Diplomats, Visiting Forces and Members Of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations Council Tax Exemptions

Visiting forces accommodation exemption 

A property is exempt from Council Tax if the person who is liable is either of the following:

• a member of a visiting force from a country to which the Visiting Forces Act 1952 applies
• a member of a civilian component of the force.

A dependant of a member is also exempt, providing that the dependant is neither a British citizen nor ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom.

You will need to provide a letter from bureau, or a certificate issued under Section 11 of the Visiting Forces Act 1952 to support your application.

If you think you might qualify for the exemption above, please send your supporting evidence by email to contact@chorley.gov.uk. 

Diplomats

If you are a Diplomat and you lease or own the property in which you live, your property may be exempt from Council Tax.

You must not be permanently resident in the United Kingdom and the property concerned must not be your second home.

If you are responsible for Council Tax and you allow a Diplomat to live with you, you can disregard (not count) the diplomat when you are counting up the number of adults in your property.

If this means that only 1 person is counted, you will be entitled to a 25% discount off your Council Tax bill.

Members Of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations

Members of International Headquarters and Defence Organisations and their dependants are disregarded (not counted) when you are adding up the number of adults who live in a property.

If this means that only 1 person is counted, you will be entitled to a 25% discount off your Council Tax bill.

If no-one is counted, you will be entitled to a 50% discount off your Council Tax bill.

If you think that you are eligible for an exemption or discount as a diplomat or a member of an international headquarters, please contact us by email to contact@chorley.gov.uk.

The information provided is intended as guidance only and is not a full statement of the law. 

There are various discounts that you may be able to claim to reduce your bill. If you claim a discount and your circumstances change you must let us know within 21 days of the change or face a penalty.