People who are detained or in prison

Adults living in your household are not counted for council tax if they are:

• detained in a prison, a hospital or other place by a court of law
• being held under the Mental Health Act (also known as being sectioned)
• detained under the Immigration Act
• imprisoned, detained or in custody for more than 48 hours under the Armed Forces Act or Naval Discipline Act

The detention does not qualify if the person is:

• in police custody before a first court appearance
• detained for non-payment of council tax
• detained for non-payment of a fine

To get a discount:

• we must not count the person in prison or detained for council tax, and
• there are less than two adults in the property that are counted for council tax

How to apply

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. in the list of quick links find 'apply for or cancel a disregard'
7. fill in the form telling us:

• the name of the person who was detained or remanded
• the date that the person was detained or remanded
• the address of the institution that the person is detained or remanded to

If you are in prison or detained and your property is unoccupied it may be exempt from council tax. This means you don't have to pay council tax for your property.

It doesn't matter if you leave furniture in the property.

How to apply

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. in the list of quick links find 'apply for or cancel an exemption'
7. fill in the form telling us:

• the date that the property was left unoccupied. This is due to the person being detained or remanded to prison
• the address of the institution that the person is detained or remanded to

If a person is released from prison and moves back into your property, you may not get the discount.

If you have been released from prison and move back into your property, you will not get the exemption. 

Tell us about the change

You can tell us about a change online through your MyGuildford account. 

You'll need to:

1. log in to your MyGuildford account (opens new window)
2. click the 'council tax and benefits' tile
3. select 'continue' on the 'view other services' page
4. select 'council tax' on the 'your services' page
5. on your account summary page, find the list of quick links

• if you're using a computer or laptop these will be on the right-hand side of the screen
• if you're using a mobile device, click 'quick links'

6. to tell us : 

• that a person has been released from prison and has moved back into your household, find 'apply for or cancel a disregard' in the list of 'quick links'
• that you have been released from prison and have moved back into your property, find 'apply for or cancel an exemption' in the list of 'quick links'

7. follow the steps on the form.

We will contact you if we need any further information.

If you are entitled to a discount or an exemption, we will send you a new bill.