Council Tax - Moves and household changes

How to tell us you have moved home 

If your move is not scheduled within the next 30 days, we are unable to process your application at this time. To avoid delays or system errors, please report your change of address closer to your actual tenancy start date, end date or date of completion. 

You will need your account number, unless you are moving in the borough. 

Visit our Report a Change page for more information.

What to do if you move in with someone already registered for Council Tax

As this person is already liable for Council Tax you do not need to complete an online move form. Please ask that the person who is currently liable to notify us by email to ctax@wokingham.gov.uk  that you have moved into their property.  

How to add someone to your Council Tax account

To add another named person on to your Council Tax bill, that person must be aged 18 or over and they must have an interest in the property equal to yours (for example, they are a joint tenant or owner or they are your partner). 

If you receive a single person discount and someone has moved in with you, you must cancel your single person discount. 

Visit our Single Person Discount page for more information.

Council Tax exemption for renovation work

Since April 2017, you can’t get any discounts on Council Tax if your house is empty or requires or undergoing major repair or structural alteration. 

You might have to pay more tax, called a premium, depending on whether the house has furniture, how long it’s been empty, and if it meets any special rules. 

Visit our Premiums for second homes and long-term empty properties for more information.

What to do if you've bought a property but haven't moved in yet

You must register and start paying Council Tax for the new property even if you have not moved in yet. 

What to do if you've bought another home in the borough

If you have purchased a second property and still live in Wokingham Borough Council, complete the move form by selecting ‘Moving into the borough’. This won’t affect your current property. 

Visit our Report a Change page for more information.

Adding children to Council Tax

Children under 18 do not count towards the number of adults in the household when calculating Council Tax. However, if a child turns 18, you need to inform the council, as this may affect your eligibility for discounts or exemptions. 

What to do if you think you're in the wrong Council Tax band

If you think your band is wrong, you can submit a challenge to the Valuation Office Agency who are responsible for setting the banding valuation on all properties in England. Visit the government website at: www.tax.service.gov.uk/check-council-tax-band/search and type in your postcode to find your tax band. 

What to do if your move dates overlaps for Council Tax

You are liable for Council Tax at a property from the date your tenancy starts or sale completes up until the end date of your tenancy or sale completion. If there is an overlap between properties, you will be liable for Council Tax at both properties. you can’t get any discounts on Council Tax if your house is empty. 

For future moves, your Council Tax bill will be issued when the move date is reached.

You will receive your Council Tax bill from the date your liability commences even if you have informed us in advance of your move. 

Where to check your Council Tax band

Visit our Council Tax bands page to check your band, understand why your property is a certain band, and how to challenge it with the Valuation Office Agency (VOA). 

We don’t set the bands; it is all done by the VOA. 

Who sets Council Tax increases and how to find out

This information can be accessed by logging on to the WBC landing page and selecting ‘Council and Meetings’ or by visiting our Meetings page.

You can view the schedule of monthly meetings, take part in some of the meetings and submit questions. The meeting for the new Council Tax bills, precepts and parish charges takes place in February each year.