direct Debit. You can also pay on your debit card, by standing order through your bank, on our website at www.testvalley.gov.uk/pay or via our automated telephone line.

You can now set up a new or amend an existing Direct Debit online by clicking here:

Council Tax Online Services | Test Valley Borough Council

You can pay your Council Tax on 1^st, 15^th and 24^th of each month. (Please note that if you want to pay on 24^th of each month this can only be by Direct Debit.)

If you are an owner or a tenant, you can tell us that you have moved in, moved out or have moved from one address to another within the council's area using our online services:

Council Tax Online Services | Test Valley Borough Council

If there is only 1 adult who is over 18 in their home, there is a 25% discount off the Council Tax bill for every day that this applies.

If you believe you are entitled to a single person discount, please complete an online notification here. 

Council Tax Online Services | Test Valley Borough Council

A range of discounts and exemptions are available. For example, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax if you are the only occupier aged over 18 in your property, you are a student, or are severely mentally impaired. Please click here to view all of the available exemptions:

Are you entitled to a Council Tax exemption? | Test Valley Borough Council

If you feel someone in the property qualifies for a student discount or exemption, please complete our online application form.

If a property is unoccupied because the council tax payer has died and it has been unoccupied since the person's death, it is exempt from council tax. You can inform us online here:

Council Tax - Notification of Deceased Person

We set instalments at the start of the financial year. If you miss an instalment or pay late, this will trigger our recovery process and you will receive a reminder notice.

If you don’t pay the arrears/instalments after the reminder notice, you will receive a summons.

If you do pay the arrears but then fall behind again later in the year you will receive a final notice, which takes away your right to pay by instalments. If you do not pay after receiving the final notice, you will receive a summons.

A summons gives you notice of a court hearing, where the council will be granted a liability order. This gives the council alternative methods to recover the arrears.

If you are on a low income, you may be eligible for Council Tax Support. For more information, please visit:

Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support | Test Valley Borough Council